Musings

In my world, the question has come up as to whether we are a Christian nation. In answering that question, we need to agree on a definition of "Christian" as it is generally used. Technically, it refers to one who believes in Jesus Christ, the Trinity, and all the events of Jesus' life. That would not include Jews and others. However, it is used casually today to refer to those who believe in God, a deity, or a supernatural being worshipped in a religious faith by whatever name. That is the context I use it in here. I use it to include all believing faiths.

A little bit of research will show that most if not all of our Founding Fathers did believe in God. Some of them like Thomas Jefferson believed that one's religious beliefs were deeply personal, and were between one and his God, as evidenced in the following quotes.

"I have ever thought religion a concern purely between our God and our consciences, for which we were accountable to Him, and not to the priests." --Thomas Jefferson to Mrs. M. Harrison Smith, 1816. ME 15:60

"Religion is a subject on which I have ever been most scrupulously reserved. I have considered it as a matter between every man and his Maker in which no other, and far less the public, had a right to intermeddle." --Thomas Jefferson to Richard Rush, 1813.

"I never will, by any word or act, bow to the shrine of intolerance or admit a right of inquiry into the religious opinions of others." --Thomas Jefferson to Edward Dowse, 1803. ME 10:378

"Our particular principles of religion are a subject of accountability to God alone. I inquire after no man's, and trouble none with mine." --Thomas Jefferson to Miles King, 1814. ME 14:198

Some take advantage of these comments to suggest that Jefferson did not believe in God, and use this as support of their arguments against the issue. In fact, he was adamant that his beliefs remained private, as he considered everybody else's to be. It was nobody's business, plain and simple.

One of Jefferson's quotes has been selectively and partially quoted in an effort to support non-belief or atheistic arguments.

"Shake off all the fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear."

The point here is to question the government. He is expressing the mindset here to be very suspicious - not of God, as they would have you believe, but to be suspicious of those who hold high public office. The comment about questioning the existence of a God is only to emphasize the veracity with which one should be suspicious of government.

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Tolerance and The First Amendment

The town halls of late show disturbing trends. Those trends seek to demonize Americans. Town hall meetings are set up to try to convince us that the happenings in government are good and should be carried out. When citizens speak out their minds as individuals with their concerns about those bills and policies, "stuff" happens.

We are not to be persecuted for our opinions and are in fact supposed to be protected from it in light of The First Amendment. Unfortunately, there are those who have very little tolerance for opposing viewpoints. Our current leaders are in violation of the First Amendment. They slander and persecute us repeatedly because we do not agree with them. They call us un-American?

Where is the the tolerance they preach? Where is their support and defense of our Constitution that they have sworn to?
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