If one listens to the Radical Right, the whole problem with contemporary American society is that we've moved so far away from the ideals of the Founding Fathers. We're told that the United States was erected on a Christian foundation and its the task of today's faithful to return us to these religious roots.
There's only one thing wrong with this analysis -- It's plain wrong. Not only were many of the beloved Founding Fathers NOT Christians but they took great pains to craft constitutional documents and laws that underscored this precise point!
A friend of mine recently forwarded to me an article about the Treaty of Tripoli (1797). Passed by the US Senate by a unanimous vote, this treaty states in Article 11:
There's only one thing wrong with this analysis -- It's plain wrong. Not only were many of the beloved Founding Fathers NOT Christians but they took great pains to craft constitutional documents and laws that underscored this precise point!
A friend of mine recently forwarded to me an article about the Treaty of Tripoli (1797). Passed by the US Senate by a unanimous vote, this treaty states in Article 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.
Many of the senators who voted in favor of this treaty are the very same people the Religious Right likes to wax eloquently about. Many of these senators are the same people today's fundamentalists point to when stating we need to return to our Christian roots.
As many sites point out, a good number of our beloved Founding Fathers defined themselves NOT as Christians but as Deists. According to Deism.com,
As many sites point out, a good number of our beloved Founding Fathers defined themselves NOT as Christians but as Deists. According to Deism.com,
Deism is a free-thought philosophy, much like Agnosticism, Atheism or Pantheism in that it rejects the dogmas and superstitions of religion in favor of individual reason and empirical observation of the universe. Deism differs from these other free-thought philosophies in that it sees an order and architecture to the universe that indicates a Creator. The word "God" is used to describe this creator, not to be confused with the "Biblegod."
Deism notes that we as humans are endowed with the power of reason and an indomitable spirit. It follows that we are intended to exercise them. Therefore, skepticism and doubt are not "sins" but rather natural expressions of God's gift of reason.
Because skepticism and doubt are not sins, Deists view with extreme suspicion any efforts by other humans to claim divine authority, such as claiming to be a "prophet" or citing "sacred scripture" said to be written by alleged prophets (as in the Bible, the Quran, the Book of Mormon, etc.). Placing faith in scriptures, prophets, priests, churches, "holy" figures, or traditions is surrendering your personal reason to another source. Usually, this other source has far less interest in "the state of your soul" as the accumulation of wealth and political power.
With scripture and revelation removed, all that remains to know God is personal reason and observation of the universe. Essentially, this is getting to know the artist by studying the artwork. The only "Word of God" is the universe itself.
Deism has had many famous advocates throughout history, particularly during the Age of Enlightenment. Some of the most famous American examples were many of the Founding Fathers of America. Contrary to the assertions of Christian Fundamentalists today, America was not founded on Christian ideals. "Nature's God", as invoked by the Declaration of Independence, is a reference to Deism.
And which of our Founding Fathers considered themselves or were described by others as deists?
- George Washington
- Thomas Jefferson
- Benjamin Franklin
- Thomas Paine (author of "Common Sense")
- John Adams
- James Madison
- Ethan Allen
So, if all these leading lights were NOT Christian, who is the Religious Right referring to?
To get an idea of the breadth of information available on this topic, check out the following links:
To get an idea of the breadth of information available on this topic, check out the following links:
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