The Secret to America's Strength. (Role of Religion in the Founding Fathers' Constitutional Formula)

KimbCo Inc. ^ | 1981 | Dr. W. Cleon Skousen

[abandon]

BRAAD is HERE and supports Christian Values

No it doesn't. We support the right of bigots to express themselves, and that includes bigotry against Christianity.

[Khepera]

Not at my house.

[abandon]

Respecting a person's right to be a bigot goes further than whether of not you permit bigotry in your house. It is the public declaration of bigotry that deserves public respect. You need not tolerate it in your own home; just as you may publicly respect a person's right to smoke, but not tolerate smoking in your house because it stinks up the place.

[Bump in the night]

your article is simply a rehash of the "liberalism" that has taken us to the current God-hating society that we have.

WHAT??? I didn't get that from this article at all! When our Founding Father's spoke of religion, they probably all had pretty much the same definition that Benjamin Franklin used:

Franklin said, "Here is my creed. I believe in one God, the Creator of the Universe. That he governs it by his providence. That he ought to be worshiped. That the most acceptable service we render to him is in doing good to his other children. That the soul of man is immortal, and will be treated with justice in another life, respecting his conduct in this. These I take to be the fundamental points in all sound religion.

My point being, that they were NOT talking about satan worshipers, tree huggers, and psychiatrists when they talked about freedom of religion. They were talking about religions such as Christianity, Judaism, and Deism. Religions that believed in "one God, the Creator of the Universe".

Now when I was done reading this pamplet, I thought that it was SUPPORTING the Christian point of view, AND the point of view of OTHER "God believing" religions. The liberals I know would have a heart attack if they read this article. They would foam at the mouth. This article is saying religion SHOULD be in our schools and in public life. Since when has a liberal agreed with that idea?

[Bump in the night]

freedom of religion is a Christian concept

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll try to respond to that one as soon as I stop laughing!

[Bump in the night]

The first amendment explicitly talks about laws congress can not pass.

However... I'll give you this one. You're absolutely right! Touche!

[amom]

Thanks for the heads up. B and b'd.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Great post!! But its gonna take a minute to read.

[wwjdn]

Bite me dough boy!!! lol

[ksen]

Bump for later reading.

-ksen

[Michael2001]

Thanks for the ping. Our Founding Fathers came to this country so that they could practice their religion without being persecuted, they didn't come here so they could be free of religion.

[185JHP]

Thanks for the ping. Unquestionably the founders were aware of the power of "religious thought" - and of the danger of the government "establishing" a religion.

[KC Burke]

I just picked up a new book which you, and others, nay want to check out: On Two Wings, Humble Faith and Common Sense at the American Founding by Michael Novak.

Now if you can just get a boat,,,you could get to the book store.

[amom]

LOL boat. You're about right! A couple of the roads are unpassable and we're really starting to swim here. Glad I'm on the higher ground.

I'll see if I can't find that book. Thanks!

[R. Scott]

"The Founding Father's reply is fascinating. They said, "Everybody's religion." They wanted the universal principals of everybody's religion taught."

I would not have a problem with this, and would actually like to see comparative religion taught in government schools. What I object to is the call for a particular religion or denomination being taught. This could possibly be a result of my experience in elementary school – the morning prayer was said by the teacher, and was very denomination specific. I would cringe when the Presbyterian teacher would tell us that we were powerless in the face of predestination. Catholic students were ridiculed for being idol worshippers and Jewish kids were openly referred to as "Christ killers".

Admittedly this was the extreme, but it did occur. I would not want to see it happen again.

"I believe in one God, the Creator of the Universe. That he governs it by his providence. That he ought to be worshiped. That the most acceptable service we render to him is in doing good to his other children. That the soul of man is immortal, and will be treated with justice in another life, respecting his conduct in this."

If everyone followed this, it would be a pretty nice world. A good Deist creed.

[Bump in the night]

Well you know what's funny... is that I actually do agree with you. I think the difference in our thoughts (if I'm correct) is that you believe that freedom of religion means freedom of religion as long as it's your Christian religion. (Now if I'm wrong about that, I apologize. That's just the impression I'm getting.) I believe that freedom of religion is just that: The freedom of religion. That statement is not saying anything against Christianity. I totally agree with you that this country wouldn't be where it is if it wasn't for Christianity. I'm simply expanding what you are saying, and saying that this country also wouldn't be where it's at if it weren't for religion in general. When I say that, I'm not talking about tree hugers, environmentalists, psychiatry, humanists etc. I'm talking about religions that believe in a higher power; a God. Christians, Jews, Deists, etc..

[Dynamo]

"Connecticut, the Congregational Church, Delaware, the Christian faith, Maryland, the Christian faith."

"Massachusetts was the Congregational Church. They didn't get away from that until 1828. They were the last state to do away with a state church. In New Hampshire you had to belong to the Protestant faith. If you were a Catholic, you couldn't serve. In New Jersey you had to belong to the Protestant faith. In South Carolina you had to belong to the Protestant faith."

All Christian. 7 of the original 13 had State Religions, and all were Christian. Based upon the Bible.

'Nuff said. Great read, BITN.

[Tailgunner Joe]

bttt