Is the United States a Christian Nation?
The author talks about how Christianity has a justification in US politics and government based on the determination that it is the prevailing religion in the country. It also talks about how the government must exhibit moral behavior, He also explains The First Amendment to the Constitution and the historical context.. (Jacobs). The Second argument counters this claim and gives its reason for why the United States is not a Christian nation; he argues that religion is a personal issue in the US and that any one belief cannot influence politics or government because the country allows freedom for all religions. (Evinger). The majority of people that support the argument of the United states being a christian nation are the American citizen. In 2002 a poll was was conducted and it showed that 67% American believe that the United States is a christian nation and 87% percent of American are more reliant on morality. (Jacobs.) This means that people believe that Christianity is the more dominant religion in the U.S. Both arthurs use the same methods to make their points. They use the First Amendment of the constitution, historical conext and quotes from the founding fathers to proove their point. Although though their methods are similare the make very strong arguments.
One reason the United States is overall a christian is because of the constitution. The arthurs Jacobs, W. E., and Tracey M. DiLascio strongly believe that United States is a christian nation based off what is stated in the constitution. They claim that the United states has many religions but christian is the dominant religion in the United States. The first amendment of the United States states “the federal Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”(Jacobs) This means that there should be no controversy when it comes to Christianity and everyone has the right to practice their religion. The historical context to the constitution was related to the Puritans and the Pilgrims when they were in the Church of England. They were forced to support the church with their taxes whether or not they agreed or not. (Jacobs). This is why the first Amendment was added to the constitution it was unfair for the British to tax the puritans and the Pilgrams. So this law was put in place so that the problems that were happening in Britain would not affect the Puritans and Pilgrims negatively when they came over to the United States and they would be free to practice any religion they want. The Article discussed the founding Fathers and what they thought about the United States being a Christian Nation. The two presidents that were discussed were George Washington and John Adams. George Washington said “While just government protects all in their religious rights, true religion affords to government its surest support.”(Jacobs) Washington was emphasizing the importance of reliance on God and the importance of a government that would turn away from God his guide to religious prosperity was based on religion and morality. This was similar to what John Adams believed. He said, “It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue.””(Jacobs.) Adam’s statement was letting us know that it is important for the United States to have good morals. If there are good principles and beliefs that the government stands by there will be less corruption and more freedom for the citizens.
Evan argues that religion is a private issue in the US and other beliefs cannot influence politics or government because the country allows freedom for all religions. The first amendment of the constitution is also used in his argument, but his reasoning for the United states not being a christian nation is the fact that The constitution supports all religions and no religion has more power than the others. He believes that it is unfair to label christianity as a christian nation(Evans). Everyone deserves the opportunity to make a decision when it comes to their personal belit. The Declaration of independence plays an important role on why the United states is not a christian nation Thomas Jefferson wrote : “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” (Evans). By quoting what Thomas Jefferson wrote in the constitution, The declaration of independence is a good reasoning for the United states not being a christian because it letting us know that we God gives everyone free will life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is the ability to choose the life you want, and to say that the United states is a christian nation would mean to deny the ability to pursue happiness because its not allowing people to make their own choice on what they believe as citizens. In the article Evans also used information based on historical background and what the founding Fathers believed about the United states being a christian nation. In an 1821 letter, James Madison, one of the American Founding Fathers, ``led the way” and this is what brought up the idea of separation between church and state (Evans) which is also a major part of what is stated in the constitution.
There are also many people in the United States that are atheists and they went as far as wanting to ban “ In God we Trust '' from the US Currency but according to the NewYork post it showed that their request was rejected (Park). Although this bill was rejected by the supreme court it just shows the length that other people that don't believe in God would go to to ban Christianity in our government system. Based on what was stated in in the first amendemt another reason why banning "In God we Trust" was because having that in the constution is not seperating churh and state its actually supporting christianity into the currency.
Overall, These two arguments are have their reason for why Christianity is a Christianity is a christian nation and why Christianity is not a christian nation, Jacobs believes in the thoughts of what our founding fathers though, and he believed in what was stated in the constitution and he also uses historical context to proof his point on why these are important. But Evinger talks about separation of church and state and how the constitution is not supportive to Christianity alone but other religions as well.
Pic Citation
"play of light in santhome church" by VinothChandar is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"One dollar bill" by janoma.cl is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Works Cited
Evinger, Barbara, and Matt Donnelly. “Counterpoint: The Constitution States That the U.S. Has No Official Religion.” Points of View: Christianity in the U.S, Mar. 2016, p. 3. EBSCOhost, https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true&AuthType=ip,shib&db=pwh&AN=23242032&site=pov- live&custid=gwin
Jacobs, W. E., and Tracey M. DiLascio. “Point: The United States Is a Christian Nation.” Points of View: Christianity in the U.S, Mar. 2016, p. 2. EBSCOhost, https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true&AuthType=ip,shib&db=pwh&AN=23242031&site=pov- live&custid=gwin
Parke, C. (2019, June 11). Supreme Court rejects case to remove 'in God we trust' from US currency. New York Post. Retrieved May 1, 2023, from https://nypost.com/2019/06/11/supreme-court-rejects-case-to-remove-in- god-we-trust-from-us-currency/
I really liked your paper and I especially think the quotes you chose are interesting and they add a lot to your paper. I like the one from Thomas Jefferson because it just further supports what you are saying about how freedom of religion is one of the founding beliefs of the USA.
ReplyDeleteGood job! I like your paper because talks about a very interesting topic in the U.S. I think that the way you introduced the controversial topic is really good, there is good information very clear. Although there are some spelling mistakes, the sense of the sentences is not lost and both sides are wrote with evidences each one fairly.
ReplyDeleteWhen I finished your post, I really liked this topic as a reader because it plays a big role in the world today. I agree it is a very controversial topic that not everyone is comfortable with speaking about. I enjoyed how to use big public historical names in the paper that really elevated your paper, while there were some grammar mistakes it was still a good paper and flowed well making it easier to read as the reader.
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