In a press conference in Turkey, President Obama said, “One of the great strengths of the United States is … we have a very large Christian population — we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values.”On CNN, Republican activist Frank Donatelli of Gopac, came up with a creative interpretation of Obama’s comments. “For the President to deny that our country is informed by Judeo-Christian values…. The better answer would have been to say that we are a nation that considers itself a product of the Judeo Christian tradition because that happens to be accurate.” Wolf Blitzer suggested that Obama was “trying to underscore…that there should be a separation of chuch and state,” to which Donatelli said, “the fact that the president has to appear to apologize for us on that basis seems to me to be ridiculous.”Let’s put aside for now the fact Obama didn’t “apologize for us” or “deny that our country is informed by Judeo-Christian values.” (Donatelli just made that up).I want to unpack this phrase Judeo-Christian heritage, which is both empty and wrong. Sure, we were deeply influenced by some Biblical principles. The idea that we had immutable rights to liberty — that couldn’t be taken away by a King or a parliament — came from a religious conception of man as created in God’s image. Those rights were, therefore, “endowed by our Creator.”But the construction of our government was also influenced by Rome, and yet we don’t talk about being influenced by the Zeusian-Ceasarian heritage. Locke and Montesquieu influence the Founders views greatly yet we don’t applaud our Anglo-French Heritage. Obviously some folks focus on the Christian influences in the hope that it can ward off either pure religious pluralism, secularism or excessive separation of church and state.Nonetheless, let’s go further and posit that of the many influences on our nation, religion was one of the most important. But “Judeo-Christian”? Nuh uh. First of all, the Judeos were not really at the table. As of the Constitution’s ratification, most American states didn’t allow Jews to hold office.Second, the religious tradition that influenced the American founding was not Christianity in general but Protestantism in particular — often in fervent opposition to Catholicism. Many of those who settled America did so to prevent the spread of Catholicism. Patriots used anti-Catholic sentiment to fuel the American revolution. Beloved Founding Fathers like John Adams espoused openly anti-Catholic views.If we’re going to talk about the important religious influences of the Founding Era we should be referring to our “Protestant heritage,” which was quite significant, not our Judeo-Christian heritage. Perhaps that locution won’t go over that well with the one third of American Chrsitians who are Catholic but that’s what would be accurate.
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posted April 7, 2009 at 4:34 pm
You are wrong. This country was founded on Biblical principles. Judeo refers to the Old Testament. Regardless whether it was protestant or not, it was still Biblical values, principles and rules. You would do well to go through the Truth Project the find out what out founders and forefathers really did base this country on, and not what you were taught at school or university. You would be surprised.
posted April 7, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Steven, you are right. Thank you for articulating it so well. This country owes its existence to a range of ideas and influences, both secular and religious, and not entirely Christian. I appreciate your pointing out the particular fraud of “Judeo” Christian, given the exclusion of Jews from the religious mix.
posted April 7, 2009 at 7:28 pm
As sad as it might make a few folks…or even a lot of folks, this country isn’t a “Christian” nation. It is indeed made up of all religions, and those who are not at all religious. We are fortunate that this is the case, and we are not bound to only one “official” state religion as are many countries.
posted April 8, 2009 at 10:25 am
The United States was founded by people who were dominantly influenced by a Judeo-Christian world view. This is not to say that all were Christian. To deny this reality flys in the face of the reams of documents our founding fathers left to explain “what they meant”. Every person in this country operates on some world view or philosophy whether they can articulate it or not. I would posit that most world views held by the US are a hodge podge of philosophies dominately influenced by entertainment, media, and familial background. To say that the US is not a Christian nation is probably true. In the name of pluralism and “freedom” we have killed 40 million children, trade spouses like t-shirts, glorify hedonistic life styles, yada, yada, yada. Sadly, we aren’t following a lot Christian based morals and life tenets.
posted April 8, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Obama is right.
Just like India is NOT a Hindu nation; America is NOT a Christian nation.
In India, even an atheist has the right to condemn Hinduism in public and still say he or she is a Hindu.
Of course just like laws in India are influenced by Hindu Culture; Similarly the laws in America are influenced by Judeo Christian culture.
IN GOD WE TRUST does not mean any particular God, but UNIVERSAL GOD which or who is the God of the whole universe.
At least 9 FOUNDING FATHERS were Free Masons and Masons believe in ONE and ONLY UNIVERSAL GOD.
Beauty of America is its diversity and people of all faiths and NO faith can love each and other and live in peace.
posted April 12, 2009 at 10:27 am
Why is America screwed? We can’t decide who the hell we are that’s why! At what point do we have no rules because they may offend one of the 40 religions we supposedly represent? What do we do when these religions are anti-war? Do we now revoke any drafting so as to not offend? What if a religion is anti-taxes? Do we not tax so as to not offend?
The bottom line is America is currently a compilation of many religions, ideas, and values and has no spine or foundation.
Any group with no foundation will fall apart. You can’t have a small group, meeting, company, family, etc without one underlying strong belief that will hold the group together. Unfortunately, the government along with it’s people have become ignorant and spineless.
