here's an interesting letter to the editor of a right-wing newsletter billing itself as "Illinois' conservative news source" . . . the author, a historian, takes issue with those calling the US a Christian nation . . .
http://www.illinoisleader.com/letters/lettersview.asp?c=9970(snip)
"So ask yourself why does your God need the help of the government? Does he really need state welfare to succeed? Benjamin Franklin sums up the issue of governmental involvement in religion quite well. He stated, "When a religion is good, I conceive it will support itself; and when it does not support itself, and God does not take care to support it, so that its professors are obliged to call for help of a civil power, ‘tis a sign, I apprehend of its being a bad one." (The Complete Works of Benjamin Franklin, editor John Bigelow, vol. 13)
"So will you support the Constitution and our civil liberties by supporting the wall of separation between church and state, or do you believe your deity is so weak and in need of governmental assistance that you will follow revisionists like Angela Wittman in destroying our freedom? Read the words of the Founders in the context of their times and not the works of those outside of that timeframe or those who had nothing to do with writing the Constitution or Bill of Rights.
"America is not a Christian nation but rather a nation of mostly Christians. That was the intent of the Founders, to allow each of us the right under natural law, to decide matters of conscience for ourselves. Ms. Wittman’s, and those who agree with her, actions would rob us of such liberty."
- much more . . .
http://www.illinoisleader.com/letters/lettersview.asp?c=9970