Air Force Blues

I disagree about this being a 'Christian nation'. Up until recently I'd have agreed with you, but after lots of pondering my point of view has changed. I will say the country was founded on what were/are commonly considered Christian ideals and principles, but the FF went out of their way to be certain that there could be no state church like what happened in England and most of Europe. Unfortunately they failed, because the entirety of the government now worships at the twin altars of Political Correctness and Pork, but at least they tried. I'd rather say they founded the country as an Anti-Government nation, focused on self-governing communities and responsible individuals with as little government oversight as possible.

There is a difference in being a Christian nation and not allowing freedom of religion. There is no denying that Christian men founded this nation on Christian principles. I am not saying that the country was founded to spread the gospel or to practice Christianity as a state religion.

If the FFs were so set on a separation of church and state (which is a pile of dog doo-doo, and is not found in the Constitution at all) then they would not have included prayers, God or anything else associated with Christianity in their meetings or official documents.

John Adams
1776 — Thoughts on Government

It is the duty of all men in society, publicly, and at stated seasons, to worship the SUPREME BEING, the great Creator and Preserver of the universe. And no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained, in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping GOD in the manner most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; or for his religious profession or sentiments; provided he doth not disturb the public peace, or obstruct others in their religious worship.
Reference: The Works of John Adams, Charles Adams, ed., 221.

Thomas Jefferson
1781 — Notes on the State of Virginia, Query 18

And 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 the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep for ever.
Reference: Our Sacred Honor, Bennett (352)


James Madison
1785 — A Memorial and Remonstrance

It is the duty of every man to render to the Creator such homage, and such only, as he believes to be acceptable to him. This duty is precedent both in order of time and degree of obligation, to the claims of Civil Society. Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe.
Reference: Our Sacred Honor, Bennett (327)


Benjamin Franklin
1787 — Motion for Prayers in the Constitutional Convention

And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? or do we imagine we no longer need its assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time; and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this Truth, that God governs in the Affairs of Men. And if a Sparrow cannot fall to the Ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid?
Reference: Franklin Collected Works, Lemay, ed., 1138.


George Washington
1783 — circular letter of farewell to the Army

I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you, and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Field, and finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind, which were the Characteristicks of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation.
Reference: George Washington: A Collection, W.B. Allen, ed. (249)


Alexander Hamilton

To grant that there is a supreme intelligence who rules the world and has established laws to regulate the actions of his creatures; and still to assert that man, in a state of nature, may be considered as perfectly free from all restraints of law and government, appears to a common understanding altogether irreconcilable. Good and wise men, in all ages, have embraced a very dissimilar theory. They have supposed that the deity, from the relations we stand in to himself and to each other, has constituted an eternal and immutable law, which is indispensably obligatory upon all mankind, prior to any human institution whatever. This is what is called the law of nature....Upon this law depend the natural rights of mankind.


John Adams
1798 — Address to the Military

We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
Reference: America's God and Country (10-11)


John Adams
1776 — letter to Zabdiel Adams

Statesmen my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for Liberty, but it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand....The only foundation of a free Constitution, is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People, in a great Measure, than they have it now, They may change their Rulers, and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting Liberty.
Reference: Our Sacred Honor, Bennett, pg. 371.

I love how the secularists have redefined "god" to mean "the Christian God." Really, that's the problem with this whole debate. Everyone has decided that any reference to god automatically equates to Christianity. Which, IMO, is in its own way solid proof that we are indeed a Christian nation.

My challenge to all those in this forum who insist this is a Christian nation is to please point to the part(s) of the United States Constitution that codifies this nations religious identity. ONLY the constitution is allowed as your source for citing this claim and none other. Aaaaaaaaaaaand GO

In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection.- Our prayers, Sir, were heard, & they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.

I therefore beg leave to move-that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that Service-

Mr. SHARMAN seconded the motion.

Mr. HAMILTON & several others expressed their apprehensions that however proper such a resolution might have been at the beginning of the convention, it might at this late day, I.14 bring on it some disagreeable animadversions. & 2.15 lead the public to believe that the embarrassments and dissensions within the Convention, had suggested this measure. It was answered by Docr. F. Mr. SHERMAN & others, that the past

omission of a duty could not justify a further omission-that the rejection of such a proposition would expose the Convention to more unpleasant animadversions than the adoption of it: and that the alarm out of doors that might be excited for the state of things within, would at least be as likely to do good as ill.

Mr. WILLIAMSON, observed that the true cause of the omission could not be mistaken. The Convention had no funds.

Mr. RANDOLPH proposed in order to give a favorable aspect to ye. measure, that a sermon be preached at the request of the convention on16 4th of July, the anniversary of Independence; & thenceforward prayers be used17 in ye. Convention every morning. Dr. FRANKn. 2ded. this motion After several unsuccessful attempts for silently postponing the18 matter by adjourng. the adjournment was at length carried, without any vote on the motion.

My challenge to all those in this forum who insist this is a Christian nation is to please point to the part(s) of the United States Constitution that codifies this nations religious identity. ONLY the constitution is allowed as your source for citing this claim and none other. Aaaaaaaaaaaand GO

Trust me, you really don't want to get into a quote off with me to try to prove your point. You will lose.

Face it(and anyone else), we are a Judeo-Christian society founded on Judeo-Christian principles. Should Atheists and any one who doesn't fall in this realm be given all the rights that any human being is entitled to in this country? Of course! But you can't change your foundation unless you move off the lot entirely. At which point you are trailer trash who doesn't know how good they had it anyway. Plus, tell me one thing from the Ten Commandments or the Greatest Commandment that you don't agree with at least a little bit. Yeah, thought so. Now get on with your life, be thankful that we don't make women put scarves on their heads (or any other such bullshit), and enjoy life in the US of A. Thankyouverymuch.

Thank you, Judeo-Christians, for "giving" me some rights even though I don't fall within your realm. How benevolent of you. I should be lucky that you guys don't force me or my family to wear religious clothing, so I probably shouldn't complain when you squeeze your own personal faith unto my business in other little ways. Although I must admit that while many of your commandments are good rules to follow anyway, let's not get carried away and claim that everybody should agree with the "greatest" one.

Yeah, we're lucky we don't have to wear little cloth insignia or have to pay their version of Nonbeliever Tax... They're so benevolent. May I breathe their air also?