The United States is a Christian Nation

Pro needs to remember that this debate is heavily based on how America was FOUNDED. Whilst modern American religious views are important, it is how the country was intended, from foundation, that really matters. Firstly, the US Constitution, the ruling document of the United States, makes no direct mention to the Christian religion. Strange how, for a Christian nation, to fail to mention this religion in a very important manner is very confusing... unless it wasn't. (1) (3) The Declaration of Independence DOES not mention 'God','Creator' and Providence', but this is not exclusive to the Christian religion, nor was the Declaration of Independence used to govern. (2) Article 6 of the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights states, "...no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States." This only serves to SEPARATE a need for religion to hold public office, meaning that, while it is true all US presidents were and are somehow related to the Christian religion, this was only decided by the American public. If not for religious bias, an atheist could also hold public office. 'In God We Trust' was not added to American coins by the founding fathers: that was done in 1863 during a surge in religious fervor as a result of the US Civil War. 'In God We Trust' was not added to American paper money by the founding fathers: that was done in 1957, passed by Congress. 'Under One God' was not added by the founding fathers, it was added in 1954, once again passed by Congress. The latter two were added by Congress as the NATO were making a statement against the "godlessness of Communism" This fuelled when the American government added a national day of prayer and replaced 'E Pluribus Unum' with 'In God We Trust'. Contrary to popular belief, most founding fathers were either deist or ambivalent to the Christian God. Founding fathers who fell under this category include: Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Thomas Paine, John Adams and even George Washington. Thomas Jefferson, a deist, rejected key Christian concepts such as The Trinity, The Virgin Birth, The Divinity of Christ, The Resurrection and Original Sin. As the nail in the coffin, John Adams stated, in the Treaty of Tripoli signed into law on June 10, 1797 that, "The Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion..." (8) So if the founding fathers: - were not necessarily Christian - excluded God from the Constitution - excluded Christianity from the Pledge of Allegiance - excluded God from the American currency - made sure no religious requirements are neederd to hold public office and - declared the US as non-religious It is clear that the US is a SECULAR, not Christian nation. (1) http://www.usconstitution.net... (2) https://allthingsliberty.com... (3) http://www.opposingviews.com... (4) http://wiki.ironchariots.org... (5) http://www.smithsonianmag.com... (6) http://www.alternet.org... (7) http://www.salon.com... (8) http://www.nobeliefs.com... (9) http://www.christianpost.com... (10) http://atheism.about.com... (11) http://rationalwiki.org... (12) http://www.nytimes.com... (13) http://www.treasury.gov... (14)