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Pages:
5 pages/≈1375 words
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3 Sources
Level:
APA
Subject:
Religion & Theology
Type:
Essay
Language:
English (U.S.)
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Topic:

Whether the United States was Founded as a Christian Nation? (Essay Sample)

Instructions:

The task is about whether the United States was founded as a Christian nation

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Content:
Introduction
Few matters stir up debate than the United State’s Christian roots. The issue of whether America was founded a Christian nation comes up in every electoral system when the contestant’s faith is put to question. The opponents of the cause argue that founding leader’s political beliefs would not have allowed them to support a Christian nation. Furthermore, the founders were not conservative Christians and would not, have entertained any ideology of forming a Christian nation. After the ratification of the Constitution, the legal document lacked clauses to reference Christianity, notwithstanding the pronunciation of Jesus Christ. To be exact, the opponents debate that the text of the Constitution does not pinpoint the United States as a Christian nation. Conversely, popular American Christian writers such as David Manuel and David Barton propels the ideology that most of the American founders were devout Christians and referred to their Christian devotions to provide answers to political questions at the time of foundation. To affirm their arguments, the writers usually make reference to the religious quotations by the founders. The authors dictate that the establishers assumed Christianity by virtual of mentioning or uttering anything religious. This exposition will argue in support of the notion that the United States was founded as a Christian nation.
Although Christianity does not appear in the bill of rights or in the constitution, Christian ideas influenced the founders in particular ways. For instance, James Madison conceived that the human lineage was sinful in nature. The sinful nature is a mirror of the biblical text that human beings were born sinful. The conception is with regard to the first sin committed by Adam and Even while in the Garden of Eden. In the Federalist issue, Madison puts it categorically that if men were angels, then there would be no need for a government. In addition, Madison stipulates that if angels were to rule men, then there would be no need for internal or external controls on the government of the day (Tonkowich, 2014). This conviction to Christian ideologies was instrumental in the early ages of United States. Consequently, the belief led the leaders to drop the utopian experiments and allow a constitution that disfavored a centralized government that would be strong to permit manipulation by the rulers. As a way of conviction to Christianity, the founders adopted a constitutional system with a proper separation of powers and which contained checks and balances. Therefore, his actions show that although the Christian values did not feature in the Constitution, the ideas and convictions were authentic depictions of the high devotion to Christianity at the time of foundation.
According to Jost (2012), the founders believed that God ordained moral standards that every person ought to support with earnest. The moral standards were the guiding principles on how to deal with others while observing the power of the creator. The checks would ensure a harmonious relationship with others. Furthermore, the founders conceived that legislation would be in line with the moral standards. This ideology would ensure that the law was made in such a way to consider the values and principles bestowed upon by God. As a matter of upholding moral standards, the founders supported the fact the moral laws should have taken precedence over the human laws. These convictions to Christianity appear in the abstract reflections of James Wilson and a Supreme Court proclamation that the Court had the liberty to strike down any act of the Congress that violated the natural laws (Jost, 2012). In this context, the natural laws refer to the moral standards that aimed at creating a hospitable environment for all the people according to God’s will. The need to uphold the moral standards instead of the human laws is a clear indication of the strong American Christian foundation.
America was indeed founded on Christianity. The Christian values helped the founders to understand the essential concepts such as liberty. The word was a key term in the 18th century and was used in different contexts. However, the term was used only to relate to the individualistic way. The American founders were more likely to see liberty as the freedom to do what was morally right. Accordingly, granting freedom to all Americans was a sign of conviction to Christianity and aimed to allow the Americans choose their religions. Justice James Wilson argued that without freedom, moral law lost its name and liberty thereby turning to oppression. Additionally, without moral law, democracy lost its name and turned to licentiousness. In light of the statements, it is clear that Christian values guided the founders to establish a sound Christian nation.
American founders believed in Christianity and hence created America on a solid Christian foundation. All the founders believed in the existence of a supreme being- God, and asserted that all human beings were created in the image of God. Part of this belief is an indication that the leaders conceptualized that people are reasonable beings with the obligation to observe and adore the Supreme Being. From their conclusion, the founders believed that people could order their public lives through politics. In addition, the conception of the fact that all beings mirror the image of God led to the abolishment of slavery in the early and middle years of American formation. The founders believed that continuous use of slaves was against Christian values and God’s commandment of love. The use of slaves amounted to the perception that some human beings are better than others are. This insinuation would be a total disregard of the Holy text as outlined in the Bible. Although the abolishment of slavery would be attributed to civilization in part, the founder’s conviction to Christian values was a major contributor. The actions of the authors at the time can only lead to the understanding that America was founded on Christianity.
Faith by most of the founders was a significant factor that led to the conclusion that there was a need for extreme religious protection. Similarly, many founders believed in the need to utilize civil authorities to push for religious language in the public domain and encourage Christianity at the slightest...
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