This week I have heard a lot of outrage regarding Obama’s comments while in Turkey. Specifically regarding his comments on whether or not America is a Christian Nation. This has stirred up a bunch of controversy for some folks. But, unfortunately, I am consistently seeing the President misquoted by many of these folks. Let’s try to clear this up right here.
Here is how I have seen the President quoted recently.
“We are not a Christian nation.” This seems to be the paraphrase that is crossing most people’s lips. While I would agree even with that statement if it were accurate, I feel we must still differentiate the aforementioned misquote from the actual quote.
Here is what he actually said.
His point was not to piss on the tradition of Christianity in or country. His point was to establish that while all three religions mentioned are completely valid forms of worship in the US, none of them alone truly reflect our whole.
For some people I have discussed this with, this reasoning alone is not good enough. Their counter point is that this nation was founded by Christians therefore it is a Christian nation. Let me address a few different reasons why I feel this is inaccurate.
- Henry Ford, Alexander Graham Bell, and Thomas Edison. They were Protestant, Deist and Unitarian respectively. Yet the automobile isn’t a Protestant invention, the telephone not a Deist invention nor the light bulb a Unitarian invention. So why does the invention of our democracy need to be defined as religious?
-Please point out to me anywhere in the Declaration of Independence or Constitution where the names Jesus or Christ are used. If we are a Christian nation, then the name Christ should literally be associated with us. Let me save you the time. You won’t find them.
-Many of the men who founded the principles of our country were barely Christians if at all. Benjamin Franklin for example was not at all Christian and he is on our money! Franklin was a Deist. And while their official status’ may not reflect it, it is common knowledge that Jefferson, Adams and Madison were less than devout followers of Christianity. And those guys were Presidents.
-It can be argued that America’s revolution is the least Christian thing we could have possibly done. Consider the following passages from the New Testament:
1 Peter 2:13: “For the Lord’s sake accept the authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme, or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.”
Paul wrote in Romans 13:1: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resist authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”
So did we not go against the will of God by rising up against the Monarchy of England, a king chosen by God himself?
-Lastly and perhaps most prolific to me is Article 11 of the Treaty of Tripoli. This was a treaty unanimously passed by Congress and signed by President John Adams in 1797. Article 11 reads as follows:
“Art. 11. 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 Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, 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.”
What further evidence do you need than that? Plain and simple and clear as day. Signed by a President that helped found the country.
I rest my case your honor.
I first got engaged in this topic over at TJ Shelby’s blog. So check that site out too.
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