Can anyone give me sources on why america isn't a christian nation?

Question

i need like pure sources and such. something printable hopefully.

Answer 1

You can assertain our entire governmental structure from these works:



John Locke - Two Treatises of Government

Rousseau - Du contrat social ou Principes du droit politique

Montesquieu - De l'Esprit des Lois



You can understand the foundation of our legal system through:



English Common Law

Roman Corpus Juris Civilis



I'm not saying that Christian values aren't completely intermingled with our secular systems, nor am I saying that the above mentioned authors and bodies of legal works weren't influenced by Christianity, but we are not specifically a Christian nation.





Jake:

The phrase "separation of church and state" is a derivitive of the first two clauses of the 1st Amendment:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

Locke is credited with the idea of separating church and state. The phrase "separation of church and state" is traced to an 1802 letter by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptists, where Jefferson spoke of the combined effect of the "Establishment" clause and the "Free Exercise" clause. Jefferson also spoke of a "wall of separation" but he's not credited as the originator of that phrase.

Answer 2

Treaty of Tripoli



"Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."



Ratified Unanimously in the senate 339 votes.



No record of public dissent to this, while the treaty was published in full in several papers.



-------------edit



Thumbs down to this? What do you think I did, went back in time in a time machine, and edited the damn thing, just to make some Fundies look bad? If I could do that, I'd be God Emperor of the World, not posting an answer on YA!

Answer 3

We could start at the forefathers and work up.. Here's some great reading that walks the reader through how the drafters of our Constitution based their ideology on Enlightenment http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_did_religion_mean_to_our_founding_forefathers



Jefferson and Franklin in particular were critical of organized religion.



Jefferson quotes regarding religion:

http://nobeliefs.com/jefferson.htm



Benjamin Franklin on religion:

http://exchristian.net/exchristian/2002/03/ben-franklin-quotes.php



Throughout the years since - we have put so much emphasis on diversity on openness to all races, creeds, religions and belief systems that our American identity our unique culture is wholly different than any of the original countries that any of us came from. Limiting this nations faith to strictly Christianity is naive. This would not be America otherwise - it would be another Iran or Saudi Arabia (minus muhammad of course..)



Separation of church and state:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_church_and_state



Religion in America:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_the_United_States



Religious diversity in America:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_prac2.htm



Religious tolerance:

http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2008/February/20080205173317wltsruh0.2710382.html



Only direct mention of religion in the Constitution:

http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_reli.html#original



Otherwise lack of religious specifics in Constitution:

http://atheism.about.com/od/godlessliberals/p/Constitution.htm



Bottom line is - while there are millions of American christian families - there is no "exclusively" Christian nation found here.

Answer 4

The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment

Article VI, US Constitution

The following Supreme Court Cases:

Lemon v. Kurtzman

Engel v. Vitale

Kitzmiller v. Dover

Answer 5

Establishment Clause, Treaty of Tripoli (I remembered it wrong, "As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion;...), Federalist Papers. Come on, how hard is this?

Answer 6

Because it is a constitutional, representative Republic, where freedom of religion is an inalienable right, and the separation of Church and State is a vital part of the fabric of the country.



It's that simple.

Answer 7

It is simply because of separation of church and state - there can be no national religion. You really don't need a source for that.



EDIT: Jake - stop listening to Glenn Beck.



From the first ammendment:



"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."



The first line means that government cannot pass any laws favoring one religion - and they certainly cannot declare a national religion.

Answer 8

Although the founding fathers weren't fans of organized religion the constitution is based on Judeo Christian values that were brought over with the Europeans.

Answer 9

1st amendment to the Constitution



Treaty of Tripoli

Answer 10

Most of Americans are Christian, so according to the populace America is predominately a Christian nation -- however our government nor does our society answer to the Church.



The government is secular.

Answer 11

Try the US Constitution

Answer 12

most of the country is some type of Christian

most of the founders were Christian

government officials put their hand on the BIBLE when they swear in

the chaplain of the senate is Christian

every president but one was Christian

idk where obama's head was when he said america isnt a christian nation

Answer 13

Serparation of Church and State.

Answer 14

Try the First Amendment, there are many forms of so called "christianity" as well as a satanic church that attempts to mimic Christianity so they can usher in their own beliefs.



It prevents the implementation of a false religion or empire built on lies.



Beware of false teachers.



Elementary school teachers currently force children to live a different religion based on the teacher's beliefs or that of the village--when in fact, they teach satanism, lies, abuse, and molestation.



They call themselves christians too. They have already raped, violated, and brainwashed numerous children. Further they blackmail them into following these false doctrines since they are forced to remain in public school.



They are raising the nazi youth.

Answer 15

The establishment clause of the Constitution.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Establishment_Clause_of_the_First_Amendment



This link also includes information about the free exercise clause.

Answer 16

Yeah. THE CONSTITUTION. Have you read any of it? Or how about the writings of the founding fathers?

Answer 17

google it yourself

Answer 18

lawyers

Answer 19

Sorry, but America IS a judeo-Christian nation.



BTW, Domino D, if you can find separation of church and state ANYWHERE in the Constitution, please let me know. The establishment clause (which is different than separation of church and state) just says that the government can't sponsor religion, meaning they can't establish a church. They are, however, allowed to voice their religious views (I.E. "in God we trust" on our currency).



And for those of you who are pressing thumbs down on my answer: I don't care if my message is unpopular. I am speaking the truth and standing up for my God, for without him, we would not enjoy the blessings he has given America.