Did the Founding Fathers Believe Christianity Was the Basis of American
Government?
Do you think our Founding Fathers believed in God and founded America
as a Christian nation? The Supreme Court answered this question in 1892
and cited fifty historical examples to prove America was indeed a Christian
nation. These are just a few:
Governor Bradford, in writing of the Pilgrims` landing, describes their
first act: "Being thus arrived in a good harbor and brought safe
to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven...."
The New England Charter, signed by King James 1, confirmed the goal
of the first settlers to be: "to advance the enlargement of Christian
religion, to the glory of God Almighty."
The goal of government based on Scripture was affirmed by individual
counties, such as is found in the Rhode Island Charter of 1683, which
begins: "We submit our persons, lives and estates unto our Lord
Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords and to all those perfect
and most absolute laws of His given us in His holy Word."
Benjamin Franklin stood and addressed the Continental Congress with
these words: "In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when
we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for divine
protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard and they were graciously answered.
All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent
instances of a superintending Providence in our favor.... Have we now
forgotten this powerful friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His
assistance?
I have lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing
proofs I see of this truth: that God governs in the affairs of man.
And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it
probable that an empire can rise without His aid?"
George Washington, in his inaugural address to Congress as the first
president of the nation stated: "No people can be bound to acknowledge
and adore the invisible hand which conducts the affairs of men more
than the people of the United States. Every step by which they have
advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been
distinguished by some token of providential agency...."
One of George Washington's first official acts was the first Thanksgiving
proclamation, which reads, "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 implore His protection and
favor..." It goes on to call the nation to thankfulness to Almighty
God.
Thomas Jefferson said: "Indeed, I tremble for my country when
I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever."
President John Quincy Adams: "The first and almost the only book
deserving of universal attention is the Bible."
Andrew Jackson: "Go to the Scriptures...the joyful promises it
contains will be a balsam to all your troubles."
From President Abraham Lincoln's Proclamation for a National Day of
Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer, April 30, 1863: "We have been
the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have been preserved,
these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers,
wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown.
But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which
preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened
us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts,
that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue
of our own. Intoxicated with undroken success, we have become too self-
sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace,
too proud to pray to the God that made us! It behooves us, then, to
humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national
sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness."
The Supreme Court Decision 1892---Church of the Holy Trinity Vs. The
United States: "Our laws and our institutions must necessarily
be based upon and embody the teachings of The Redeemer of mankind. It
is impossible that it should be otherwise; and in this sense and to
this extent our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian....
This is a religious people. This is historically true."
President Woodrow Wilson: "...the Bible... is the one supreme
source of revelation of the meaning of life, the nature of God and spiritual
nature and need of men. It is the only guide of life which really leads
the spirit in the way of peace and salvation."
In spite of these statements, many people today say that the Founding
Fathers never intended for religious principles to be part of public
life or public affairs. They add: Doesn`t being a Christian nation really
threaten pluralism? Interestingly, the Founding Fathers discuss that
and they felt that it enhanced it.
Patrick Henery made a very clear statement: "It cannot be emphasized
too often or too strongly that this great nation was founded not by
religionists but by Christians; not on religions but on the gospel of
Jesus Christ....It is for this reason that people of other faiths have
been afforded asylum, prosperity and freedom of worship here."
It must be concluded that our Founding Fathers did believe in God and
founded America as a Christian nation.
Rev. Greenfield
* * *
Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule,
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites
It violates the Bill of Rights.
Any time my head I bow
Becomes a federal matter now.
The law is specific; the law is precise
Praying out loud is no longer nice.
Praying aloud in a public hall
Upsets those who believe in nothing at all.
In silence alone we can meditate
And if God should get the credit - great!
They are bringing their guns, I don't dare bring my Bible
To do so might make me liable.
So, now oh Lord, this plead I make;
Should I be shot in school
My soul please take.
