For those who believe that the U.S. was founded as, and meant to be a Christian nation: 1. Why do we allow...?

The united states is a corporation. One that is poorly run. Remember this Recession we're in? caused by banks giving loans to people that had bad credit.

well that's exactly what the US does. Gives itself loans that we can't pay back. China buys our debt and we have to pay interest on our debt. Just like if you take out a loan.

The only problem is it's estimated that by the year 2046 that the united states will be forced to Spend 100% of its tax revenues paying off interest to the Chinese. When this happens The United States and it's citizens will basically be screwed.

The people in this country that are high up in government only let this sell out happen so that they can catch in. Being Religious is a front for politicians that they put on. None of them could do what they are doing to harm the rest of millions of Americans in the future, if they had a conscious or truly believed in any religion other than greed.

I personally am an atheist. I think that religions in theory are fine, as most things are in theory. All religions basic teaching teach basic morals to people whether it be Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, etc

I believe the problem with religions is in its structure. The religions structure behind every religion has the same problem, and it is the same problem with governments in general but especially ours.

The problem come not from religion or government itself but rather people, and the people that lead these, well lets admit it, "Corporations" that generate revenue. Usually people that are high up get alot of privileges and are very powerful with the Money and force over people, whether it is the president or the pope.

For example with the recent death of Satguru Subramuniyaswami, A Hindu spiritual leader. He was in control of a multi-billion dollar fund for charity. Now with his recent death the squabbling of the so called Religious high up Hindu's are all squabbling over who will take control of the fund.

People, Humans in general, are greedy and self righteous beings.

Anywho I don't Believe that having any sort of religious affiliation, or government is good. Especially when they mingle.

Most people are ignorant. Not stupid. But just do not know better. For example the united states and the phrase "In God We Trust" the phrase has appeared on some coins starting from around 1864. But it was not added to paper currency until 1957.

On July 11, 1954, just one year after the phrase "under God" was incorporated into the Pledge of Allegiance, the U.S. Congress enacted Public Law 84-140, which required the motto on all coins and currency. The law was approved by President Eisenhower on July 30, 1956, and the motto was progressively added to paper money over a period from 1957 to 1966.

Most people think that this phrase has been apart of America, but in reality only came in much later.

Separate church and state. They both already have enough of their own problems to function correctly.

1. There is a thing called human nature. In America, rich people generally get rich by working hard for their money and being diligent and protective of their gains in a responsible way. It is like the parable of the talents about saving your money in a safe place only for it to make more which is respectable. Communism is the opposite of our system which promotes laziness because every makes the same amount not to mention being an amoral, atheist society. If we all followed to Bible to the "T" there would not be any problem in the world. We are stupid an evil by nature though. Also the US bails a lot of countries out not to mention we have tons of weapons and military manpower and the power to take power away from those who abuse it. Lastly it is the LOVE of money which is where you let money control your life and cause you to promote evil. There is nothing wrong with working hard at something you like doing.

2. Yes, and Yes. You have to have a belief in God to be in upper office. Human nature however can derail your moral judgement easily though.

3. I think this where it gets complicated. Jesus I think would want to make sure your heart is in the right place. The more you have the more you will get distracted by the stuff. That is why Jesus said for a rich man to get into heaven is like a camel going through the eye of a needle. Unfortunately, a job is a job and some bad stuff is money making. It is the responsibility of the individual to uphold good morals. I think Jesus would disapprove more of false teachers rather than secular people.

Howard has it backwards. People who ask these kind of questions don't understand American history or Christianity.

When we speak of the US as a Christian nation, we speak of the absolute fact that the majority of our citizens have been Christians since the beginnings. The laws are based on Judao-Christian ethics, although they came from the English Common Law (except for Louisiana, which came from Roman canon law), which also came from Judao-Christian ethics.

The specific questions you ask, even if the answer is all negative (and they're too complex and not all answerable in the negative), does not prove this was not intended to be and is not now a Christian nation. It simply means it is a human nation and humans aren't perfect.

Edit: Matt, I've studied the law. Including English Common Law and Blackstone. The enlightenment was not a single movement or philosophy and it is disingenuous of you to say it was secular. You only say this because you have chosen to believe faith and reason are mutually exclusive. They are not. Also, you left out the Magna Carta, which was where our rights came from and likely influenced Locke and others.

Yes, capitalism is actually completely contradictory to the teachings of Jesus. Capitalism states that self-interest is good and is the only way to efficiently guide the market. Capitalism is also fueled by materialism and consumerism. Jesus was specifically against materialism and self interest. Also, America has the world's most powerful war machine in the world. America spends more on its military than every other nation in the world COMBINED. Considering Jesus preached pacifism and to turn the other cheek when enemies attack you, i definitely doubt we are a Christian nation. America was founded on good ole secularism.

Edit: To answer Ruth's comment above. America was not founded on Judeo-Christian ethics. It was founded on the principles of the Enlightenment philosophy. Voltaire, John Locke, Hobbes, etc etc. Mainly Locke. Enlightenment was about secularism and humanism. The Bill of Rights is basically taken word for word from Locke.

