religion and the founding of the american republic
Sept. 16, 1787--- The Constitution of the United States of America was signed by 38 of the 41 delegates present at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. This amazing document has remained the governing charter of our government uninterrupted for 219 years and counting, making the Constitution the oldest such document in the world today.
Very little was written in the Constitution concerning the topic of religion. It is my belief that the reason why that is so can be found in Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptists. The whole issue of religion was to be left to the states and the federal government (with a few exceptions) would stay out of it. The Library of Congress has a great on-line exhibit called "Religion and the Founding of the American Republic" which certainly sheds a great deal of light on how the Founding Fathers viewed religion in general, and Christianity specifically, and the role of both in this new country they were creating.
The Constitutional Convention was put together by the Congress of the Confederation, our nation's first government. That Congress appointed chaplains for itself and the armed forces, sponsored the publication of a Bible, and imposed Christian morality on the armed forces. The Congress, twice each year during the American Revolution, declared national days of thanksgiving and "humiliation, fasting and prayer." That Congress, which ultimately created the process that created the Constitution, stated that nothing less than a "spirit of universal reformation among all ranks and degrees of our citizens would make us holy so that we may be a happy people." That could explain why the Congress of the Confederation placed a religious and morality clause in the Northwest Ordinance. This law, which outlined the guidelines whereby territories could become states, plainly said, in Article 3, "Religion, morality and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall be forever encouraged." Tell me again how this jibes with prayer being banned in the 21st Century public school classroom?
The Library of Congress website tells a great deal about the importance of Christian faith to our first two presidents (Washington and Adams). It talks about the powerful symbolic support that Jefferson and Madison offered religion in this country, even though both were viewed as being less hospitable towards religion than were Adams and Jefferson. The website shows primary source documentation that proves, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the modern definition of "separation of church and state" is rooted in myth. Link to the site and see for yourself.
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/religion.html
As you (hopefully) celebrate Constitution Day, do yourself a favor. Read this magnificent document so that you can see for yourself what it says. Look at the LOC website so that you can see for yourself how important Christianity was, and still is, to our Constitution and to our great country. God bless you, and God bless America!
Very little was written in the Constitution concerning the topic of religion. It is my belief that the reason why that is so can be found in Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptists. The whole issue of religion was to be left to the states and the federal government (with a few exceptions) would stay out of it. The Library of Congress has a great on-line exhibit called "Religion and the Founding of the American Republic" which certainly sheds a great deal of light on how the Founding Fathers viewed religion in general, and Christianity specifically, and the role of both in this new country they were creating.
The Constitutional Convention was put together by the Congress of the Confederation, our nation's first government. That Congress appointed chaplains for itself and the armed forces, sponsored the publication of a Bible, and imposed Christian morality on the armed forces. The Congress, twice each year during the American Revolution, declared national days of thanksgiving and "humiliation, fasting and prayer." That Congress, which ultimately created the process that created the Constitution, stated that nothing less than a "spirit of universal reformation among all ranks and degrees of our citizens would make us holy so that we may be a happy people." That could explain why the Congress of the Confederation placed a religious and morality clause in the Northwest Ordinance. This law, which outlined the guidelines whereby territories could become states, plainly said, in Article 3, "Religion, morality and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall be forever encouraged." Tell me again how this jibes with prayer being banned in the 21st Century public school classroom?
The Library of Congress website tells a great deal about the importance of Christian faith to our first two presidents (Washington and Adams). It talks about the powerful symbolic support that Jefferson and Madison offered religion in this country, even though both were viewed as being less hospitable towards religion than were Adams and Jefferson. The website shows primary source documentation that proves, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the modern definition of "separation of church and state" is rooted in myth. Link to the site and see for yourself.
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/religion.html
As you (hopefully) celebrate Constitution Day, do yourself a favor. Read this magnificent document so that you can see for yourself what it says. Look at the LOC website so that you can see for yourself how important Christianity was, and still is, to our Constitution and to our great country. God bless you, and God bless America!
posted by hondo at 9:15 PM
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