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I’ve heard a lot lately about how this nation was founded by Christian men and with Christian principles. Interestingly, our founding fathers (who were still running the government at the time of the following treaty) made sure to shoot this notion down in the treaty ending our first war on Islamic terrorists. Here’s some of the text from the Treaty of Peace and Friendship signed at Tripoli on Nov. 4, 1796:
ARTICLE 11.
As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion,-as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen (muslims),-and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan (Islamic)Â nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.Â
Emphasis mine.
Why is this relevant?
Because increasingly, theocrats disguised as republicans and campaigning on “values” have begun trying to foist religiously-based laws on this state and nation under the mistaken belief that we are a Christian nation. In reality, we have no official religion, and the establishment of such an organization is expressly forbidden by our constitution – which was written, voted on, and ratified by our “Christian” founding fathers.
The Treaty of Tripoli quote is really the only quote of it’s type and you should read this article to see how you are horribly misusing the quote.
http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=125
There are 1000’s of overt Christian quotes in the Founding Documents. You can find many of them here:
http://www.wallbuilders.com/
Huge, huge swing and a miss. You should turn off your favorite CD (“incesticide” by Nirvana???? – give me a break) and read the history of our nation.
No one I know wants a theocracy.
go back to bead pastor(?) doohickey. Everyone knows wallbuilers is just an organization founded by Republican Party activist and self-proclaimed historian David Barton for the purpose of “educating the nation concerning the Godly foundation of our country.” Barton and his work are routinely cited by those on the Right who claim that the United States was founded by Christian men on explicitly Christian principles.
bead = bed
for more insight see
http://www.christianethicstoday.com/issue/003/Wallbuilders%20or%20Mythbuilders%20By%20Nicholas%20P%20Miller_003_17_.htm
for more insight
http://www.positiveatheism.org/writ/founding.htm
Christians need the past to justify their present and their future. Despite all evidence to the contrary, most people today continue to believe in invisible people who spy on us and keep score. The people of the past were doing the best they could given their limited knowledge. They damn near killed Galileo who argued heliocentrism.
So who gives a shit which imaginary ghost the founding fathers groveled before? The spirit of economic AND SPIRITUAL liberty lives on in America. Humanity’s great fairy tale will eventually wither for want of truth. Then perhaps the people of the world can speak to each other in friendship without having to prove which lie is the only real lie.
Steve – I haven’t really listened to Nirvana since middle school. I prefer a little Americana country music instead. Ever heard of Steve Earl?
As to your assertion that I don’t know my history: I challenge you any day any time any where, to a history quiz bowl. I also challenge you to an essay contest on any subject in american history. This is one subject I know extremely well – and not just the accepted history book version people learn in high school.
And you should really research the people you choose to quote. It didn’t take long to discredit your source.