Is the USA a Christian Nation?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

History disputes the idea that this is a nation under covenant with God. Were it so, the founding fathers would have all been Christians in the true sense. And they would have established belief in and obedience to Jesus Christ as the primary criterion for holding elective or appointed office. (Many of the state constitutions did include references to God and to Jesus Christ; somehow, these references were "overlooked" in the federal documents -- see below.)

But some ask, "What about the Mayflower Compact?" We cannot dispute that some of the early settlers in this country were Christians, at least nominally. And the Mayflower Compact did form a body politic, one of the purposes of which was to honor the king of England. But just because they had as one purpose to advance the Christian faith does not mean they meant to do so by establishing an independent Christian government. On the contrary, the Mayflower Compact specifically reaffirmed their loyalty to the king of England.

Nor were these all religious refugees on the Mayflower. True, some of those aboard the Mayflower were Protestant Separatists who had fled England to Holland to escape persecution from the Reformed Angelican Church prelates, but the principals were men commissioned to further the business of the Virginia Company. The Mayflower Compact was an afterthought designed to keep the colony intact after they were blown off course from their intended landing at the mouth of the Hudson River, having landed instead at what later became Massachusetts. When they set sail, it was not part of their original intent to draft the Mayflower Compact and form a Christian colony under its terms.

Although the document that the Mayflower passengers drew up did have some influence on the charters of a few colonies prior to the Revolutionary War, it had no official bearing on the federal government or on any of the colonies or states created either prior to or after the American Revolution. If we are going to call America a Christian nation we must see if its founding body, the Continental Congress, purposed to establish it as such. Did that body, in fact, covenant with God to form this nation?

When the Continental Congress drafted the Declaration of Independence and later, the Congress formed under the Articles of Confederation drafted the Constitution of the United States of America, no mention was made of Jesus Christ. Rather, the only references to deity in the Declaration of Independence were to "God"; none are in the Constitution. In fact, many of the framers of these documents were anti-Christian, being comprised of Masons and deists of many persuasions.

http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/...g…

God does not enter into covenants that do not invoke the name of His Son, so there exists no covenant between the Father and the federal government of the United States, or with any state government. Had the constitutions of all these governments, including the federal government, named faith in Jesus Christ as the principle criterion for holding any elective or appointed office, this would have had to be done in the name of Jesus Christ with full understanding of the true Biblical character of His role as Savior and Lord. This the founders of this nation of sovereign states failed to do. (See Note.)

It is apparent that the Western European influences that shaped America were part of what had become known as "Christendom." But a culture based on the idea of "Christendom" does not of itself constitute a culture based on Scripture or an inviolable covenant with God. The history of Christendom is an ugly history fraught with tyranny and the enslavement of those who are less "enlightened." If God gave the knowledge and means to subdue the earth and take dominion in the name of Jesus Christ, then that privilege has been terribly abused. If, on the other hand, Satan gave that knowledge and means, his purposes have certainly been accomplished. The fruit of Western Civilization, in spite of its enlightened accomplishments, demonstrates that no attempt to institute the Kingdom of God on earth before Jesus returns can succeed. So the idea of a covenant between America and God is pure fantasy.

Nevertheless, the "Christian America" myth lives on. We again return to the previous question: If America was truly founded as an explicitly Christian nation (as is continually proclaimed by "Christian" activists such as James Dobson, Pat Robertson, D. James Kennedy, Chuck Colson, Tim and Beverly LaHaye, Jerry Falwell, Bill Gothard, etc.), then why do we find no mention whatsoever of Jesus Christ in America's founding documents? -- not in the Declaration of Independence nor in the Constitution of the United States! In fact, the Constitution does not even make a single reference to God! (When Alexander Hamilton was asked why the Constitution fails to mention God, he allegedly replied, "We forgot.") And the reference to God in the Declaration of Independence is merely "Nature's God," a God that is vague and subordinated to natural laws that everyone should know through common sense, i.e., "self-evident" truths. Moreover, the Bible is never mentioned nor alluded to in either document! Nor is God or Jesus Christ mentioned in the hundreds of pages of the Federalist Papers (the "working documents" of the founding fathers). In fact, the United States was the first Western Nation to omit explicitly Christian symbolism, such as the cross, from its flag and other national symbols.

