If the framers and signers of our constitution were "born again" literalist Christians, as some people claim,or imply, how is it that they ever rebelled against the English government which, according to the Bible's claim, all government is established by God? Let me be clear, our history tells us that the framers and signers of the constitution were Protestant, Catholic, Deists and some were not affiliated with a particular branch of religion. All were most certainly believers in a divine being.
My contention is simple, to be the type of Christian who literally believes all the claims of the Bible, and uses it as literal moral truth, does not compute with the actions of our founding fathers and the claims of a literalist faith some born again Christians seem to purport. Take for example the Bible's view on rebellion.
"For rebellion as is the sin of witchcraft." 1 Samuel, 15:23
Some may say that God was referring to rebellion against him or his commands, but isn't overthrowing a government established by God rebelling against his will? One Christian wrote, "Rebellion is one of the most dangerous attitudes among the people of our nation today". If rebellion is so dangerous according to this brand of faith, why did our founders rebellion against the King of England and the church of England? The New Testament has some clear ideas about government; why it is established, who established it and for what purpose. Please read the following verses.
1 Peter 2:13: "For the Lord's sake accept the authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme, or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right."
Paul wrote in Romans 13:1: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment."
If our founders were Bible believing literalists would they have rebelled against a god ordained government? Would they have killed British soldiers who were serving their country, their king, their church, and the same god? The founders didn't seem to take the Bible literally and they obviously had no trouble rebelling to establish freedom for everyone even if it meant killing fellow Englishment.
"...when a long train of abuses and usurpations... evinces a design to reduce (the people) under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security..."
Killing their fellow man, who Christians believe to be created in the image of their god, is not supported in scripture. Matthew 5:38-40: "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
I believe an objective person can come to the conclusion that the Founders were not literalist born again evangelical Christians. They were believers of different stripes, but their belief in a god is not in doubt. What is in doubt are the claims some believers make about the intent of our constitution, our government and the need for their god to be held in esteem by our country be it thru pledges of allegiances to God, prayer in schools, or " In God We Trust" on our money and public buildings.
Most of these additions occurred in the 1950's as a direct result of our fear of communism and it's percieved atheistic intent. Do we, as a nation, really trust a god? What does that actually look like? Is our nation "one nation "under a god? Which god do we trust and which god is our nation under? The founders were smart to keep god and religion out of the constitution and not demand a religious test for office. Fat chance any atheist, who runs for office, will get elected. There may not be a specific religious test for office but there certainly is a unspoken test for believing in a god, and of course not just any god will do.
In regards to a literalist point of view, I have yet to see born again Christians stand up and preach that they should not resist an evil person, turn the other cheek, or give up their possessions willingly when sued. Rather, I've witnessed just the opposite and many apparent rationalizations to support war, lawsuits and other blatant commands in the Bible. In my humble opinion, if one is to adopt a belief, especially a literalist point of view, then one should live up to those beliefs, or not at all. Lastly.... cudos to the Quakers for taking the verse "turn the other cheek" literally and not supporting war, or killing people. I can respect those who live by what they believe even if I don't fully agree with them.
So all this verbage begs the question, were our founding fathers the same kind of Christian Evangelicals often claim? I think the facts speak for themselves. Our countrie's literalist Christians who believe in things like a 10,000 year old earth, that dinosaurs and man walked together, that miracles still happen, that speaking in tongues is supernatural and who insist that our founders intended us to take a literalist moral view is just not supported in my opinion.
Did they blieve in a god; probably all of them did. Is this normal? Yes, if you consider that around 84% of our current population is still affiliated with a religion or belief in a god. Belief in a god has not detoured our society from the conflicts which plague us today. In fact, one could argue that there is a correlation between religious belief and conflicts in society and government. I think It would be unreasonable to think that a small percentage of our population (atheists make up about 6%) is responsible for the moral decay so many religious people cite as the reason for our countries struggles. I write this because I have heard this idea spoken many times from literalis believers just like I hear them talk about natural disasters being the hand of god to punish our country for it's sin.
Our founder's religious beliefs were specifically kept out of the constitution and tests for office because they understood the divisiveness religion can cause. They also understood the problems with a church or religious group being affiliated with government. They no more wanted us to included church or religion in government then they wanted the Church of England to keep meddling in their affairs. They understood the problem with believing that all governments were sanctioned by a god. If they didn't they would likely never have started the revolution to oust their King, his church and his supposed god granted authority. No, the founders were not like those people who insist god be kept in government or we would decay and fail as a nation. They never insisted that the term "god" appear on our money, or that we make a pledge to a god, or that the 10 commandments be posted in every courthouse. They wanted all people to have the freedom to believe in private, and that no one should be forced to endure the religion of those in power.
Bill J.
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