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That's a question that that has come up often in the last few decades. Perhaps the largest group of doubters would the the atheists in this country. If you do the research, the information is overwhelming that the answer to the question "Was America founded on Christian beliefs and principals" is an resounding ........Yes!
The story of Roger Sherman:
Born and died a true American (1721 - 1793), he was a Revolutionary patriot, jurist and politician. He was the only one of our Founding Father's to sign all 'four' major founding documents, the Articles of Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of the Confederation and the Constitution of the United States.
On Thursday, June 28, 1787, during a Constitutional Convention, Sherman seconded a motion to enact Dr. Benjamin Franklin's request that Congress be opened with prayer each day. That practice continues to this day.
In February 1776, along with John Adams and George Wythe of Virginia, Sherman served on a committee responsible for creating instructions for an embassy headed for Canada.
The instructions directed: You are further to declare that we hold sacred the rights of conscience, and may promise to the whole people, solemnly in our name, the free and undisturbed exercise of their religion. And, that all civil rights and the right to hold office were to be extended to persons of any Christian denomination.
Note the words "any Christian Denomination".
Comments
Ah, the usual series of irrelevant canards. Of course the constitution explicitly overrides any notion of "Christian Denomination". It states there shall be NO religious test for ofice. You, of course, leave that out.
There is much confusion about this issue. There is little doubt that the founders were believers of one sort or the other. They believed, wrongly as it turns out, that religion promotes morality. Even here many, particulalry Jefferson were dubious.
But they were men of the enlightenment and specifically had the wisdom to found a SECULAR state, not one founded on Christianity or any religion. Then as now the bible thumpers screamed but reason won out.
Religion belongs in church and as far from government as possible.
A Hindu priest carried out the opening prayer in September 2000...was this illegal?
Imam Qazwini opened Congress with a Muslim prayer in October 2003. Does this mean that the US is now a Muslim country?
That last was to prevent further conflict with Canada, but for all government offices in the US, no such requirement is allowed.
"The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States." Article VI of the Constitution
I just love that word CHRISTian.
Tell it Double J!!
Well, he screwed up. Given that he didn't have two centuries of clear jurisprudence to look back on, I think he can be forgiven.
Wasn't his name Roger Sherman?
RE: Trina;
Yep, you caught me in a dyslexic moment!
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