If America was meant to be Christian nation, why was this notion not mentioned in the Constitution?
I mean, that document is the supreme law of the land. That is the one document where any such intention would have been important to include. Yet, if you search through it, you find absolutely no mention that we're to be a nation founded on any religion. The closest you get is a clause explicitly stating that religious tests can never be used as a qualification for public office.
You'd think that, if the intent of these men, some of whom were, admittedly religious, was to create a nation built on specific religious beliefs, it would have been pointed out explicitly. Yet there's not even a whisper, not a single hint, in the one place where it would have mattered most. If you think this nation was made to be a Christian nation, then tell me: why would they have left that part out of such an important document?
2013-07-11T09:21:27Z
majnun: That isn't quite what it says. Those words never appear. However, that is how the Supreme Court--the only body that has the authority to interpret the law--has understood the Establishment Clause of the first amendment to mean (Everson v. Board of Education, 1947)
2013-07-11T09:27:16Z
Mark H.: That's hardly a reference, even indirectly. Governments have always had people who made the laws, people who enforced the laws, and people who judged whether or not laws had been broken. It wasn't a new idea in ancient times, and it's plainly obvious that all three would needed to be included when founding a new government. The only real difference is that, in America, we don't let somebody serve in two positions at once, but instead include a system of checks and balances between the branches.
Not Applicable2013-07-11T09:42:41Z
Favorite Answer
The USA was not founded to be a part of a specific religion. Granted, most of the early settlers came from a Judeo-Christian culture, so that is overrepresented in the culture of the society in its early days. As the society becomes more diverse, other traditions will become represented as well. The Founders did not want to repeat the religious wars of Europe, so they opted for a society which allowed religious freedom, but the state was to remain free of religious entanglements. With the 14th Amendment's "due process " clause, that was later extended to states and localities.
Christianity is not included in our Constitution because the Founders did not want a religious state or a state mandated church. But our foundation is filled with Christian principles and the nation was more united when a strong Christian faith was more widespread. Plus, if the Bible is true, God has a record of destroying nations that turn their back on Him. Christians do not want that to happen to the US.
From a citizen's perspective, claiming that the US is a Christian nation or posting the Ten Commandments in a court house or putting a nativity scene at City Hall does not force anyone to become Christian. Say for example if we were to elect a Muslim President and he held a Muslim celebration at the White House, that would be his right, correct? He may catch some flack due to all the terrorist activity from Muslim extremist but it's still his right. And the Constitution protects that. But for some reason, the Constitution doesn't seem to protect the rights if Christians.
It's a Constitution, Not a Declaration of Independence. One is forming a Government free from Imperial rule. The other is for Law making. Being a Christian Nation can not be a Law, Since our Fore Fathers set it up to be a Freedom of Religion Nation.
God Bless Ya, Chicago Bob imasinner
There is more joy in Jesus in one day. Than there is in the World 365/24/7 I know, I tried them both. Numbers 6:24-26
And why did the writers of the Constitution strike down all attempts to place Christianity explicitly anywhere in our laws? And why does the Treaty of Tripoli EXPLICITLY say "The United States is not a Christian nation"
Just because most of the people who have lived in the United States have been Christian does not mean the law is based on Christian principles. Look at the 10 commandments, most of those are not enforced in any way. It's not illegal to break the Sabbath, or to be an atheist, or to covet things, or to make graven images, etc. The commandments against stealing and killing are universal in almost all human cultures, so they didn't come from Christianity either.
We're not a Christian nation. We're a nation with a lot of Christians in it. Read the works of Thomas Jefferson or James Madison and tell me they espoused Christian values, believers.
Bingo. Jesus, God, the Bible and Christianity aren't mentioned in the Constitution because America is not a "Christian Nation". The Treaty of Tripoli specifically mentions that the government of the US was in no way founded on the Christian religion. The First Amendment enacts a wall of separation between church and state in order to protect both.