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In 1837, Supreme Court Justice David Brewer said, "Of all the nations in the world . . (ours is) most justly called a Christian nation," because Christianity "has so largely shaped and molded it." The Declaration of Independence and our Constitution were written and ratified by Christians -- 27 of whom had seminary degrees. Because their values inspired much that’s good about America; I believe members of every faith should be thankful for and respectful and proud of the morals and traditions handed down since this nation’s inception. I wonder whether Americans realize the connection between our country’s greatness and its Christian heritage. If you doubt that our nation was founded on Christianity, consider the following representative quotes (just a few from hundreds) by our founding fathers: PATRICK HENRY:"This great nation was founded ... on the Gospel of Jesus Christ." JOHN ADAMS: "The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the principles of Christianity." ALEXANDER HAMILTON said two things made America great: Christianity and a Constitution. JAMES MADISON: "We have staked the whole of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind to govern ourselves ... according to the Ten Commandments." SAMUEL ADAMS: "The rights of the colonists...may be best understood by reading ... the New Testament." GEORGE WASHINGTON: " It is impossible to rightly govern without God and Bible." BEN FRANKLIN said our country couldn’t succeed without the aid of God. He insisted that public schools teach "the excellency of the Christian religion." NOAH WEBSTER: " The Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people." The decision of the Supreme Court in 1892: "Our lives and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer... Our institutions are emphatically Christian." All the high court decisions, right up till the mid-1900's, reinforced these intentions. When federal territories introduced bigamy and polygamy, the Court disallowed them because they were "contrary to the spirit of Christianity." JUSTICE JOSEPH STORY (1833): "The Christian religion is the great basis on which (our republic) must rest for its support." JUSTICE EARL WARREN: "The entireBill of Rights came into being because of the knowledge our forefathers had of the Bible and their belief in it." JUSTICE JOHN MCLEAN(1785-1861) said our mission of freedom is carried outby "Christian principles found in the Scriptures." In 1831, A court in New York rejected a witness on the grounds that he didn’t believe in God! The presiding judge said that in a Christian country, a witness should not "be permitted to testify without such belief." In 1852, The House Judiciary Committee declared (when some citizens sought a cessation of religious activities by government) "At the time of the adoption of the Constitution, the universal sentiment was that Christianity should be encouraged. . . . there can be no substitute for Christianity." In 1856, a declaration of the House of Representatives stated, "The great vital ... element in our system is the belief of our people in the pure doctrines and divine truths of the Gospel." Originally, Christian church services were held in the Capitol building, and by 1867, 2,000 people (including congressmen and the president) were attending. Nearly every building in our Nation's Capital is inscribed with Christian principles. The Washington Monument’s peak declares "Praise be to God." Within the monument are 898 steps with 50 landings. Each is inscribed with a Bible verse or a prayer. At the National Archives' entrance is a bronze medallion of the Ten Commandments. The Jefferson Memorial is inscribed with Christian sentiments, and The Lincoln Memorial displays numerous references to God. On the wall of the Library of Congress is engraved: "The heavens declare the glory of God." Over the east portico of the Supreme Court is a sculpture of Moses with the Ten Commandments. Carved into a White House fireplace is a prayer by John Adams. A Bible was deposited within the cornerstone of the Washington Monument. Surely these all testify to the centrality of Christianity in the young republic. Woodrow Wilson said America was born a Christian nation "to exemplify devotion to ... Holy Scripture." Herbert Hoover said American life could only survive on the philosophy taught by Jesus. I share these bits of history, not to say we must all be Christians to be Americans; but to illustrate that our nation was founded on Christian principles. We have 2 million good Muslims living in this country, but 70% of Americans still claim to be Christians. Therefore, our President mis-spoke when he called America "a Muslim nation." America was founded by Christians, much of the good we’ve done around the world through the centuries sprang from Christian ideals, and most of the population embraces Christianity as their religion. I’d say that makes this a Christian nation. To claim otherwise would change the meaning of America. All Americans -- of every faith -- are fortunate this country was founded on Christian values. Without them, this nation would be very different. President Roosevelt said Biblical teachings were so interwoven in American life that it would be impossible to imagine life without them. Yet, how many American school children have read the words of JUSTICE DAVID BREWER(1837-1910)? "The calling of this republic a Christian nation is ... a recognition of historical, legal, and social truth." Unfortunately, due to "political correctness," children are not being taught about our true (Christian) heritage. That’s sad, because that heritage led to the greatness of the dream and the miracle that is America.Great reading for Independence Day:www.eadshome.com/QuotesOfTheFounders.htm
Marsha Jordan Harshaw, Wisconsin
John 8:32. and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
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