The United States was founded on Christianity

Thank you, Con. The resolution itself does not posit any sense of area of influence, so therefore areas of the "identity", definition, etc. of "the United States"; I can use historical interpretation or refer, in generalized manners, to areas of the United States--"foundations" as being influenced by Christianity. --Arguments--- My Case --->The core beliefs, and values of American democracy, which is tied to its formation, include life, liberty, which is cast in different variants but include personal, civic, political freedoms, etc, the pursuit of happiness that is placed so to not infringe upon others, and others--a common good, equality, diversity, and so forth [3] . These values have at least remained our ideal values despite changes in everyday life, trends of behavior, onsets, etc. (For reference when discussing values) -->It is well known that America is described as an experiment in Enlightenment ideals and some of the underlying institutions and values can be tied to Enlightenment thinking. Examples include parallels that are as general as skepticism, reason, liberty, and modernization [the subscribing to absolute moral, political, (etc) authority], the extension of such shared beliefs and values to politics and to the individual man, etc [4]. We know that the American Enlightenment is responsible for, in the context of the growing colonial resistance to British control and imposition, stirring the revolutionary spirit and advocacy of overhaul, especially in line with theories on the government's function in relation to the people. Such Enlightenment ideas however can be viewed in a somewhat religious light: the very placement of such ideals, including reason, defined as a supposed new force that permits new conclusion, may seem contradictory, especially in its rejection of Christianity, but can easily be placed in a framework, that, in allowing the operation of "secular" thinking, especially in regards to the incidence of the enthronement of the Goddess of Reason at the Notre Dame [5]. Religion in the colonies, and prior to the union and independence of the colonies was predominantly Christianity, and to be specific--Protestantism, with its branches Puritanism in New England and Anglicism in the farther south; even with changes, as induced by the Great Awakening, the hold of Christianity--especially Anglicism did not waiver too greatly [6]. Thus, the framework for secular operations in America can be deemed...to be Christianity.;) On the matter, however, there is also one more point: there is actually a somewhat ironic similarity between Enlightenment ideals and religion, particularly Christianity. Despite possessing skepticism, the Enlightenment thought also posited an objective morality, perhaps through the very common will, the fact that nature can be designed to the point that it can be used as a model and studied with reason, and so forth [5]. Such are, actually, only the basic views of the Enlightenment, with the emphasis of reason, nature, etc that permeated America; the similarity also points to a Christian basis that can easily point to a more involved link with America's founding. And finally, on deism. Con mentioned deism though his subject--Thomas Paine displayed a patent disregard for Christianity--but he did take account of Christian Deism, which subjugates both deist principles, which can be summed up as belief in the existence of a God on the evidence of reason and nature only, but to principles where the ethics of Jesus' teachings are acknowledged...but his divine status not, incorporating a part of Christianity [7]. A major proponent of it--Thomas Jefferson--at least incorporated such, though in basics, in the Declaration, which is also important in outlining the basic principles of America's democracy. Its relevance can be stated, especially since it is responsible for setting the colonies to be unified as the US**. For example, in declaring of "Nature's God"--the Creator, Jefferson is able to extend that, in a legal precedent, that the creation of mankind by god can be tied to equality by all before God. And after all, equality is a...chief value.:) **It is also a very powerful basis of today's values and has defined our national identity, especially with its statement on human rights and America's chief beliefs. Note that again, I can point to the development of institutions--values, beliefs, etc, roughly up to the declaration of independence, based on what area--as well as extent. No conditions were specified from me not showing an indirect, though arguably powerful influence, of Christianity.;) =Counter-arguments= 1. The Treaty of Tripoli of 1796 is evidence that the United States of America was not founded on Christianity. -Counter: The treaty's statement can be viewed more in terms of declaring religion not to be the very source of enmity or the pretext that shall, in the words of the treaty, procure "an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries". -->The statement can be viewed, in terms of the events prior, as less of a more moral statement in regards to the hold of religion but rather a diplomatic tool in order to ensure harmony between the two factions:Prior to the treaty, incursions upon the American coast and attacks of merchant ships were being increasingly procured by the Barbary pirates. -->The significance of such incursions, targeted against Christian seaman traversing the seas lies in that the Barbary were extending their previous focus Christian empires: Italy, Spain, England, etc in their raids of the coastline and ships, with the main intention of capturing Christian slaves for the trading trends in North Africa and the Middle East. Thus the reason to imply the absence of a Christian base in an attempt to secure safety within the sea. [1,2] -->A compelling urgency at least lied behind the treaty: the damage done to the economy (in particular, such attacks obviously disrupted trade patterns, induced a spike in insurance rates, and also deterred foreign merchants from shipping to American bottoms. As one of the first challenges after the period of the two wars,, the issue not only permeated economic factors--the disruption of foreign trade, a spike in insurance rates, etc, but posed questions of security--how to manage the threat with a depleted naval supply (due to the previous War)--as well as the ability of the political unit arranged formerly to meet up to the challenge [2]. This at least explains the recourse to negotiation rather than outright war or build-up to a military conflict. 2.I concede that Thomas Paine did not explicitly show Christian faith but rather a form of deism; the evidence, in particular his statements of his disbelief. However,my opponent has not shown yet how he can be tied to the founding of the US or how his beliefs and statements set the bar for underlying institutions and values of the US. Sources: 1. http://www.wallbuilders.com... 2. http://www.columbia.edu... 3. " CORE VALUES OF AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY"; Source: CIVITAS: A Framework for Civic Education, a collaborative project of the Center for Civic Education and the Council for the Advancement of Citizenship, National Council for the Social Studies Bulletin No. 86, 1991. You can obtain a copy of “Civitas” by calling 1-800-350-4223 4. http://www.iep.utm.edu... 5. http://books.google.com... (p6-7) 6. http://edsitement.neh.gov... 7. http://www.lonang.com...