The United States Is A Christian Nation

The Declaration of Independence Is Linked To The Christian God:Con has made the case that the Creator invoked in Declaration is not explicitly Christian. He said "If he'd wanted to invoke Christianity or its values over those of another religion, Jefferson most likely would have said God." Let me make it obvious that Jefferson is, indeed, referencing the Christian God -- even by Con's own criteria:In A Summary View of The Rights of British America, Jefferson states that the encroachments of the British Crown were encroachments "upon those rights which God and the laws have given equally and independently to all." And that "the God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time; the [British] hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them." To Jefferson, God is the source of our inalienable rights. He is the giver of Life and Liberty. Staying in line with traditional literary criticism, The Creator in The Rights of British America is the same Creator in the Declaration of Independence. All of this supposed ambiguity as to what "Creator" meant has just been slain. The Declaration is, indeed, invoking the Christian God as the basis of our most precious, inalienable rights. The Christian Influences On America Are Not Necessarily Uniquely Christian:"As Pro has taken the position that this is a Christian nation, he must prove that is is uniquely Christian."This is an arbitrary declaration of criteria. There are many foundational Christian doctrines that are not uniquely Christian viz.: Monotheism, prophecy, sin, etc. This debate is not here to determine the uniqueness of the Christian doctrines that have influenced America, rather it is here to determine if the Founders indirectly (or directly) cite Judeo-Christian values as the source of influence. Therefore, the idea of a Creator in the Declaration, though not uniquely Christian, is Christian influence yet because Thomas Jefferson directly cites the Creator as the Christian God. In Defense Of My John Adams Quote: It is true I had forgotten the ellipses in the notes on the quote, however the meaning remains intact:"The general Principles, on which the Fathers Atchieved Independence, were the only Principles in which that beautiful Assembly of young Gentlemen could Unite . . . . And what were these general Principles? I answer, the general Principles of Christianity, in which all those Sects were United..." [1] In other words:"The [general Principles of Christianity], on which the Fathers Achieved Independence, were the only principles in which that beautiful Assembly of young Gentlemen could Unite...."The weight of this quote, as it relates to my thesis, is Adam's affirmation that the general principles of Christianity were the principles through which the Fathers achieved independence. Religious Freedom Finds Its Source In "Almighty God"In his Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom, Jefferson states the primary reason for establishing religious freedom is the fact "that Almighty God hath created the mind free, and manifested His supreme will that free it shall remain..." And that a departure of religious freedom would be a departure "from the plan of the holy author of our religion..." More evidence that the basic American philosophy of unalienable rights stem from Almighty God. The "Duty Of Nations":George Washington, acting as President of the United States, proclaimed, "WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour;" [2]Following Washington's example in "[acknowledging] the providence of Almighty God," John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and Henry Laurens begin the document that made us a recognized country before the world "in the name of the most holy and undivided Trinity." [3]Doctor Benjamin Rush, also following Washington, declaring "the origin of the proposed system, and fairly deduced it from heaven," It is then recorded that "he as much believed the hand of God was employed in this work." [4]Indeed, many others including: James Madison, Jedidiah Morse, Joseph Story, Benjamin Franklin, Charles Carroll, John Adams, Elias Boudinot, and John Dickinson all recognized the importance of the Christian Religion and Christian morality as it relates to government. [5]State Constitutions That Were Influenced By Christianity: 1. The Founding Fathers of Pennsylvania, including Benjamin Franklin said this in the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776: "And each member, before he takes his seat, shall make and subscribe the following declaration, viz: I do believe in one God, the creator and governor of the universe, the rewarder of the good and the punisher of the wicked. And I do acknowledge the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by Divine inspiration.And no further or other religious test shall ever hereafter be required of any civil officer or magistrate in this State." In light of the explicit acknowledgment of the Christian God, they stated this: "We, the representatives of the freemen of Pennsylvania, in general convention met, for the express purpose of framing such a government, confessing the goodness of the great Governor of the universe (who alone knows to what degree of earthly happiness mankind mav attain, by perfecting the arts of government)" To deny that this "Governor of the universe" is in reference to anything but the Christian God, acknowledged elsewhere in the Penn. Constitution, is to deny the obvious. 2. The Founders of Rhode Island allowed their constitution to remain the Royal Charter, in which it states:"...to secure them in the free exercise and enjoyment of all their civil and religious rights, appertaining to them, as our loving subjects and to preserve unto them that liberty, in the true Christian faith and worship of God..." 3. The Delaware constitution of 1776 declares that: "Every person who shall be chosen a member of either house, or appointed to any office or place of trust, before taking his seat, or entering upon the execution of his office, shall take the following oath...to wit: 'I, A B. do profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ His only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God, blessed for evermore; and I do acknowledge the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by divine inspiration." 4. The South Carolina Constitution of 1778, "The qualification of electors shall be that every free white man, and no other person, who acknowledges the being of a God, and believes in a future state of rewards and punishments," The Primary Doctrines of South Carolina's State Religion: 1st. That there is one eternal God, and a future state of rewards and punishments. 2d. That God is publicly to be worshipped. 3d. That the Christian religion is the true religion 4th. That the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are of divine inspiration, and are the rule of faith and practice. 5th. That it is lawful and the duty of every man being thereunto called by those that govern, to bear witness to the truth. 5. Vermont's Constitution declares: "And each member, before he takes his seat, shall make and subscribe the following declaration, viz. You do believe in one God, the Creator and Governor of the Universe, the rewarder of the good, and punisher of the wicked. And you do acknowledge the scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by divine inspiration; and own and profess the Protestant religion." Sources Will Be Posted In Comments