Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Date:         Mon, 12 Oct 1992 10:17:42 EDT
From:         MKLINE%VDH.BITNET@VTVM2.CC.VT.EDU
Subject:      History Test

Subject: History Test

    Some time ago, there was a conversation on if America was founded on
Christian principles. Some documents came to light that might answer
them, but I doubt if anyone will know more than 1 or two of them. Do you
have any idea where these came from.

    History Test: Was The United States a Christian Nation?

    Where were these quotes found?

    "Our laws, and our institutions, must necessarily be based on, and
must include the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible
of it to be otherwise. In this case, and to this extent, our civilization
and our institutions, are emphatically Christian."
    "From the discovery of the continent to this present hour there is a
single voice everywhere making the same affirmation, we find everywhere a
clear recognition of this truth.

                      -----------------------------------------------

    Added after the first draft: "...we are endowed by our Creator with
certain inalienable rights." "...we appeal to the Supreme Judge of the
Universe for the rectitude of our intentions..." "...and with a firm
reliance on the protection of Divine Providence we pledge to each other,
our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."
                        ----------------------------------

    "Everyone appointed to public office must say, I do profess faith in
God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ His only Son, and in the
Holy Ghost, one God and blessed forevermore; and I do acknowledge the
Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be given by divine
inspiration."
                        ---------------

    "And each member of the legislature, before he takes his seat, will
make and subscribe the following declaration: "I do believe in one God,
the Creator and Governor of the Universe, the rewarder of the good, the
punisher of the wicked.""
                        ------------

    No person who should deny the being of a God, or the truth of the
(Christian) religion or the divine authority of either the Old or New
Testaments, or who should hold religious principles incompatible with the
freedom and safety of the State, should be capable of holding any office
or place of trust in the civil government of this state."
                        ---------------------

    "That morality and piety, rightly grounded evangelical principles,
would give the best and greatest security to government, therefore the
legislature is empowered to adopt measures for the support and
maintenance of public (Christian) teachers of piety, religion, and
morality."
                        ------------------

    "No person who denies the being of God or a future state of rewards
and punishments shall hold any office in the civil department of this
state. And no religious test will be required of any officer in the
government."
                        -------------

    This is enough. Later I'll post where they came from. None of these
items came up during another discussion of if the Founding Fathers were
Christian or wanted a Christian nation. If there is an interest, it will
be a future series.

Maks.