* * *
CBS will be forced to discontinue "Touched By An Angel" for
using the word "God" in every program. Madeline Murray O'Hare,
an Athiest, succesfully eliminated the use of the Bible reading and
prayer from schools fifteen years ago. Her organization has now been
granted a Federal Hearing on the smae subject by the Federal Communication
Commision (FCC) in Washington, D.C. Their petition, No. 2493, would
ultimately pave the way to stop the reading of the gospel of our Lord
and Savior on the airwaves of America. They took this petition with
287,000 signatures to back their stand. If this is succesful, all Sunday
worship services being broadcast either by radio or television will
stop. This group is also campaigning to remove all Christmas programs,
Christmas songs and carols from Public Schools! You can HELP! We are
prsying for at least one million signed letters. This would defeat their
effort and show that there are many Christians alive, well and concerned
in our country. Please print this letter then cut off and sign the form
below. PLEASE DO NOT SIGN JOINTLY, such as Mr. & Mrs. Each person
should sign one letter seperately, and mail it in seperate envelopes!
Be sure to put petition 2495 on the envelope when you mail the letter.
This letter must go regular mail. It is very important that letters
are mailed right away.
Please e-mail this letter to all your friends and relatives and to
anyone else you feel led to, or photo copy it and mail it. As Christians
we must unite in this. Please do noot take this lightly. We ignored
her once and lost prayer in schools and in offices across the nation.
Please stand up for your religious freedom and let your voice be heard.
Together we CAN make a difference in our country whle creating an opportunity
for the lost to know the Lord.
* * *
church and state
If they are serious about the separation of Church and State then why
do they care so much about marriage licenses? I don't know very many
clergymen who would perform a marriage, which is an institution under
God, without the participants proving they were licensed by the State
first. The only time the issue comes up is when the State perceives
a loss of power. A child praying in school is a demonstration that the
State is not at the apex of power.
Randy
* * *
This is a copy of the E-Mail iI sent to a Liberal friend in Ohio, afterhearing
that the Court in Cinn. Ohio Ruled that the State Motto isunconstitutional!!&!What
Next????
Ohio State Motto
I heard on tonights late news that the Liberals have outlawed the Ohio
state motto " With God All things are possible " What will
be next ?????? They outlawed God from schools and look what has happened
to the schools!!!!! If we don't watch out they will outlaw God from
our country after thatit's all OVER .
When you Outlaw the foundation of this great Nation Which is GOD then
it is all over.
Enjoy the time left and take care,
Pete
* * *
Restoring Morality in Government
When minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas
Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what
they heard:
Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and
to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe
to thoseWho call evil good" but that is exactly what we have done.
We have lost our Spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.We confess
that we have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it
pluralism;
We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism;We have
endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle; We have exploited
the poor and called it the lottery;We have rewarded laziness and called
it welfare;
We have killed our unborn and called it choice; We have shot abortionists
and called it justifiable; We have neglected to discipline our children
and called it building self-esteem;
We have abused power and called it politics; We have coveted our neighbor's
possessions and called it ambition;
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it
freedom of expression;
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called
it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every
sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been
sent to direct us to the center of your will. We ask it in the name
of Your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during
the prayer in protest. In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, where
Rev.Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47
of those calls responding negatively. The church is now receiving international
requests for copies of this prayer from India, Africa, and Korea. Commentator
Paul Harvey aired this prayer on "The Rest of the Story" on
the radio and received a larger response to this program than any other
he has ever aired.
With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly
become our desire so that we again can be called one nation under God.
From: Jim McCoy
* * *
Here's the Problem:
On June 28, 2000 the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the First Amendment Constitutional
right of the Boy Scouts of America to assemble peaceablyfor the purpose
of teaching boys standards of the Scout Oath and Law. In the Scout Oath
Scouters promise to do their duty to God and Country, obey the Scout
Law, help other people and keep physically strong, mentally awake and
morally straight.
Those who lost that lawsuit were represented by LAMDA, the legal defense
wing of an organization of homosexual, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered
people. They claim that the Boy Scout standard of being "morally
straight" discriminates against those who are not straight, i.e.
homosexuals, lesbians, bi-sexual and transgendered people.
Since losing this court case, a coalition of liberal groups has been
attacking the Boy Scouts at the state and local level. These escalating
attacks include pressuring companies to withdraw support for the scouts,
demanding that United Way organizations drop the scouts from their fundraising
drives and filing law suits against local governments to try to force
them to prohibit the Scouts from using parks and public
buildings.
Here's How You Can Help:
Sign the following petition to the National Council of the Boy Scouts
of America. Also send e-mail to ten of your friends and urge them to
visit our site. Finally, please consider making a small donation to
help spread the word.