Further incidental evidence of the founders' own views is the statement from a treaty with the Islamic nation of Tripoli in 1797. This treaty was negotiated under Washington, ratified by the Senate, and signed by President John Adams. The telling part is a description of religion in America:

"As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion -- as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen [i.e., Muslims] ..., 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 Search for Christian America, p. 131).

Strange stuff for a nation that some like to say was founded as a "Christian" nation! Strange stuff, indeed! But myths die hard, if ever!


NO THE USA IS NOT A CHRISTIAN NATION!

Otherwise the founding fathers would have put that in the official papers!

Answer 2

Noway. Most people don't even know how to become a christian. They'll tell you something silly like " just say a prayer". When it really takes repentance and faith. (Mark 1:15, Acts 20:21, Luke 13:5)

Answer 3

No
Never was

Answer 4

The USA is very Christian, and recognized as such by the overwhelming majority of it's population, as well as the rest of the world.

The so called "atheist" is in denial about this but......he's also in denial about his belief in God. Nobody pays attention to atheists....especially the yahoo kiddie-atheists who are just mad at mom and dad for making them go to church

Answer 5

I would say no. There are many Christians who live in the USA but the government does not force Christianity on the people. Islamic states on the other hand do impose their religious beliefs on the people and punish those who don't follow that faith.

Answer 6

No. While Christianity is the majority religion, the nation itself is not Christian.

Answer 7

"That book [Bible], sir, is the rock on which our republic rests."

Andrew Jackson

"I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book."

Abraham Lincoln

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."

George Washington

"So great is my veneration for the Bible that the earlier my children begin to read it the more confident will be my hope that they will prove useful citizens of their country and respectable members of society. I have for many years made it a practice to read through the Bible once every year."

John Quincy Adams

"In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength."

Robert E. Lee

"The Bible is the sheet-anchor of our liberties."

U. S. Grant

"The Bible is the truest utterance that ever came by alphabetic letters from the soul of man, through which, as through a window divinely opened, all men can look into the stillness of eternity, and discern in glimpses their far-distant, long-forgotten home."

Thomas Carlyle

Answer 8

It's founders founded it to be so. But as to what happened?, Billy Graham once said, If God doesn't destroy America, He may have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.

Answer 9

YES. Read the declaration of independence and the bill of rights.

Answer 10

No.It promotes the freedom to engage in any religion. It does not have an official religion.

Answer 11

The websites below are great places to start to find the answer to your great question.

Be Blessed:-)

Source(s):

http://cryaloud.com/america_britain_euro…
http://www.ucg.org/booklets/US/

Answer 12

If that question would have been asked a 125 years ago the answer would have been yes but unfortunately the bleeding heart liberals began their attack on the morality of this country so for all intents and purposes we are no longer a Christian nation. There are many Christians in the USA but they are becomming apathetic to the condition of the church.

Answer 13

Judging by their actions they seem to believe they are a god unto themselves.

My fav Christians love to frolic at Spring Break.

Answer 14

Take a look on your coins and see what it says?? Seems to me it says 'In God We Trust"..How long has that been on your money? Go back and check it out how far back that goes to see, that will prove something to you . :)

Answer 15

Another answer included the following:

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The majority religion is Roman Catholic. Have a look:

http://breakingspells.wordpress.com/2008/01/07/largest-religious-groups-within-us-populations/
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Just to clarify, that map (on my blog), only shows numbers of counties dominated by a given religion. Indeed, the number of Catholic counties compared with the number of Baptist Convention counties is nearly identical, with Catholic only slightly exceeding. But, again, it doesn't show the populations of individuals in each religion.

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With regard to whether the USA is a Christian Nation.

