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logo    USA-Christian or Not?


The claim that the USA is a Christian nation and was founded as such is often expressed as though it were an obvious truth. But is it?

The founding fathers were Christian.

Yes, many of the European colonists who settled here were Christians, with different sects founding different colonies. Puritans in New England, Quakers in Pennsylvania, Catholics in Maryland, and Christians from these and the other colonies founded the nation.  But to claim that this nation is Christian because it was founded by Christians is an example of the genetic fallacy. For instance, if a group of Hindus pooled their resources and founded a country club without restricting its membership to fellow Hindus, the club would not be a Hindu club.

The founders of this nation did not restrict citizenship to Christians.

Did the founding fathers intend to found a Christian nation?

No! Lets look at the evidence.

The Constitutional Convention convened in May, 1787 and lasted until September 17th of that year. Thirty nine delegates to the convention signed the draft. It was ratified on June 21, 1788 when New Hampshire became the ninth colony to ratify it.

A mere eight years later, in 1796, a Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the United States of America and the Bey and subjects of Tripoli of Barbary was negotiated and submitted to the U.S. Senate for ratification. The senate ratified it on June 10, 1797.

This treaty contains the following article:

"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 Musselmen, and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan 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."

It cannot be argued that the members of the Senate at the time were unfamiliar with the viewpoints and arguments that led to the Constitution's writing and adoption. Being persons politically inclined enough to run for office, they surely kept abreast of the political thinking of the time. But, as a matter of fact, three members of the Senate that ratified the treaty were also delegates to the Constitutional Convention: William Blount (NC & TN), John Langdon (NH),  and Alexander  Martin (NC). It can hardly be argued that they didn't know what they were talking about. (2/21/2005)