The Nation | Article | Our Godless Constitution | Brooke Allen
As the Government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion — as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity of Musselmen — and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan 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.
The Treaty of Tripoli, 1797 (endorsed by president John Adams, unanimously ratified by the senate)
This is the sort of article the media should shoot back whenever a politician makes an “our country is founded on Christian principles” comment. This article makes me more upset about the spinelessness of the American media than the shamelessness of certain manipulative warlords. Thank you very much for bringing that to my attention. I wasn’t aware they used to have politicians who thought. . . .
I don’t understand it. Did the post-revolutionary America just have better ideas? Or did the Civil War just make America go insane?
I wish our leaders paid more attention to this, than say, created the Patriot Act. Or the addition of unnessesary (and unrelated to education) section to No Child Left Behind (NCLB.)
First, thank you, this is an excellent site. Second, I watched an interview the other day on C-SPAN with Bill Press interviewing Judge Roy Moore, who you may have heard of as the religious fanatic (fundamentalist/extremist…why are they considered crazy only if they are islamic?) who put the statue of the ten commandments in the Alabama Courthouse. Bill Press used this exact quote to counter the Moore’s position that the US was indeed a ‘christian’ nation. At what point in time did the US become a ‘christian’ nation. For the entirety of its existence the US has not only been content not to associate itself with one particular religion, but, in fact, to remain autonomous from any and all religious institutions. The most dangerous aspect of this current manifestation is how similar it is to 30’s German politics. Those who wish to manipulate the system to their own ends twist language and abuse logic and reason in order that people are fooled into looking at the world the way these fundamentalist want the world to be viewed…it’s a shell game.
Greetings,
I have to say I find discussions about the “Christian” roots of the United States more than amusing, and rather rediculous. Has anyone in that country even looked at their own currency? Check out a $1 bill, and then visit the giant Egyptian obelisk standing outside the White House and ask yourself, what is the meaning of this?
While browsing on bartleby.com the other day I noticed they had a link to the transcripts for all of the presidential inaugural speeches. Knowing that the U.S was founded by Washington, et all, who was a devoted, public, and outspoken Freemason (with company), I took a peek at old George’s first speech. Therein you find all the spurious glitter of Deism and an interesting note is that it tells you on bartleby the very Bible that the founder of the nation swore on: the New York Grand Lodge Masonic Bible. You can even visit the George Washington Masonic Memorial (http://www.gwmemorial.org/)
Skimming over to George W. Bush’s daddy’s speech, in the very first line he states: “I have here the very same Bible that George Washington swore upon 200 years ago.” !
HA. Right from the horse’s mouth. I sincerely advise those living in the U.S to educate themselves about the true origin of the place, and not take forcefed media bs as accurate history. The US has never and will never ever be a “Christian” nation. The only Christian nation is THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, which lives in the hearts of the true believers upon the Earth. And those who live by the sword, shall die by the sword. Christian’s do not go to war.
Peace unto all,
-V
Though the U.S. may never be christian in the true sense of the word, if one is known to exist. the presidency of George W. Bush is certainly feeling the influence from “christian” lobby groups to make policy in accordance with their morals. But I am just recently informed on such matters, and mainly from the latest issue of Harper’s, which is suggested reading if one is interested in U.S. governing and “christianity” and they strange bedfellows they have become.