There's much diversity here in the United States. Yes, diversity
even among Christian beliefs. What disturbs me most isn't so much the
religious differences but, the lack of understanding American history.
The how and why America was founded.
I've found that a large segment of Christian society believes that
America was and is a Christian nation. Meaning,
America is thought to have been founded by Christians for Christians...only.
This, is far from the truth. America is a secular nation with a
majority Christian constituency. Or plainly put, an Open Society.
Those who first came to America wanted to freely practice "their"
religion. Unfortunately, many of those who wanted to practice their
religion were intolerant of others. Mainly, intolerant of Native
Americans who practiced a different type of religion. Also, much later, Catholics
were widely discriminated against. This type of discrimination became so out of hand the fore-fathers of the Constitution had to take action.
Although, some of the fore fathers of this great country associated themselves
with different Christian denominations, there were others who associated themselves with no denomination or no religion at all. Both groups of men still understood the
dangers of a Theocratic government and supported the right to exercise
any religion or non religion.
The right to freely practice a religion became official with the First
Amendment of ten to the Constitution of the United States. These ten
amendments are known as the "Bill of Rights"
There were no genuine evangelicals who made heated declarations of Christian piety.
Yes, there are Christian principles in the Constitution and the Bill of
Rights but this does not make the Nation a Christian Theocracy.
Meaning, that there is no official American State Church.
The Founding Fathers wanted to get away from the theocracy of a state
church to the likes that was in England (The Angelican Church) and made their thoughts and wishes clear in the First Amendment:
Democracy not a Theocracy and this idea is what has made us a great Nation. A democracy is such an important tool in preserving self-preservation.
We're an open society folks, and if you don't like it...get over it!
even among Christian beliefs. What disturbs me most isn't so much the
religious differences but, the lack of understanding American history.
The how and why America was founded.
I've found that a large segment of Christian society believes that
America was and is a Christian nation. Meaning,
America is thought to have been founded by Christians for Christians...only.
This, is far from the truth. America is a secular nation with a
majority Christian constituency. Or plainly put, an Open Society.
Those who first came to America wanted to freely practice "their"
religion. Unfortunately, many of those who wanted to practice their
religion were intolerant of others. Mainly, intolerant of Native
Americans who practiced a different type of religion. Also, much later, Catholics
were widely discriminated against. This type of discrimination became so out of hand the fore-fathers of the Constitution had to take action.
Although, some of the fore fathers of this great country associated themselves
with different Christian denominations, there were others who associated themselves with no denomination or no religion at all. Both groups of men still understood the
dangers of a Theocratic government and supported the right to exercise
any religion or non religion.
The right to freely practice a religion became official with the First
Amendment of ten to the Constitution of the United States. These ten
amendments are known as the "Bill of Rights"
There were no genuine evangelicals who made heated declarations of Christian piety.
Yes, there are Christian principles in the Constitution and the Bill of
Rights but this does not make the Nation a Christian Theocracy.
Meaning, that there is no official American State Church.
The Founding Fathers wanted to get away from the theocracy of a state
church to the likes that was in England (The Angelican Church) and made their thoughts and wishes clear in the First Amendment:
Amendment I: Freedom of speech, religion, press, petition and assembly.
Congress
shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of
speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Democracy not a Theocracy and this idea is what has made us a great Nation. A democracy is such an important tool in preserving self-preservation.
We're an open society folks, and if you don't like it...get over it!
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