A Christian Nation in a Political World
Are we a nation founded on Christianity? This is a question that has been pondered for many years in the history of the United States of America. This topic can range from huge political issues regarding the ten commandments being removed in judges offices, to as small as religion in public, or private schools affecting children. Many religious rights activists assert that our nations founding fathers originally aimed for a Christian nation. The argument is that many people do not see it this way because it dos not hold historical evidence. There could be many reasons that some people would think originally our nation was Christian simply because of our declaration of independence, and even the pledge of allegiance, which both mention God. Society sees religion from every aspect, which could push people to think that this nation is a Christian country. For instance, an example that the nation is founded and can be “saved” by Christianity starts with a billboard on I-40 says, “There's one thing that can save America....an awakening to God." This billboard may bring about controversy to people with different opinions. It brings about a question to the non-Christians who may even take it offensive, or citizens in America who are of another religion but still live in the United States. But how does one know the answer to such an intense, complex question? Since the government is what runs this country, it all boils down to how, and what the governments stance is on religion in the United States of America.
Many people do believe that politics and religion should go hand in hand, but others, like columnist Cal Thomas, disagree with this issue greatly. Cal Thomas, who used to have beliefs that this nation was founded on Christianity, no longer believes that. He has a very stern view on the topic and says that, “…it was never the Christian’s country to begin with” (Thomas 18). Thomas feels very strongly about this issue of the government not “owning” the U.S.A. The government, and more importantly, the leader of the U.S., the president, has a huge effect on how citizens of America are going to react to religion. Everyone wants a president that is morally straight and of some type of Christian denomination. Thomas is extremely against government and religion having anything to do with each other saying:
I personally don’t want it to be a Christian nation for the same reason that I don’t want the federal government aiding the church. I think Bush’s whole faith- biased initiative thing is one of the biggest camel noses in the ten that I have ever seen in my life. I wasn’t aware that God declared bankruptcy under chapter 11…(Thomas 18)
Although some people may say our nation is not founded on Christianity, such as Cal Thomas, if one looks at the presidential history they will see that Christianity is woven in almost every president that has served the U.S. Some people argue that there is no historical evidence for the nation to officially be called a Christian nation. But, through our presidential history it shows that religion has been part of politics since the founding fathers. President George W. Bush, the forty- third president, was one of the biggest if not the biggest controversy over religion in the White House that this country has ever seen. During Bush’s time in office as president of the United States there was much disbelief of his overtly usage of religious language in his speeches from citizens that are opposed to what his political beliefs are. Barry W. Lynn, the executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, calls Bush’s use of religious references “dizzying” (23). He points out that both former presidents, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, did not look to incorporate their national policies and religious views in the same realm like Bush did, stating that “…Thomas Jefferson refused to officially declare national days of prayer and