Did the very first Congress in 1787, the year the Constitution was written, pass the Northwest Ordinance that said this:
"Article 3: Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall be forever encouraged."
How could they say that if they didn't believe in religion? It sounds like they actually wanted it taught in schools.
LP S
Favorite Answer
They actually taught bible in schools in those day...
The continental Congress always started with prayer.
Every freshmen congressman received a book of Jesus Christ's quotes.
Many, if not all, of the founding father were very religious individuals.
A.Mercer
And there were people who wanted the right to keep slaves put in the U.S. Constitution. It was not included because it was not a good idea.
Something to consider, if the founding fathers were so religious, then why did they make the U.S. Constitution the ruling law of the land and not the bible? In fact, they went the opposite direction and put clauses in the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights that limit how religion can interact with government.
Also, the founding fathers believed in religion. Many were religious. However, they knew that religion and government does not mix. They knew that a government that served a religion cannot properly serve all of its citizens. A religion neutral government was the only solution that would properly serve all of its citizens.
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Yes, but that was before the Constitution became the supreme law of the land.
the Northwest Ordinance is repealed.
"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"
An American patriot like yourself should know American history by heart.
?
Religion was part of every school's curriculum since there were no public schools. And I've never heard anyone say the founders didn't believe in religion. They didn't believe in a state church, public funding of churches, use of government lands for building churches, and pensions for clergy. This was the case because of religious pluralism. You can't do something for Congregationalists and not have the Baptists, Catholics, Presbyterians and Episcopalians want the same privilege. So they decided not to do anything that amounts to a goverment establishment of religion since there were many denominations, all in disagreement on one doctine or another, just as is the case today.
zeal4him
Any serious study of early U.S. documents indicates a very religious, tolerant, group of individuals.
John Jay, 1st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, had some great God-fearing statements.