This Country Was Built On Christian Principles And Values

[TheBear]

That's what I keep hearing.

I'd like to see a list of the specific Christian values and principles which this country was built on. These values and principles need to be exclusive to Christianity.

[Davidnic]

Well I am a Christian and I have no problem admitting that we were build on Natural Law and Christian tradition happens to have a strong Natural Law component. Really the Declaration and Constitution are Natural Law documents rather than Christian ones. Maybe that blurs for some.

There is definite Christian influence. But not solely so. The foundation is the Natural Law that happens to be big in Christian thought. But it is also big in the Greek Classical thought that was popular with the founding fathers.

So likely both Christianity and Greek classical thought as well at the push for liberty at the time in philosophy....made the foundation of the country the natural law that is common to all. Now the expression of Natural Law in our founding documents has a Christian flavor because of the time they were written and the common aspects in Christianity and Natural Law.

So...they are really Natural Law documents rather than belonging to any religion.

[VoxRat]

Considering how America was a colonial expansion of Europe, and how Europe had been exclusively Christian for centuries, it's hard to imagine how there could fail to be a "christian influence".

Does that make it "a Christian nation", or "founded on Christian principles and values"? Of course not. Lots of the governmental structure of Europe, and hence America, was inherited from the Roman empire. Does that make Europe, and hence America, a "pagan nation", or "founded on pagan principles and values"?

Certainly "no" to the first question; arguably "yes" on the second.

[Joykins]

I'm sure it must be the loving of enemies and giving everything to the poor.

[dancer_rnb]

Don't forget having a king as provided by god.

[Ray Moscow]

That's what I keep hearing.

I'd like to see a list of the specific Christian values and principles which this country was built on. These values and principles need to be exclusive to Christianity.

Slavery? Oh, not exclusive.

Hmmm ... socialism? Wait, that's not exclusive either.

The Trinity, as expressed in the 3 branches of federal government? Oh, wait -- someone had already invented the number "3".

Maybe it would help if someone could define something that was exclusively Christian. At the moment, nothing comes to mind.

[Joykins]

Don't forget having a king as provided by god.

That's certainly not unique to Christianity. It's hardly a part of it.

[BioBeing]

The US tortures people. That is a Biblical value, isn't it :confused:

[jaywalker]

That's what I keep hearing.

I'd like to see a list of the specific Christian values and principles which this country was built on. These values and principles need to be exclusive to Christianity.


Which country ,please ?

[Ray Moscow]

The Jesus saying of "render unto Caeasar" could be taken to imply the separation of church and state, which is a very good idea if we would ever actually try it.

[Oolon Colluphid]

That's what I keep hearing.

I'd like to see a list of the specific Christian values and principles which this country was built on. These values and principles need to be exclusive to Christianity.


Which country ,please ?
I was just wondering that myself. Mind you, my country's Queen is also the head of an established church, so they may be on to something...

[TheBear]

That's what I keep hearing.

I'd like to see a list of the specific Christian values and principles which this country was built on. These values and principles need to be exclusive to Christianity.


Which country ,please ?
Somalia, of course.

[MadMez]

That's what I keep hearing.

I'd like to see a list of the specific Christian values and principles which this country was built on. These values and principles need to be exclusive to Christianity.

Treaty of Tripoli 1797, Article 11:

Ratification by the Senate and only the third recorded unanimous vote of 339 taken. The treaty was printed in the Philadelphia Gazette and two New York papers, no evidence of any public dissent being mentioned.

Art. 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.

Oh. You wanted specific Christian values and principles which this country was built on. Never mind then!

[BWE]

That's what I keep hearing.

I'd like to see a list of the specific Christian values and principles which this country was built on. These values and principles need to be exclusive to Christianity.

huh? what values could those be?

[BioBeing]

Here is some homework for the Christians here: what would a Country build on Christian values actually look like? What specific values would it include; which ones (like stoning, I assume) would it not include, and why? What is the Biblical (Christian?) basis for these choices...

[Daisy]

Maybe it would help if someone could define something that was exclusively Christian. At the moment, nothing comes to mind.Christ is god? The only way to God is through Christ?

That's all I got. I don't see what that's got to do with the Declaration of Independence or the USA Constitution.

[Anne]

as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen

my, how far we've come...

[Joykins]

I still say it's the loving your enemies and turning the other cheek and blessed are the meek and giving everything you have to the poor. We're good at those things.

[BioBeing]

WE being Americans, or Christians... because I might say you are wrong in both cases!

[Late_Cretaceous]

I have to shake my head every time I hear that too. I wonder, where are the laws forbidding work on the Sabbath, worshiping other gods, having idols, coveting thy neighbors' stuff...

Seems to me, coveting they neighbor's plasma screen TV is as American as apple pie! (Please don't take that as an anti-american remark, I am far from being anti-american.) In fact, I would have to say a lot of the founding pricniples of the USA seem downright secular and counter christian to me. I think people who make that claim are just ignorant bible thumpers who don't like to think that non-christians can be American citizens.

Of course, the whole Boston Tea Party thing seems to go against "Render unto Ceasar" doesn't it?

[Joykins]

WE being Americans, or Christians... because I might say you are wrong in both cases!

Yeah, that would be the irony in my previous post that didn't quite come across.

[Anne]

I got it.