Abraham Lincoln paraphrased a line from the Bible, one of the most famous maybe- “A nation divided amongst itself cannot stand”. Has i t not become a “no-brainer” that we are one hell of a divided natiion???
posted May 17, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Good posting, Steven!
The founders might have been mostly protestants (with some deists) but that does not make it a Christian nation. It *might* be a majority-Christian nation (depending on how you define Christian) but there are plenty of Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, atheists, agnostics, Zoroastrians, Scientologists, and various other groups whose names I do not know.
Why is it the only time you ever see the term “Judeo-Christian” is is when evangelicals want to justify calling this a Christian nation? The rest of the time, Jews are just people they want to convert or worse.
posted June 8, 2010 at 10:59 am
The fact about this nation is that it was the only country founded “under God” according to our forefathers. All other countries were either conquered by force for themselves or were rulers was born into the country as an heir to a monarchy. But America was specifically founded with “Christian” values (which also happen to be human values). One of those values is not to judge your neighbor; thus letting Americans practice their own religion as long as it does not impede or violate others rights.
The problem is that we’ve been so hung up on stepping on toes of others who are not “Christian” that we’re robbing ourselves of our own heritage and practicing our own religion. Why do we have to say, Happy Holidays, and have blanket holiday parties. What happened to our traditional Christmas party? If you don’t celebrate Christmas, then don’t go. No one is being violated by not attending a party. And in return, if you want to have a celebration for another religious holiday, do it, then the Christians can decide if they want to come and learn. No big deal!!!
The problem with trying so hard not to offend anyone results in all of us being stripped from our heritage and not feeling like we can relate to our history; very important for the human psyche. If this country offers religious freedom, then we need the ability to practice it, not to sweep it under the table. And yes, our forefathers wrote the laws to this country with Christianity in mind, but also with honoring other religions, why is this such a problem now? (and for those of you who want to offend other religions/cultures, how does it honor your religion?)
Church and state are separate, and with good reason, because even Protestants don’t agree on how to interpret the Bible.
I would argue the debate about “Protestant heritage.” It may be a fact that there was a higher percentage of Protestants present initially during the founding of this country, but I have ancestor that fought in the Revolutionary War, very much dedicated to this country, and was very Catholic.
posted June 17, 2010 at 11:19 pm
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posted July 1, 2010 at 2:32 am
“it [USA] was the only country founded “under God” according to our forefathers.”
errr, only because it was the new world, and up until the usa (and canada, mexico, etc respectively) were officially founded, our dominating culture/history considers there to be no country preceding the USA. (though as a colony, perhaps eastern NA was an outpost of great britain?)
IOW, it’s a matter of labeling.
xmas is in no danger of being ‘exterminated’. currently, it’s essentially a commercial and social period of the year, and may continue to mutate. I think a majority of USAans would oppose introducing some kind of “preserve french” or wahabi watchdogs to “save xmas”.
“I would argue the debate about “Protestant heritage.” It may be a fact that there was a higher percentage of Protestants present initially during the founding of this country, but I have ancestor that fought in the Revolutionary War, very much dedicated to this country, and was very Catholic.”
Which is exactly the point of the 1st amendment. There is *no* state-established religion. The 1st amendment protects the majority from itself.
Also I’ve read that the various sects of “protestants” in the colonies tended to squabble amongst themselves (each other?) Without that, I don’t think religious protection (actually protection of belief, which is why freedom of speech is in the same amendment) would have EVER made it into the amendments.
btw, if conservatives insist that the religion not to be established (or not to be not established?) by USA government is late 1700′s xianity, then conservatives must also accept that the arm-bearing by well-regulated militia and not to be infringed by govt must also be late 1700′s arms and militia. Give some teary-eyed last hugs to those glocks, sigsauers, garands, etc.
posted September 2, 2010 at 12:12 pm
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posted September 22, 2010 at 9:28 pm
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posted September 30, 2010 at 10:39 am
Hi
I believe the idea of Judeo-Christian heritage refers not to who was specifically at the table of the signing. Obviously, not every religion was represented. But dont “throw out the baby with the bath water” I believe the term refers to the “Judeo” ties to Christianity. Judaism is of course the “mother” to Christianity. I dont understand your argument in that regard.
There is no myth that we owe the major portion of our law system and Constitution to the belief system found in the Old Testament and New Testament. There are direct correlations. The founding fathers made this clear time and time again. Yet, they were not so concerned with denominational or ” religious ” differences of any religion as the founding documents developed – they sought to free human condition from continued misuse of authority to deny personal freedom not to obscure other religious beliefs. They began with human fundamentals and commonalities (not the way we work in this day and age).
I submit that our constant attempts to interject 21st century social hang ups and interpretations onto what is a simple and profound set of documents with basic human and civil rights are misguided at times and serve to only confuse and display some idea of mental prowess.Maybe im too old fashioned but try and keep it simple. Founding fathers did not wish to deny anyone of their personal beliefs – Catholic/Buddhist or whatever…
posted January 20, 2011 at 4:36 pm
Nicely put, and I’m a Baptist! The facts are the facts whether anyone wants to acknowledge them or not. This country was founded on the principles that no other human should be able to choose what another believes, or doesn’t believe. That’s true freedom!