I am now not a fundamentalist. The historical past is apparent, the United States didn't determine one faith as awesome to one more. In England and in Europe governments founded religions and granted them desired fame over all different religions. That was once to not arise in America below the Constitution. That isn't to mention that America was once now not devout. Far from it. Instead, America was once to not have a governmental coverage favoring any devout institution over one more. So, Catholics or Episcopalians (the Church of England) weren't granted any desired fame over Congregationalists (Pilgrims) or Baptists, Lutherans or Presbyterians. Alexis DeToqueville, a French author within the 18th Century, visited America and observed that despite the fact that Americans had been devout, no church held any vigor and so that you could DeToqueville, Americans looked as if it would have little church involvement. In France, the Catholic Church had large impact over the monarchy, regional governments and the men and women. In America there was once no an identical church-state association. John Adams, an overly devout man or woman, identified the Constitution was once capable to rule just a virtuous men and women. Adams outlined advantage as braveness, integrity and man or woman situated upon exact Christian goodness. The Bible was once quoted extra by means of the writers of the Federalist Papers than another ebook, adding Blackstone's Commentaries or Magna Charta. Jefferson was once a Deist and took the crisis to translate the New Testament from Greek into English himself. Washington prayed at Valley Forge. Benjamin Franklin recommended the individuals of the Constitutional Convention to start their deliberations with prayer. There isn't any escaping the truth that the American executive arose out of a devout tradition and that tradition was once predominately Christian and that no certain Christian church was once exalted above another. Most of the Founders had been Episcopalians, and lots of presidents had been Episcopalians and Presbyterians, but in addition Deists, Congregationalists, Quakers, Catholic. Read FDR's prayer in the course of his fireplace chat in December 1944. It reads like a minister wrote it, however it's not Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist or Lutheran, despite the fact that it's obviously and wholly a Christian prayer. Madison and the opposite writers of the Federalist carried out the Establishment Clause to all Christian religions on the grounds that European historical past were plagued by means of the ascendency of 1 Christian sect over one more. The Establishment Clause does now not do away with Christianity as a facet of presidency lifestyles--it removes executive from being a facet of devout lifestyles, Christian or in any other case. The Exercise Clause prevents executive from getting worried within the daily lifetime of devout men and women or routine. The Founders didn't broaden at the premise within the Constitution, however learn The Federalist No. two and No. 7 which debate Faction and the Constitution's compromising outcome on more than a few viewpoints--which might comprise devout viewpoints. The Establishment and Exercise Clauses are constant with the political idea set forth in No. two. Thanks for the hazard to don't forget just a little political/constitutional idea.

So am I to assume you are attempting to state that a Christian could not be rich and still have strong core religious values? Or are you attempting to state that devout Christians could not serve as part of our military? The Bible never stated that a person could not be rich, but their contributions to society should be first and foremost in their lives, not something forced by the government. The Bible also states that war and protecting your land is something that is required and expected of any God fearing nation. It was never stated that money in and of itself was evil, merely the love of it and placing it above ones love of the Lord. You also have to consider that 100% of the nation does not follow Christians in beliefs, meaning that not all of the "richest" who "own or rule" the nation are Christians. So to claim that this is part of being a "Christian" nation, you are incorrect as the nation was set up for the freedom to choose and worship individual and personal beliefs within the rule of law of the nation.

First, this country was founded upon the principle that the elite class not suppress the lower class from ever escaping poverty like under most Monarchies. Most other forms of government protect the elite class, and punish the poor, yet in America, you can rise literally rise from rags to riches. The salvation of a rich man is between him and God, not his government and God.

Second, there is no doubt in my mind that a completely Christian world would be a better world simply because the teachings of Jesus are peaceful in nature and appeal to one’s highest self, as well as the necessity to help others. Other religions like Islam, although preaches peace, also preaches the extermination of non-believers and for Islamic law to rule over all other forms of law. Christianity can co-exist with a free society, whereas Islam cannot.

Third, you focus on the richest people of America, but yet forget that they only consist of a small minority of this country. The rich do not represent the average American. I think Jesus would judge us based on who we are as a collective nation, and that would be the most charitable nation in the entire world. I think Jesus would praise our country and the American people.

@ howard – no, apparently you don’t know a thing about our founders.

@ Matt – Jesus was a carpenter, who did not work pro-bono. To say he would be against capitalism would be to call him a hypocrite. Also, you are blaming capitalism for the actions of man. It is the same argument to blame guns for the cause of gun crimes as opposed to the people using the guns. Capitalism allows man to accumulate as much wealth as possible and not be suppressed by an overpowering government dictating their view on who gets what. What that man chooses to do with his wealth is something he has to answer to God about.

Wouldn't it be even more delightful if all religious folks finally realized they are trying to get to the same place from different paths?

1/ Greed.

2/ No.

3/ Never met Jesus so I'm thinking I can't say what his opinion would have been.

What's wrong with earning money?? You earned it? It's a sin now to work hard for my money? And not all Christians are so kind

As you would probably agree, this nation was not founded as a Christian theocracy.