I support the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America for their
defense of our First Amendment right peaceably to assemble in order
to teach boys to do their duty to God and country, obey the Scout Law,
help other people and keep physically strong, mentally awake and morally
straight. I urge the leadership of the Boy Scouts of America to resist
all efforts being made today, through lawsuits and financial and social
intimidation, to modify the meaning or to abandon these time-tested
precepts of responsible manhood.
* * *
10 Commandments and prayer in school
I just heard a couple of callers say that morality should be taught
in the home and not in school; therefore they felt that prayer should
not be allowed in school. I wonder if they have children in school.
We do, and we teach biblical morality at home. Our problem is that schools
are trying to teach their own form of morality, which is purely secular
and contradicts what we try to teach our children. It is no wonder our
children are confused these days. The secular world cannot understand
and realize how important being able to communicate with God is to those
who believe. God, for us, is more than going to church on Sunday and
praying at mealtimes. God is real for us and exists in all that we do,
think and say - at ALL times.
Prayer and Christians are not a threat to any freedoms for these people.
The real threat to them is when they find out that what God said about
Himself is true and that there will be a judgment.
God Bless,
Wayne
* * *
Tolerance Due to Separation?
We are not a tolerant country because of separation of church and
state. We are tolerant because of the religious persecution of our founding
fathers who were Christians. We are tolerant because they separated
state from church and because we were a Christian nation. There is no
such concept of separation of church and state in our founding documents.
There was in the constitution of the Soviet Union. And we know how tolerant
that society was. Now that the US is becoming a secular society, we
are now becoming a religious intolerant society.
Brad
* * *
I want to reiterate some of the comments I have read on this website.
I am appalled at the actions of some of our so-called fellow Americans.
It has never been a secret that "IN GOD WE TRUST". All people
in the United States use our currency with that printed on it. Thank
God we have not removed that. Yet we have people who call themselves
Americans who are too ashamed to admit that God is the basis for our
country. This is how we were founded. Too many Americans are ashamed
of the flag. These are our true colors. Or should be.
Recently I received an e-mail concerning some people and businesses
across the USA taking down their flags and the signs which say "God
Bless America" because of fear of offending some people. Bull honky!!!!
STAND UP AND BE PROUD, AMERICANS.
How can people call themselves Americans, and not believe in what we
stand for. Would you work for a company that you did not like their
product? I doubt it, and if you did, you are double-minded. You will
not prosper this way.
I think it is wonderful how we open our arms and doors to those from
other countries and allow them to live among us. This shows brotherly
love. However, we can now see this has been to our demise. Should we
send them all away? No, I do not believe this is the thing to do. I
will shout loudly, though, that if you want to live in America, then
do as we do. We fly our American flags proudly, we do TRUST IN GOD,
we laugh, we love, we our neighborly. But if you don't like our flag,
if you don't want to learn our language, if you are offended if we say
"GOD BLESS AMERICA", THEN GO HOME or go somewhere else. HERE
IN AMERICA WE STAND TOGETHER AND WE WILL FLY OUR FLAGS, WE WILL ASK
GOD TO BLESS US AND OUR NATION AND OUR LEADERS, AND WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED
BY OUR OWN FELLOW AMERICANS. (The blessings of God for our country are
also for those of you who don't want us to talk to God or about Him.
Go figure!!)
Cecil
* * *
I have been hearing about the lady who did not like the sign that was
up on the board at her childs school. The sign read "God Bless
America". What is wrong with this?
I just don't understand some people. It was not referring to any one
belief or prayer. It was blessing our country. Our people are over in
Afganistan fighting , and maybe dying for our freedom and this woman
is worried about a sign. This is incredible to me. If she is so worried
about that statement , then maybe she should give her money up also.
It states on our monies, "IN GOD WE TRUST". People like her
should go to a country where she doesnt have to see signs like this,
and I feel so sorry for her child. In my opinion, these unpatriotic
idiots should go elsewhere.
P.S. I have been listening to Rush for about a year and I agree with
most everything he says. My prayers are with him.
* * *
IS THIS THE END OF CHRISTMAS IN AMERIKA?? from "Jim
& Marilynne Mellander"
THANKS TO THE ACLU AND OTHER RADICAL ATHEIST GROUPS,
TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS ARE BEING OUTLAWED ALL OVER AMERICA...WHENEVER
ANYONE WISHES ME "HAPPY HOLIDAYS" I ALWAYS REPLY "AND
A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU, TOO!"
