The Unites States is not a Christain Nation

OverviewAmerica has had foundations in Christianity since the colonies and continued in its Christian foundations until 1947. Now, there is this doctrine called the “Separation of Church and State,” and many use this relatively new doctrine to say that America is not Christian. The 13 Colonies The 13 original colonies of the U. S all had some form of state-supported religion [1], and 8 of the 13 had a specific sect of Christianity [1,2]. Here are the colonies and their religions:Virginia: Anglican/Church of EnglandNew York: Anglican/Church of EnglandMassachusetts: Congregational ChurchMaryland: Anglican/Church of EnglandDelaware: Non-Denominational ChristianityConnecticut: Congregational ChurchNew Hampshire: Congregational ChurchRhode Island: Non-Denominational ChristianityGeorgia: Non-Denominational ChristianityNorth Carolina: Anglican/Church of EnglandSouth Carolina: Anglican/Church of EnglandPennsylvania: Non-Denominational ChristianityNew Jersey: Non-Denominational ChristianityThere is already an evident religious foundation. Early AmericaThe American Constitution initially had no religious protection of people, in addition to other questionable freedoms that needed clarification. Thus, the FA was written to clarify the limits the federal government had regarding these freedoms. But how was the FA even thought of? Was there a predecessor? Well, it is thought that Thomas Jefferson’s ‘Establishing Religious Freedom’ bill that he introduced in Virginia, which states:“…that the impious presumption of legislators and rulers, civil as well as ecclesiastical, who, being themselves but fallible and uninspired men, have assumed dominion over the faith of others, setting up their own opinions and modes of thinking as the only true and infallible, and as such endeavoring to impose them on others, hath established and maintained false religions over the greatest part of the world and through all time: That to compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors,4 is sinful and tyrannical; that even the forcing him to support this or that teacher of his own religious persuasion, is depriving him of the comfortable liberty of giving his contributions to the particular pastor whose morals he would make his pattern…” [3]This act was meant to protect citizens from state religion, and to keep the state from forcing others to abide by any given religion — not limiting and suppressing it. Many say this act was based off of Jefferson’s strong belief in a “separation of church and state,” even though those words fail to exist anywhere in this document or the FA. Rather, these words are from a letter to the Danbury Baptists. In 1801, The Baptists of Danbury worried over rumors that a national denomination would be established, and they sent Thomas Jefferson a letter addressing it. On January 1, 1802; he responded in kind. He assured them that the Federal Government would not establish any one Christian Denomination as the national denomination:“I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. ” [2]This phrase is not recorded during the Constitutional Convention or other Congressional sessions. This raises a question: why did Jefferson use this phrase? He was addressing Baptists, a denomination he didn’t adhere to. He wanted to create an understanding between him and them. He borrowed the phrase “wall of separation” from one of the more prominent Baptist ministers, Roger Williams, who said:“When they have opened a gap in the hedge or wall of separation between the garden of the church and the wilderness of the world… and made His Garden a wilderness as it is this day. And that… it must of necessity be walled in peculiarly unto Himself from the world, and all that be saved… are to be transplanted out of the wilderness of the World. ” [2, 4]According to Williams, this “wall” was erected to protect the “garden of the church” from the “wilderness if the world” or the State [2]. SC RulingsThe SC ruled in favor of the Christian religion, even stating that it was the established religion:Runkel v. Winemiller, 1799"Religion is of general and public concern and on its support depend. .. the peace and good order of government, the safety and happiness of the people. By our form of government, the Christian religion is the established religion; and all sects and denominations of Christians are placed upon the same equal footing and are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty. ” [2,5]The People v. Ruggles, 1811"[W]e are a Christian people and the morality of the country is deeply engrafted upon Christianity and not upon the doctrines or worship of those imposters [other religions]. .. . [We are a] people whose manners. .. and whose morals have been elevated and inspired. .. by means of the Christian religion… Though the constitution has discarded religious establishments, it does not forbid judicial cognizance of those offenses against religion and morality which have no reference to any such establishment. .. This [constitutional] declaration, noble and magnanimous as it is, when duly understood, never meant to withdraw religion in general, and with it the best sanctions of moral and social obligation from all consideration and notice of the law…" [2,5]Updegraph v. The Commonwealth, 1824 "The assertion is once more made that Christianity never was received as part of the common law of this Christian land; and. .. if it was, it was virtually repealed by the Constitution of the United States. .. Christianity. .. is and always has been a part of the common law. .. not Christianity founded on any particular religious tenets; not Christianity with an established church. .. but Christianity with liberty of conscience to all men… Thus this. .. legislature framed this great body of laws for a Christian country and a Christian people. .. . [T]hus it is irrefragably proved that the laws and institutions of this State are built on the foundation of reverence for Christianity. .. . In this the Constitution. .. has made no alteration nor in the great body of the laws which was an incorporation of the common-law doctrine of Christianity. ” [2,5] Other cases include: Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States, 1892; United States v. Macintosh, 1931; Murphy v Ramsey, 1885; Reynolds vs. United States, 1878; and Davis v. Beason, 1889. [2,5,7]PrecedenceFrom the Founding, the SC ruled in favor of Christianity. That is, up until Everson v. Board of Education, 1947. In this case the SC cites only Jefferson’s eight words (“a wall of separation between Church and State”) and not their context or previous Supreme Court interpretations:“The First Amendment has erected a wall between church and state. That wall must be kept high and impregnable. We could not approve the slightest breach. ” — Everson v. Board of Education, 1947 [6]This violates Court Precedence. Courtroom precedence is important to the Judicial interpretation of law. The SC decides what enacted legislature means based on previous cases and how the verdict was reached. For the SC, the precedent must be followed. [8]The SC even said that the Everson case was unprecedented. [9]________________________________ [1] . http://undergod.procon.org...[2] Myth of Separation, by Dave Barton[3] . http://founders.archives.gov...[4] . https://www.tgm.org...[5] . http://teachourhistory.com...[6] . https://supreme.justia.com...[7] . http://fee.org...[8] . http://jailhouselaw.org...[9] . https://supreme.justia.com...