Is our nation a "Christian nation?" Does it have to be composed of Christians ONLY to be called that? Or, was there a conscious attempt by the founding fathers to create a Christian nation - to base our nation on a value system and set of principles derived from Christianity?
I think of the Declaration of Independence as I ponder this question. (See http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html )
"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. ...
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. ...
"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."
I think there is a clear acknowledgement of the power of and our dependence on God. However, to be fair, this doesn't show Christian faith yet. The video also shows that various Presidents spoke of God. One mentions "our religion," but that is still not clear that it refers to Christianity - I would have to know more context.
So, I guess the search continues. Maybe it's time to hit the library and see if there is more evidence of the intent of Our great Country's founders.
A question first: if the foundation of Our Country is NOT Christianity or its values and principles -- then WHAT is? And more importantly, what determines the direction we are going in?
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