Is This the End of Christmas in America? By Chuck Baldwin
/ December 18, 2001
All across America, Christmas is being expunged. In
spite of the events of three months ago, there is little room for Christmas
in America's public life. In fact, Christmas seems to be losing ground
even faster than in the past.
School districts across the country are forbidding students
from passing out personal Christmas cards. In Minnesota, two middle
school students were disciplined for wearing red and green scarves.
In Massachusetts, ninth grade students were warned to refrain from wishing
friends "Merry Christmas." In Illinois, a teacher was instructed
by her principal to not read a story about Christmas to her second graders.
In Georgia, a school removed the word "Christmas" from its
calendar after threats from the A.C.L.U.
Throughout the United States, nativity scenes and Christmas
trees have been removed. In one South Florida veterans hospital, even
a Christmas angel was taken down. In most public places today, all references
to Christmas have been obliterated. Taking its place is the politically
correct, "non-offensive," multicultural, full-of-diversity
greeting, "Happy Holidays." What is with all this lunacy?
It's as if "Scrooge" has been institutionalized. It is not
hyperbole to observe that in many (if not most) American homes, Harry
Potter is more popular than the Christ-child is.
America's Founding Fathers must be rolling over in their
graves! In their wildest dreams, they could never have imagined such
a display of religious intolerance happening in the land "founded
by Christians on the Gospel of Jesus Christ" (Patrick Henry).
The longest-living Founding Father was John Quincy Adams.
As such, he was a much sought after speaker for patriotic events. On
July 4, 1837, he made a very astute observation. He said, "Why
is it that, next to the birthday of the Savior of the world, your most
joyous and most venerated festival returns on this day? Is it not that,
in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly
linked with the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event
in the Progress of the Gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration
of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation
of the Redeemer's mission upon earth?
That it laid the cornerstone of human government upon
the first precepts of Christianity and gave to the world the first irrevocable
pledge of the fulfillment of the prophecies announced directly from
Heaven at the birth of the Savior and predicted by the greatest of the
Hebrew prophets 600 years before?"
Adams' sentiments seem quite out of fashion today, don't
they? His penchant for Christian liberty is as popular these days as
limited government is. Then again, I remember a time when children prayed
and read the Bible in public schools. That day is gone for good, and
it appears that the public celebration of Christmas is nearing its end,
also. However, people should not fret. In the new socialist Amerika
now under construction, Ramadan and Kwanzaa are perfectly acceptable.
* * *
islam forced on school kids - Where is the ACLU?
Republican Patriot
We really have to do something to help all our conservative friends
in California regarding this issue. Rush Limbaugh's guest discussed
this issue at length yesterday. I think he was a former Mayor in California
and now has a talk show. What an intelligent man and he had a polite
but firm answer for the liberals and I think a few Muslims who called
in thinking this was just fine and dandy. He had children from the schools
talking about their feelings of confusion on accepting Islam and not
being allowed to talk or hear more about Jesus Christ and his life in
school. God is forbidden. All the conservative groups on the Internet
and elsewhere have clout so let's pass this on and do something about
it. This is a disgrace that we are forcing 7th graders to learn about
Islam when many Muslims won't even come out and speak again Bin Laden.
The children of other faiths are getting confused and the fact the wonderful
liberal ACLU is not stepping in to protect their rights is the normal
course of business. Freedom for the left and Oppression for the Right.
Arlene
* * *
A Comment about Separation of Church and State
As usual, the answer to the ongoing debate is quite
simple. The intent of the law was meant for there to be freedom "of"
religion, not freedom "from"religion. Period.
Frances
Covington LA
* * *
seperation of church and state
Date: Wed, Jun 26 03:53 AM
That quote from paul harvey, "I would delude minds
to make them believe (the most powerful nation on earth) came from the
achievements of men and not the grace of God" is one of the most
evil statements i have ever read and a slap in the face to the ingenuity
and greatness of man. It never ceases to amaze me how alike the conservatives
and liberals are. They both believe in collectivism, and the idea that
the individual is impotent in the face of a higher power. For the liberals,
it's material collectivism, that all achievements must go to the greater
good, and the greater good is some undefineable power called "the
people".
