Is This Really a Christian Nation?

I guess I should save, is this a nation founded on Christianity? There are many people, like William Buckingham, who say things like that. But is it true?

Not if we were to read anything our "founding fathers" wrote. I mean, I can't think of a single "father" who like a particular brand of Christianity (sect), or even Christianity in general.

What follows is a collection of quotes that may start to make it clear that the "Founding Fathers" wanted to form this country on enlightened ideals where any religion has no business in the political system.

So… anyone have any more?

BTW: I took all of these from the book, Flock of Dodos, which I found to be a "riotous good romp for smugly superior people". I highly recommend it.

I have recently been examining all the known superstitions of the world, and do not find in our particular superstition one redeeming feature. They are all alike, founded upon fables and mythologies.

--Thomas Jefferson

Religious controversies are always productive of more acrimony and irreconcilable hatreds than those which spring from any other cause. I had hoped that liberal and enlightened thought would have reconciled the Christians so that their religious fights would not endanger the peace of Society.

--George Washington

How has it happened that millions of myths, fables, legends and tales have been blended with Jewish and Christian fables and myths and have made them the most bloody religion that has ever existed? Filled with the sordid and detestable purposes of superstition and fraud?

--John Adams

Note: In the following quote, Deist is the concept of believing in a Force or God behind the universe, but which is not active in human affairs. This is certainly not Christianity.

Some volumes against deism fell into my hands. They were said to be the substance of sermons preached at Boyle's Lecture. It happened that they produced on me an effect precisely the reverse of what was intended by the writers; for the arguments of the Deists, which were cited in order to be refuted, appealed to me much more forcibly than the refutation itself. In a word, I soon became a thorough Deist.

--Benjamin Franklin

Also, Benjamin Franklin wrote a lot in his autobiography about how much he dislike his particular "sect", and wish the preacher would preach more morals and less Christianity. Need to get this quote, too.)

All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish†† He obviously meant, Muslim , appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.

--Thomas Paine

There are in this country, as in all others, a certain proportion of restless and turbulent spirits-- poor, unoccupied, ambitious-- who must always have something to quarrel about with their neighbors. These people are the authors of religious revivals.

--John Quincy Adams

My earlier views of the unsoundness of the Christian scheme of salvation and the human origin of the scriptures have become clearer and stronger with advancing years and I see no reason for thinking I shall ever change them.

--Abraham Lincoln

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