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Hard to believe that it was founded "on faith" when slavery was legal for almost 100 years after the country was founded and only stopped because of a civil war.)
Slavery appologists used to quote the Bible in defense of slavery. Lots of links on search engines. I even remember studying that in school.
I guess I am getting ancient. We were taught in public school that segregation was based on the Bible; that G-d put separate races on different continents for a reason. Of course, then justifying how Blacks got to America, in light of that was an exercise in gymnastics.
I guess I am getting ancient. We were taught in public school that segregation was based on the Bible; that G-d put separate races on different continents for a reason. Of course, then justifying how Blacks got to America, in light of that was an exercise in gymnastics.
The Bible can be used to support almost anything, good or bad. That's why it's so flawed. As soon as someone says "but the Bible..." I tune out.
The founding fathers used slogans like "In God We Trust" and "Almighty Providence" and they carved references to God on the walls of monuments, the Library of Congress, Supreme Court building, etc.
But it's my impression that they placed less emphasis on Jesus or the word Christian specifically. They seemed to study and mention the Old Testament prophets and stories much more than Christians do today. Has anyone else noticed this?
Last edited by slowlane3; 02-06-2021 at 03:09 PM..
The founding fathers used slogans like "In God We Trust" and "Almighty Providence" and they carved references to God on the walls of monuments, the Library of Congress, Supreme Court building, etc.
But it's my impression that they placed less emphasis on Jesus or the word Christian specifically. They seemed to study and mention the Old Testament prophets and stories much more than Christians do today. Has anyone else noticed this?
Providence was a term coined by thinkers of the American Enlightenment to consider a metaphysical being outside the realm of strict Judeo-Christian thought. It's noteworthy that Roger Williams, fleeing the religious persecution of the Massachusetts Bay Colony founded Providence on secular principles, citing religious freedom and separation of church and state.
"In God We Trust" was not adopted as the official slogan of the United States until the 1950s. It did not appear on American currency until 1864. That being said, Francis Scott Key did put those words in the Star Spangled Banner in 1814.
The founding fathers used slogans like "In God We Trust" and "Almighty Providence" and they carved references to God on the walls of monuments, the Library of Congress, Supreme Court building, etc.
But it's my impression that they placed less emphasis on Jesus or the word Christian specifically. They seemed to study and mention the Old Testament prophets and stories much more than Christians do today. Has anyone else noticed this?
There were religious movements that happened in several waves in Britain and North America, starting in 1730. Wikipedia: Great Awakening
Prior to to 1730, Protestant religion tended to be much more rigidly structured. It followed the the Old Testament probably more than the New Testament, it thought of God as an entity who was remote and was to be feared and revered, and it upheld the concept of predestination - God had already decreed that some were to be saved, others were not to be saved, and no human could change their ultimate fates. For mainstream Protestants prior to the Great Awakening, their God was the God of the Old Testament.
With the Great Awakenings, the Protestant religions in the British and American spheres shifted to being more diverse. Some held to the old ways, but Others shifted towards Christian Evangelicalism. This involved a focus on Jesus as a loving savior with whom you could have a personal relationship, the belief that anyone could be saved through the intervention of Jesus (no predestination). It also included an understanding that anyone could interpret the Bible and lead a congregation, as opposed to a professional clergy, trained in the correct religious dogma. And finally, it introduced the concept of the religious revival; the roving tent revivals of the American Northeast and Midwest, with their travelling preachers, converting non-believers and saving souls. For the Evangelicals of the Great Awakening, their God was the God of the New Testament.
My assumption is that while the First Great Awakening did start in 1730, it affected the lower economic classes more than the upper middle class and the wealthy. As the Founding Fathers were more likely to be either upper middle class or wealthy, the older Calvinistic views held sway over them. Well, those who weren't Deists or closet atheists.
Evangelicalism would become a robust force in 19th century national politics, advocating for temperance, abolitionism, and female suffrage.
The Framers and Founders (I draw a distinction) from VA could hardly wait for the ink to dry before they dissolved the ties between church and state in VA. In VA, prior to the Revolution, many of the functions of government today were performed by the Anglican Church which was the official church. Vestries were established by law, consisting of 12 men, they levied taxes, built roads, set property lines, ordered how orphans would be cared for and who would pay - they could even order an unwed mother into bound service to pay for her child's upkeep. Glebe lands were established to pay for the churches. These functions were transferred to the government primarily in the 1780's, the last glebe lands were sold in the early 1800's.
Its perhaps worth noting Washington's attitude towards non-Christians. His physican in Williamsburg, John de Sequeyra, was Jewish. Dr. Sequeyra was at Mt. Vernon at least once that we know of. Washington's letter to the Toro Synagogue is a testament to his views on faith and government.
Its perhaps worth noting Washington's attitude towards non-Christians. His physican in Williamsburg, John de Sequeyra, was Jewish. Dr. Sequeyra was at Mt. Vernon at least once that we know of. Washington's letter to the Toro Synagogue is a testament to his views on faith and government.
Interesting. A country's attitude towards Jews, both positive and negative, is often a "canary in the coal mine" as to its social and economic future.
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