The United States of America's Constitution is not based on Christianity

Thank you Hunton711 for joining in the debate. In the first 4 paragraphs you make several vague claims to the Christian nature of the Founding Fathers, saying that there are several documents supporting that belief. You have cited none, and given the judges no reason to believe your claims. In fact, several of the founding fathers were deists, as deism was a growing trend in the time period leading up to the revolution. [1] Here is a list of them: Thomas Jefferson - "I have recently been examining all the known superstitions of the world, and do not find in our particular superstition (Christianity) one redeeming feature. They are all alike founded on fables and mythology." [2] Benjamin Franklin - "Some books against Deism fell into my hands. . . It happened that they wrought an effect on my quite contrary to what was intended by them; for the arguments of the Deists, which were quoted to be refuted, appeared to me much stronger than the refutations; in short, I soon became a thorough Deist." [2] James Madison - "Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise." [2] John Adams - "This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it." [2] Thomas Paine - "I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish Church, by the Roman Church, by the Greek Church, by the Turkish Church, by the Protestant Church, nor by any Church that I know of. My own mind is my own Church. Each of those churches accuse the other of unbelief; and for my own part, I disbelieve them all." [2] George Washington - Historian Barry Schwartz writes: "George Washington's practice of Christianity was limited and superficial because he was not himself a Christian... He repeatedly declined the church's sacraments. Never did he take communion, and when his wife, Martha, did, he waited for her outside the sanctuary... Even on his deathbed, Washington asked for no ritual, uttered no prayer to Christ, and expressed no wish to be attended by His representative." [2] James Wilson [4] Alexander Hamilton [1] Cornelius Harnett [1] Gouverneur Morris [1] Hugh Williamson [1] Ethan Allen [1] As you can easily see, these quotes from our founding fathers were not simply fighting against the tyranny of one religion, rather against all. And yet again, when you discuss the creation of checks and balances, you "cite" "literally thousands of documents and writings which clearly expose their true intentions." Thousands, you say? If that were true, then why would you choose to use a document that was made years after most of the men had died? That document you cite is mostly correct when it states that "We are a Christian people." Why? Because Christianity was truly widespread during that time and deism was on the decline. [1] Besides, 2 Great Awakenings had occurred by then, making anyone who viewed America as not a Christian nation like the "evil liberals" who do today. However, there is an even better document that more accurately describes the views on Christian establishment, which was actually signed by the second president of the United States, a founding father named John Adams, and was unanimously passed by congress. And that document was the Treaty of Tripoli. Written in 1796, article 11 specifically states "the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion." [3] But perhaps, due to it being dug in the treaty, the voters didn't know about that part? Nope, it was read aloud from beginning to end, so all could hear it. Now let's get back to the focus of the debate, which is that of the Constitution. I have already established that the key members in writing the Constitution were Deists and not Christian, who disliked organized religion, thus giving no defendable reason as to why they would base the Constitution on the Christian bible and/or faith. Furthermore, there is absolutely no mention whatsoever to any deity or religious icon or belief whatsoever in the Constitution. [5] In fact, the only mention of religion in the Constitution, other than the 1st Amendment (which was added later under the Bill of Rights), is in article VI, section 3 and says "The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." [6] Therefore, there is no textual or authorial evidence to support the claim that the Constitution was based on Christianity. I look forward to your response. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org... [2] http://freethought.mbdojo.com... [3] http://www.stephenjaygould.org... [4] http://www.noguyinthesky.com... [5] http://www.thenation.com... [6] http://en.wikipedia.org...