Where did the idea originate that America was a Christian nation?

[Ace101]

I'm curious when the revisionist idea that the Founders were fundamentalist Christians, and founded America as a Christian nation originated, as it's very popular in many evangelical churches in the US. On Wikpiedia I see D James Kennedy and David Barton as prominent proponents of the idea. Any information on this?

[Mermaid]

Out of someone's ass.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Religious people wanted their religion to be dominant here, and it was. We're outgrowing that now.

[aitm]

You had the "great awakening" in the mid 1700's and the "second great awakening" in the late 1800's which is probably more responsible for the idea.

[stromboli]

Not sure but I'd be willing to bet it got pulled out of some evangelist's ass.

[Termin]

Here's a wiki Article that has a list of Religious movements that started in the US

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_religious_movements_that_began_in_the_United_States#17th_century

I think perhaps there's a connection here, all these religions are American religions, so I think this would have created a natural connection between patriotism and region.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Here's a wiki Article that has a list of Religious movements that started in the US

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_religious_movements_that_began_in_the_United_States#17th_century

I think perhaps there's a connection here, all these religions are American religions, so I think this would have created a natural connection between patriotism and region.

All those religions that started in America are American religions? Are you sure?

[drunkenshoe]

I don't understand this question. Honestly, politely put, I find it silly.

People who invaded Americas, settled there and oppressed their people were European Christian monarchs. They massacred and slaved the population to assert their authority to use the land and its sources and attacked everything that wasn't theirs. They didn't just force their religion on them, they also forced their language and way of life, but of course them as the inferior being themselves as god's gift among them. They defined themselves as civilisation and others anything as savages and wild and what did they accomplish as 'Discovery'. It's still efined in book as Discovery and tuaght to children like that in the West. (This is similar what's happening today.)

Today, they are almost all wiped out. Near future, they will be. And you are asking why any other religion -any of them on the planet- didn't take a hold on the land?

What did you think would come out a genocide that has gone for hundreds of years?

Asking a question like this, and reactions most people gave in the thread, reveal a lot about the domestic policy regarding the Mesoamerican Genocide in the US. It's almost like it never happened. It's so forgotten and people today feels so seperated and alienated from it historically, it is almost like white Americans fell out of the sky on to the land along with Christianity itself and noone was there anyway. 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

The Mesoamerican genocide wasn't unique to the US. It's estimated that 80-200,000,000 natives died under Spanish and Portuguese rule. City-building cultures disappeared wholesale. And all this was done by troops with men in robes waving crosses out front. (Except when there was danger, of course.)

[SGOS]

If I were a moderate Christian, I would say most of the Europeans who settled here were Christians, and that defines our roots as Christian.  I would admit that the constitution and the founders built a nation that was not Christian nor affiliated with any specific Christian Church, but I would make claims that the Constitution was based on Christian values.  I would reject the idea that the constitution was built on secular values, and I would claim any secular values which appealed to me as Christian.  And why not?  Christianity steals most everything that it values from Christmas and Easter to its savior man god from pagans and other religions.

[drunkenshoe]

The Mesoamerican genocide wasn't unique to the US. It's estimated that 80-200,000,000 natives died under Spanish and Portuguese rule. City-building cultures disappeared wholesale. And all this was done by troops with men in robes waving crosses out front. (Except when there was danger, of course.)

Sure. That's why I said Europeans. And Christianity -Catholicism no less- is the religion of nations in South America too. That's why I said "People who invaded Americas" The reason I said "Americans fell out of the sky..." because I am communicating with Americans here.

I am not trying to be offensive or obnoxious. I am ctricising a policy I recognise very at home. Because in the country I live in, the same bullshit goes on. People completely feel seperated from the atrocities and genocide commited by an empire a 100 years ago and more. And exactly like in the US, the state and gov policies are designed for that. The difference is the political powers of both countries. One is strong enough to prevent this from becoming a discussion topic, let alone an issue, other is not.

[drunkenshoe]

And all this was done by troops with men in robes waving crosses out front. (Except when there was danger, of course.)

I want to add something here which probably you are aware. Those troops and men in robes waving crosses out front got there after it was understood that some yellow metal and other goods were abundant in the savage land.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I want to add something here which probably you are aware. Those troops and men in robes waving crosses out front got there after it was understood that some yellow metal and other goods were abundant in the savage land.

Oh, I'm sure they would have colonized the "New World" just for some good old foot-on-neck fun. Gold just made things go faster and more disastrously. On, IIRC, Hispaniola natives had a metal tag chained to their necks and had to bring in a certain amount of gold each month or be killed when found.

The reason this is relevant here is that the Pope divided the  New World between Spain and Portugal (See where those languages are spoken in South America today to gauge his power to do this.) In return, both countries spread the filth, I mean FAITH, and donated generously to the churches at home, meaning "donated generously to the Pope." Sins committed in the execution of this policy were automatically forgiven.

[drunkenshoe]

Oh, I'm sure they would have colonized the "New World" just for some good old foot-on-neck fun. Gold just made things go faster and more disastrously. On, IIRC, Hispaniola natives had a metal tag chained to their necks and had to bring in a certain amount of gold each month or be killed when found.

The reason this is relevant here is that the Pope divided the  New World between Spain and Portugal (See where those languages are spoken in South America today to gauge his power to do this.) In return, both countries spread the filth, I mean FAITH, and donated generously to the churches at home, meaning "donated generously to the Pope." Sins committed in the execution of this policy were automatically forgiven.

Yep. I don't know about the fun but probably the land and people are good resources too. Yeah I have read about it. I actually translated a book refering to these issues recently.

Apparently, native population was allowed to wear hats or ride a horse -to be counted as among the 'civilised gentlemen'- only if they learn the European language of their oppressors invaded their land.   

[Mike Cl]

People came to the "New World" for two basic reasons.  Economic.  That covers everything from Columbus who came for spices but settled for gold and slaves---to the French who came for furs and trading, and everything in between. The religious came so they could worship in the fashion they wanted to.  But not for religious freedom.  And, of course, the two reasons were intertwined.  For Columbus he, apparently, according to his diary, considered himself the second coming of Jesus and he wanted to save souls for the church.  That Columbus was a righteous man is demonstrated by the fact that before he allowed his crew to disembark, he has his high priest deliver a message from the Pope to the natives; he told them to repent and accept Jesus Christ as their redeemer and they would go to heaven.  If they refused, they would be killed.  So, it was clear from the beginning what the natives needed to to--and they refused, so the slaughter began.  That the speech was delivered in Spanish, which the natives had never heard before, was beside the point; God clearly delivered the message.  And things went downhill from there.