founding of America

Submitted by Lewis Loflin (United States), Mar 2, 2003 at 03:18

Mr. Kennel is correct that America wasn't founded on Christianity, at least the version the Christian Right espouses.

I constantly hear from fundamentalists about the Mayflower Compact or the South Carolina Constitution of 1700 as proof that Christianity is the state religion. But that was 13 backwater colonies, not the United States based on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

The European Enlightenment and a lot of other things influenced the founders. John Locke, the Socinians, Deism, Freemasonry, Unitarianism, Thomas Paine, etc.

Jews also played a role. George Washington as a Freemason had non-Christian officers in his army including 25 Jews, plus Deists, and Universalists.

Many of the Christians among the Founders were anything but fundamentalists. In fact many common people were sick of state sponsored churches.

For more on Deism, Jews, Unitarians, and Freemasons see the following

http://www.sullivan-county.com/deism.htm


PS: Mr. Pipes, greatly enjoy your writnigs.

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