That would depend upon the definition of "Christian Nation." If one considers the majority religion in the country to be a defining factor, then one must concede that the USA *is* a Christian Nation.

If, however, one considers the nation as a reflection of ideals, principles, and essence of the American nation as conceived by the Founding Fathers, then it is definitely *not* a "Christian Nation," but a nation founded on freedom and the pursuit of happiness regardless of religious belief or non-belief.

Many of the most significant of our Founding Fathers were not simply indifferent to Christianity in order to be fair or objective, they expressed an opposition to Christianity.

Thomas Jefferson was quoted as saying in a letter to the Danbury Baptists, "Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties [1]."

Neither God nor Christianity is mentioned in the Constitution [2] and the only place where "religion" is mentioned is to prohibit "religious tests" for office.

In 1797, the Treaty of Tripoli was signed [3], which included the line, "... the Government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion;" This treaty process was begun by George Washington and concluded during the administration of John Adams, the second U.S. President.

The United States is not a Christian nation any more than it is a Neo-Conservative nation or a Liberal one; no more than it is a baseball, football, or a basketball nation; nor more than it is a Coka Cola or a Pepsi nation. It is, of course all these things, but anyone is free to side with any, all or none.

Source(s):

1. Jefferson, Thomas (1802, Jan 1). Jefferson's Letter to the Danbury Baptists. Library of Congress, found online at: http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danpre.html

2. United States (1787). The United States Constitution. Found online at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Constitution

3. United States (1797). The Treaty of Tripoli. Library of Congress. Found online at: http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName=002/llsp002.db&Page=18

Answer 16

The great men of God who founded this great country sure thought so.

I see this question all the time. People use quotes and misquotes all the time defending their position. I will give you links to each item I use. The links come from government websites and websites of major universities.

Here are some very early government documents from the Library of Congress.
Thanksgiving Proclomation
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/vc0…
In Congress, November 1, 1777
"It is therefore recomended to the Legislative or executive powers, of these United States, to set apart Thursday, the eighteenth day of December next, for Solemn Thanksgiving and Praise:.... and their humble and supplications that God, thro' the merits of Jesus Christ, would mercifully forgive and blot them out of rememberence."

Proclomation
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/vc0…
Congress March 20, 1779
"That it be recomended to the several states to appoint the first Thursday in May next to be a day of Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer, to Almighty God, that he will be pleased to avert those calamities we have but to well deserved: That he will allow us to repent of our sins, and ammend our lives to his Holy Word."

Day of Fasting and Prayer from Congress
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/f04…
"recomend that Friday, the seventeenth day of March next, be observed by the colonies as a day of HUMILIATION, and FASTING, and PRAYER; that we may with united hearts confess and bewail our manifold sins and transgressions, and by a sincere repentance and amendments of life, appease his rightous displeasure, and through the merits and meditation of Jesus Christ, obtain his pardon and forgiveness."

Here are some remarks made by our founding fathers.

George Washington - 1st President
http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/documents/i…
First Inaugural address april 30, 1789 new york
it would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official Act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the Universe, who presides in the Councils of Nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that his benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the People of the United States,
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.

John Adams - 2nd President
http://www.masshist.org/adams/manuscript…
John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 July 1776, page 3
I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

Thomas Jefferson - 2rd President
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/jefferson/…
"Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath?" --Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Virginia Q.XVIII, 1782. ME 2:227

http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/jefferson/…
"How necessary was the care of the Creator in making the moral principle so much a part of our constitution as that no errors of reasoning or of speculation might lead us astray from its observance in practice." --Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Law, 1814.

http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/jefferson/…
"Religion, as well as reason, confirms the soundness of those principles on which our government has been founded and its rights asserted." --Thomas Jefferson to P. H. Wendover, 1815.

John Jay - 1st Supreme Court Justice
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/digital/…
“ Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers. And it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest, of a Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." First Chief Justice of Supreme Court John Jay to Jedidiah Morse February 28, 1797

Here is a link to the Library of Congress where you can read about the role religion played in the founding of this great country. Please take time and check it out, there are many great things to learn.
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/