For the conservatives, it's spiritual collectivism,
that men must live their lives serving some higher being, and that higher
being is some undefineable power called "God". Both belief
systems require you abandon logic and reason, in favor of "faith"
and "belief", and both are both are designed to destroy individualism
or more specifically, individual achievement. Rational self-interest
is considered evil by both, but conservatives will admit it's a "necessary
evil". I have no problem with Christians, as long as they keep
their beliefs out of laws and let productive men work unabated, they
can do no harm to this
country.
Devon
* * *
Communism?
Communism is basically an athiestic society, right?
Could it be that the American Athiest movement here in the U.S. that
wants to get "In God We Trust" and "Under God" removed
are really Communists at heart? These people seem to fight very hard
to undermine anything noble, virtuous, or uplifting. Could the ACLU
have the same agenda?
T. Coyne
* * *
Subject: Fw: THIS SPEAKS FOR ITSELF - March 3rd, 2003
Samuel Thompson wrote: I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going
to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I don't agree
with Darwin, but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school
teacher taught his theory of evolution. Life, liberty or your pursuit
of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second
prayer before a football game. So what's the big deal? It's not like
somebody is up there reading the entire book of Acts. They're just talking
to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players
on the field and the fans going home from the game.
"But it's a Christian prayer," some will argue. Yes, and this
is the United States of America, a country founded on Christian principles.
And we are in the Bible Belt. According to our very own phone book,
Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what
would you expect-somebody chanting Hare Krishna? If I went to a football
game in Jerusalem, I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer. If I went
to a soccer game in Baghdad, I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.
If I went to a ping pong match in China, I would expect to hear someone
pray to Buddha. And I wouldn't be offended. It wouldn't bother me one
bit. When in Rome...
"But what about the atheists?" is another argument. What about
them? Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to pass
the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds. If that's asking
too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom.
Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer. Unfortunately, one or
two will make that call. One or two will tell thousands what they can
and cannot do. I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going
to shake the world's foundations.
Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while
our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents
taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep. Our
Bible tells us just to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people
and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying. God, help us.
And if that last sentence offends you, well..........just sue me. The
silent majority has been silent too long.. it's time we let that one
or two who scream loud enough to be heard, that the vast majority don't
care what they want.. it is time the majority rules! It's time we tell
them, you don't have to pray.. you don't have to say the pledge of allegiance,
you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him.
That is your right, and we will honor your right.. But by golly you
are no longer going to take our rights away; we are fighting back..
and we WILL WIN! After all the God you have the right to denounce is
on our side!
God bless us one and all, especially those who denounce
Him...God bless America, despite all her faults.. still the greatest
nation of all..... God bless our service men who are fighting to protect
our right to pray and worship God... May 2003 be the year the silent
majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families
and institutions. Keep looking up...... In God WE Trust.
* * *
The US Pledge
Who is this numbskull who claims that free speech is
only for him? Isn't it my freedom to say "one nation UNDER GOD?"
Where are my first amendment rights to mention God? And then, he whines
around that if we only say that he doesn't have to say one nation under
God but others have a right to, he'll be ridiculed. I believe you freedom
of speech, not freedom from the consequences that go along with that
speech when it is not favorable. I'm not speaking violence but people
are allowed to disagree and voice that also. Can someone please tell
me what's going on?
* * *
I'm afraid removing "under God" from the 'Pledge...'
is unfortunately accurate. And going to be a hell of a while before
it's true again. I wish some outspoken conservatives would actually
run a boycott list of sponsors for shows like Dan Dimwit Rathers' interview.
Along with other liberal garbage that I don't watch but would gladly
join in not supporting. Somewhere along the line a stand has to be taken
before it's too late. Or are we there now?
Jim in Phx
* * *
Professor: I heard Wendell Goller, Fox News, state that
a paragraph in the Constitution separates church and state. I believe
that is incorrect. In frustration, I am writing to you, Professor.
Please either educate me or others in the listening audience
regarding what the US Constitution states about separation of church
and state.
As I read the Constitution, the authors say there shall
not be a state church. It is the Russian Constitution that states a
separation of church and state.
I would enjoy hearing/seeing your thoughts on this issue
and clarifying this issue to me or the general public.
Thanks For Your Attention To This,
Sandy of Atlanta, GA
