RateItAll: The Opinion Network

Reading the founding documents of the United States, it is difficult to make an argument that the founders intended the basis of American laws and government to be concurrent with Christianity. Firstly, many of the founders and influential political figures were not Christians. Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Paine were all Deists. Even many of the Christian founders, such as George Washington, showed little outward religiosity.
Secondly, there is little in the way of supporting statements in the founding documents. It is true that the Constitution never specifically mentions a 'separation of church and state'. However, neither does it mention laws limiting abortion. I think most people here would agree that laws against abortion are not unconstitutional simply because the Constitution does not specifically mention them. That is a weak argument. In addition, there is a conspicuous lack of mention of Christianity in the founding documents. Not ONCE in the Constitution is any Christian reference made; only in the Declaration of Independence is the word 'creator' used. However, it is far from clear that this was meant as a reference to Christianity. First, Jefferson was a Deist--not a Christian--and I find it difficult to believe that he would have made a reference to Christianity here, especially since the word 'creator' is ambiguous. Muslims, Christians, Deists, Jews, and most religious people believe in a 'creator'. It seems irrational to attribute this reference to Christianity. I know of know other mentions of religion, let alone Christianity, in the founding documents. If the founders intended to form the US government on Christianity, would they not have mentioned Christianity in the Constitution? The fact that these aspects are missing implies that the founders had no intention of basing US law on Christian principles.
Thirdly, the 1st amendment implies separation of church and state. It states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." If Congress were to make a law (s) based upon Christianity, would it not be respecting an establishment of religion over all others? It seems pretty clear that this was the intention of the 1st Amendment; and if it was not, then what does "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion..." mean? While this could be interpreted differently, the aforementioned interpretation seems the most likely.
The basis of US was therefore never intended to be Christianity; it was, rather, intended to reflect the philosophy of the enlightenmenta movement which largely criticized the Christian Church. However, our founders were clearly influenced by Christianity, and many of them were Christians. But arguing that because our founders were influenced by Christianity this indicates that they intended US law to be made in concurrence with Christianity is a very large stretch. Most US presidents have been influenced by Christianity, but few have attempted to make laws based upon it.

Nowhere in the Constitution does it say "separation of church and state". Go and read it for yourself if you dont believe me. What the Constitution does say about religion is that the government will not establish one specific one or require people to subscribe to it(my words). This is far different than "separation of church and state". Please read the Constitution. It only takes a little while. Most of you never have or will.

God is for our (political party/government/country) Anybody out there read any good history books lately?. . .We've heard this little bedtime story about many other lands and nations faaar, faaaar, away. And several of those Founding Fathers (including the priest-hating Jefferson) didn't believe in religion any more than the Easter bunny. Going to church meant something much different in the 1700's. Ever notice how all the religions think that all the rest are 'wrong'? The Declaration of Independence and Constitution are Neoclassic works that stem from the tradition of the Age of Reason that actually reject several religious principles as dangerous to use as a foundation of government. (Such as a MONARCHY!. . .which is based on a religious idea that the fathers REJECTED!) Come to the light and walk out the cave, children. It only hurts for a minute. . .

This country was indeed founded on Christian principles. The point is not if God is for our country over all others, but rather that we are for God, and our founding father built this country on that belief. Sure all religions should be respected and peple should be allowed to worship as they see fit. That does not change the fact that the core foundation of this country is Judeo-Christian beliefs.

As others have stated or intimated, Christian beliefs were certainly part of the underlying foundation of the US, and were reflected in our early government. That is undeniable fact, so what's the problem with anyone, conservative or otherwise, believing it? It is another issue if we want to discuss the whole church/state relationship, and current attitudes and mnisconceptions about it. The Constitution says two things with respect to church and state: first, that there shall be no official state religion (i.e., Episcopalian, Baptist, Jewish, etc.), but this does not mean that government has to discriminate against the practice of religion of one's choice, and it certainly does not mean that anyone has to practice any religiuon at all if the do not wish to do so; second, it says that there shall be no infringement upon the individual practice of religion, but it seems that nowadays the more rabid (and, dare I say misinformed) leftists think that there is something wrong with anyone who believes in or practices a religion of their choice. Talk about tolerance (or lack of it). There is an incessant spouting of the phrase separation of church and state by them, but they really don' know what they are talking about, any more than a well-trained parrot does. Well, back to the question itself, and a comment on another aspect of the issue. The question is framed in terms of Christian principles, but as LanceRoxas pointed out, these can be considered natural law principles rather than exclusively Christian principles. Many of the guiding principles of Christianity (and of this country) are common to other religions as well, i.e., Judaism, from which Christianity sprang, and I believe Islam as well. So, the crock of s***, as another reviewer mentioned, is to say that conservatives believe in and espouse something uniquely Christian to the detriment of other beliefs or value systems. The whole issue is just too politicized by the left - God help them all. Ha ha!

At least 50 out of the 55 men who helped frame our Constitution were Christians.11 of the first 13 states required faith in Jesus Christ and the bible as qualification for holding public office.

There's no denying that Christianity is a powerful influence on conservative politics in the US. What's particularly interesting to me is that the Religious Right branch of the Republican Party seems to be becoming increasingly at odds with the Small Government branch. Almost by definition, a moralist view of government believes in a an active, for lack of a better word, crusading government that actively looks to better society. Which of course is the antithesis to what libertarians like myself believe in. It will be interesting to see if the Republicans can hold these two groups together as Bush continues to veer more dramatically towards the moralist, crusading vision of government, and away from traditional conservative principles of fiscal discipline and individual liberty.

Unfortunatly yes.

It's not just a belief it is fact. Our country was founded on Christian principles. Even though we believe in separation of Church and state (that is keeping government out of religion), this foundation has made us what we are today. As we move further and further away from those sound principles we will struggle. The United States without God is a scary place to be.

It is what it is. Do I agree with it? No. I'm a religious dude but we're not in the Mid East. The country should be run based on rules and regulations, the Constitution. In a country that is a melting pot of such diversity and religious beliefs, our government is in no position to run a country based on Christian principles without taking other religions into consideration.

Natural Law principles are the bed rock of our constitutional government. The formulation of the checks and balance system in a devolved federal republic reflects notions of human nature and limits vice: primarily isolated power to reduce the influence of factionalism. The reliance on self-government to settle disputes and the creation of positive law for the promotion of the common good is predicated upon the assumption that natural institutions exist. This isn't conservative- this is simply reality.

Bush and his fans have made this a Conservative issue. I can't even count how many time Bush has brought up born again Christian when dealing with different topics. I myself am a follower of Christ, but I believe religion and government should be SEPERATE.