This country was founded by christians?

[Blue_Chill]

No it wasn't. But I need quotes proving these guys were deists. Could I get a little help? :D

[truthspeaker]

1. actually many of the founders were Christians

Although none shared the theology of American fundamentalists, because it hadn't been invented yet.

But many of the founders were also Freemasons. Many of them were also slave-owners. The argument that most of our founders were Christian gets a big "so what" from me.

[DBoon]

3. Any from "liberal" churches?

Quakers? Other groups that would be considered far removed from current conservative fundamentalist doctrines?

[Qutzupalotl]

8. I think Franklin was a Quaker

and a Mason.

Sorry, I don't have a link.

[DBoon]

9. Any Unitarians?

n/t

[smirkymonkey]

13. That would have been later...

I don't think the Unitarian Church was founded until around 1825 by William Ellery Channing - but it grew out of the Congregational Church and drew many disaffected Calvinists as well. It was later influenced by the Transcendentalists such as Emerson, Thoreau, Margaret Fuller, Bronson & Louisa May Alcott, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and others.

However, many of these ideas form the basis of our democratic ideals, and focus on the integrity of the individual.

[MissMarple]

10. Actually, Ben was a deist.

:D

[supernova]

2. Check out this thread in GD

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=704411

[LynneSin]

4. They were Christians, but they were escaping 'Religious Persecution'

They wanted to worship God in the manner they felt was best. Hence they came to America for religious freedom - the choice to worship without government interference.

Religious nut bags don't see it that way

[underpants]

14. Actually no they were more kicked out than left on their own

The original Jamestown crowd were Waaaaaay out there and they were basically kicked out of Amsterdam being they freaked people out.

I know that we are taught that it was all about finding a place to worship but it was more of them not being able to stay anywhere because their ideas were so radical.

Jefferson "wrote" the Jeffersonian Bible which is ONLY the actual preachings of Jesus not the stories meant to support and define the teachings.

The founding father's were heavily influenced by the Rennaisance and the age of enlightment, they were generally secular.

[Lars39]

17. They became *persecuted* in England

because they ticked the king off. Seems as though Sundays were pretty fun back in those days, and the Puritans weren't happy with refraining from the fun themselves, they wanted Everybody to be just like them. Sound familiar?

[underpants]

19. Speaking of which remember "blue laws"?

Man that was ony about 20some years ago. I remember not having anything open on Sundays except grocery stores.

[Lars39]

20. Yep. I remember being able to buy porn, but not eggs.

:silly:

[el_gato]

5. that funny i didn't know that

the cree, cherokee, apache, and others were also christains

[commander bunnypants]

6. What about the asians

coming over the bearing straight land bridge, o 20k years ago.

DDQM

[Maple]

7. Well actually

society is based on a combination of pre-Christian justice, values and ideas,..Saxons, Danes, Celts, Angles etc, Iroquois federation ideas, Greek democratic principles, Roman militarism, and pagan ideals of freedom. Plus the Code of Hammurabi, the Edicts of Asoka, the Laws of Manu and many other justice systems.....they all say pretty much the same thing, and pre-date Christianity or Judaism.

North America, is and always has been, multcultural.

[catzies]

11. Get thee to this thread in the Gen Discussion board today

Everything you're looking for:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=704411

[Nomad559]

12. Spanish explorers to the New World

http://members.aol.com/magastodu/americanindianhistory/aih04.htm

As required by the government of Spain, the early Spanish explorers to the New World had to pronounce the following statement to any native they might encounter:

We ask and require you... to acknowledge the Church as ruler and superior of the whole world, and the high priest called the Pope and his name the King as lords of... terra firma... , we... shall leave you, your wives and children, and your lands, free without servitude.... But if you do not ... we shall powerfully enter into your country, and shall make war against you.... We shall take you, and your wives, and your children, and shall make slaves of them.... and we shall take away your goods and shall do you all the harm and damage we can.

[Ladyhawk]

15. Most were deists.

This link gives you plenty of ammunition.

http://www.ffrf.org/nontracts/xian.html - On our foundation under the Constitution, a godless document.

http://www.ffrf.org/nontracts/quotes.html - Many anti-Christian quotes from founding fathers, including Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison and Benjamin Franklin.

Hope this helps.

[Ladyhawk]

16. Also, I couldn't help but post this...

http://www.infidels.org/misc/humor/lioaca.html

It shuts those fundies up in a heartbeat.

[supernova]

22. LOL!

At baseball games, you can often spot people carrying signs that read "Origin Of Species, page 34".

[Garage Queen]

18. Favorite John Adams quote: (a paraphrase)

"I sometimes feel that the world would be a better place if there were no religion in it."

Now, John was a very religious man, but this quote is priceless. :7

[TrogL]

21. This country was founded by animists.

And then Colombus showed up.