USA is NOT a Christian Nation

I’ve heard for years that the United States of America is a “Christian nation” and that our laws are based on the Bible. Most recently this was said by ex-govenor of Alaska and Vice-President want to be Sarah Palin on Fox News while talking to Bill O’Reilly (video below). The people who think this typically have no interest in other people’s point of view, opinions, or beliefs but instead insist that everyone else live by their expectations to the point that normal freedoms would be lost. If you think I’m kidding, here’s a quick example by President George Bush Senior while talking at a news conference on August 27, 1987  in Chicago.

Reporter Robert I. Sherman of American Atheist news journal starts.

SHERMAN:  What will you do to win the votes of the Americans who are atheists?

BUSH:  I guess I’m pretty weak in the atheist community. Faith in god is important to me.

SHERMAN:  Surely you recognize the equal citizenship and patriotism of Americans who are atheists?

BUSH:  No, I don’t know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God.

So there’s an example of an ex-president saying those who aren’t religious aren’t citizens, nor can they be considered patriots.  So in his mind, if  you don’t believe in a god, you don’t deserve basic rights and who knows what else he means by that.  I have to ask he would want “godless” people to leave the country since he already believes they aren’t citizens of the country.  Did he miss the first amendment of the US Constitution that says,

“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.”

Of course almost everyone knows about this amendment and understands that the government can’t support a religion or religious activity, but there’s also more that conflicts with what Bush said and the idea the US being a “Christian nation”.  Look at article six of the US Constitution.

Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”

So if this is a “Christian nation”, a theocracy, then why is there not only a separation of religion and state, but also no religious expectations for serving in a government position?  Wouldn’t you think a Christian nation would be tightly woven with, well, Christianity?  Wouldn’t there be in the US Constitution, if this is a “Christian nation”, something along the lines of “Congress will make laws respecting Christianity” or perhaps something acknowledging Christianity as a religion to support.  But there isn’t.   Also wouldn’t there be an expectation for a person to be a Christian to serve in office for a “Christian nation”?  But there isn’t.

Also, if this is a Christian nation, then why are there  so many laws allowing behavior that’s opposed by Christianity?

• Divorce
• Adultery
• Premarital Sex
• Homosexual Sex
• Drunkenness (just not in public)
• Immodesty (especially think of strip clubs)
• Prostitution (in certain places)
• Lying (just not while under oath)
• Free to do what you want on the Sabbath
• Burn Bibles
• Take God’s name in vain
• Worship something other than “god”
• And I’m sure there’s even more…

Just think of the ten commandments.   Only two, shall not kill and not steal, are illegal.  That’s it.  Eight out of ten commandments are completely legal in this supposed “Christian Nation”.  (Well, some may be able to argue “honor your mother and father” as possibly legally required in some ways.)

So there you have it.  A country who’s laws can’t respect an established religion, can’t have a religious requirement for office, and has numerous laws that are blatantly against Christianity…but STILL there are people completely disillusioned in believing that his wonderful country, built around amazing freedoms, is a “Christian nation”.   To these people who believe this, calm down and realize your particular religion isn’t the center everyone else’s lives.

As promised, the video of Sarah Palin making her ignorant declaration that the US is a Christian Nation.