Untied States of Hodgepodges, Mishmashes, and Miscellanies

The ever ridiculous Sarah Palin, and other less nutty individuals, like to argue that the Founding Fathers goal was to form a Christian nation when they signed the Constitution. Today we have lost sight of that ideal, and according to supporters of christiannation.org this country must return to our religious roots.

The evidence that the United States is a Christian nation is razor thin. I much prefer the melting pot cliche. We are the Untied States of hodgepodges, mishmashes, and miscellanies. 

Stephen Colbert

Christianity is a huge influence throughout the history of the United States. However, it's hardly the sole driving factor for any action or event. Economic opportunity, for example, has tremendous influence throughout our nations history. People didn't go west to find God (well maybe the Mormons did). They went to find a lively hood that could support themselves and raise a family.

Also, Christians are not the only religious group in this great nation. Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, Muslims, Star Wars nerds, and more all worship in their own way; often with less violence than other nations. To ignore this diversity is unacceptable. It's a part of our country, and it's not going anywhere.

A number of the Founders were Deist. They believed in a God, but had a hard time with pre-destination and religious organizations. This doesn't mean that there were no religious individuals at this time; there were plenty. But for the first time in western history there were people predominately using science to explain the world around them. This Era of Enlightenment had a huge impact on many of the Founding Fathers and the formation of the Constitution.


Below are a list of quotes from some of our famous Founders. I believe they denote skepticism of religious influences in government. The quotes also indicate an acute awareness of the churches bloody history. They give a clear indication that a number of the Founding Fathers were not attempting to form a nation based on any religion. 


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Franklin:

"Lighthouses are more helpful than churches." -in Poor Richard's Almanac

"The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason." -in Poor Richard's Almanac"

"When a religion is good, I conceive it will support itself; and when it does not support itself so that its professors are obliged to call for the help of the civil power, 'tis a sign, I apprehend, of its being a bad one."

"I looked around for God's judgments, but saw no signs of them."

"In the affairs of the world, men are saved not by faith, but by the lack of it."

Madison: 

"It may not be easy, in every possible case, to trace the line of separation between the rights of religion and the Civil authority with such distinctness as to avoid collisions and doubts on unessential points.  The tendency to unsurpastion on one side or the other, or to a corrupting coalition or alliance between them, will be best guarded agst. by an entire abstinence of the Gov't from interfence in any way whatsoever, beyond the necessity of preserving public order, and protecting each sect agst. trespasses on its legal rights by others." -James Madison, "James Madison on Religious Liberty", edited by Robert S. Alley, ISBN 0-8975-298-X. pp. 237-238 .

"What influence, in fact, have ecclesiastical establishments had on society?  In some instances they have been seen to erect a spiritual tyranny on the ruins of the civil authority; on many instances they have been seen upholding the thrones of political tyranny; in no instance have they been the guardians of the liberties of the people.  Rulers who wish to subvert the public liberty may have found an established clergy convenient auxiliaries.  A just government, instituted to secure and perpetuate it, needs them not." - "A Memorial and Remonstrance", 1785

Adams:

"As I understand the Christian religion, it was, and is, a revelation.  But how has it happened that millions of fables, tales, legends, have been blended with both Jewish and Christian revelation that have made them the most bloody religion that ever existed?"      -letter to F.A. Van der Kamp, Dec. 27, 1816

"I almost shudder at the thought of alluding to the most fatal example of the abuses of grief which the history of mankind has preserved-- the Cross. Consider what calamities that engine of grief has produced!" -letter to Thomas Jefferson

". . . Thirteen governments [of the original states] thus founded on the natural authority of the people alone, without a pretence of miracle or mystery, and which are destined to spread over the northern part of that whole quarter of the globe, are a great point gained in favor of the rights of mankind."

Washington:

"Religious controversies are always productive of more acrimony and irreconcilable hatreds than those which spring from any other cause.  Of all the animosities which have existed among mankind, those which are caused by the difference of sentiments in religion appear to be the most inveterate and distressing, and ought most to be depreciated.  I was in hopes that the enlightened and liberal policy, which has marked the present age, would at least have reconciled Christians of every denomination so far that we should never again see the religious disputes carried to such a pitch as to endanger the peace of society." - letter to Edward Newenham, 1792

"Gouverneur Morris had often told me that General Washington believed no more of that system (Christianity) than did he himself." -Thomas Jefferson, in his private journal, Feb. 1800

Historian Barry Schwartz writes: "George Washington's practice of Christianity was limited and superficial because he was not himself a Christian...  He repeatedly declined the church's sacraments.  Never did he take communion, and when his wife, Martha, did, he waited for her outside the sanctuary...  Even on his deathbed, Washington asked for no ritual, uttered no prayer to Christ, and expressed no wish to be attended by His representative." [New York Press, 1987, pp. 174-175]

Paine:

"The study of theology, as it stands in the Christian churches, is the study of nothing; it is founded on nothing; it rests on no principles; it proceeds by no authority; it has no data; it can demonstrate nothing; and it admits of no conclusion."

"I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish Church, by the Roman Church, by the Greek Church, by the Turkish Church, by the Protestant Church, nor any Church that I know of. My own mind is my own Church" -The Age of Reason


Jefferson:

"History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government.  This marks the lowest grade of ignorance, of which their political as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purpose." - to Baron von Humboldt, 1813

"No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever."

"Christianity neither is, nor ever was, a part of the Common Law."    -letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper, 1814

"Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined, imprisoned; yet we have not advanced an inch towards uniformity.  What has been the effect of coercion?  To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites.  To support roguery and error all over the earth."       - "Notes on Virginia"
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This list shouldn't be considered all encompassing. Our ancestors beliefs and ideals evolved throughout their lifetime. Franklin, for example, gets more religious as he ages (which isn't unheard for any individual). There are also other Founders who wanted a Christian nation, but didn't have enough support to make it so. Palin, and other liked minded people, should recall that even in the beginning we were the Untied States of hodgepodges, mishmashes, and miscellanies.