Here's How The Founding Fathers Ensured America Would Not Be A Christian Nation

[skews13]

The founders did not want doctrinal differences to wreak civic havoc of the kind then evident throughout Europe. That is why they left not only Jesus but indeed any deity out of the Constitution. That the American population was and is overwhelmingly Christian is a fact. That makes it all the more remarkable that the founders did not establish a Christian government.

The ungodliness of the Constitution kept popping up in public discourse throughout the nineteenth century, most notably when a powerful group of Protestant ministers came to Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and demanded that he support an amendment to declare Jesus Christ, not “We the People,” the source of all governmental power. Lincoln, a canny politician who knew when not to take on another battle in the middle of a bloody civil war, declined to take any action and instead went along with a move to placate the ministers by putting “In God We Trust” on a two-penny coin in 1864. Lincoln presumably viewed the inscription of trust in a deity on a coin as an innocuous action calculated to avoid the trouble that would surely be generated by a Christian amendment to the Constitution. Little did he know that nearly 150 years in the future, right-wing politicians would employ that slogan to attack the much older motto E Pluribus Unum.

Here is how the Founding Fathers ensured America would not be a Christian nation

And just so we are clear. E. Pluribus Unum is our national motto. NOT In God We Trust.

 

[whitehall]

The 1st Amendment to the Constitution ensured religious freedom for everyone. It wasn't until a former KKK member appointed to the Supreme Court by FDR found a concept of "separation of church and state" that didn't appear in the Constitution that the democrat party's war on Christian beliefs started.

 

[Votto]

The founders did not want doctrinal differences to wreak civic havoc of the kind then evident throughout Europe. That is why they left not only Jesus but indeed any deity out of the Constitution. That the American population was and is overwhelmingly Christian is a fact. That makes it all the more remarkable that the founders did not establish a Christian government.

The ungodliness of the Constitution kept popping up in public discourse throughout the nineteenth century, most notably when a powerful group of Protestant ministers came to Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and demanded that he support an amendment to declare Jesus Christ, not “We the People,” the source of all governmental power. Lincoln, a canny politician who knew when not to take on another battle in the middle of a bloody civil war, declined to take any action and instead went along with a move to placate the ministers by putting “In God We Trust” on a two-penny coin in 1864. Lincoln presumably viewed the inscription of trust in a deity on a coin as an innocuous action calculated to avoid the trouble that would surely be generated by a Christian amendment to the Constitution. Little did he know that nearly 150 years in the future, right-wing politicians would employ that slogan to attack the much older motto E Pluribus Unum.

Here is how the Founding Fathers ensured America would not be a Christian nation

And just so we are clear. E. Pluribus Unum is our national motto. NOT In God We Trust.

People came to America for religious freedom. They came from a land where the state preached from the pulpit. This is why the Founders did what they did.

Here is the greatest speech of Ben Franklins life. He recognized the evils of the state mixed with religion and also realized that the end of religion would mean the end of the Republic.

Mr. President

I confess that there are several parts of this constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them: For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise. It is therefore that the older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others. Most men indeed as well as most sects in Religion, think themselves in possession of all truth, and that wherever others differ from them it is so far error. Steele a Protestant in a Dedication tells the Pope, that the only difference between our Churches in their opinions of the certainty of their doctrines is, the Church of Rome is infallible and the Church of England is never in the wrong. But though many private persons think almost as highly of their own infallibility as of that of their sect, few express it so naturally as a certain french lady, who in a dispute with her sister, said "I don't know how it happens, Sister but I meet with no body but myself, that's always in the right — Il n'y a que moi qui a toujours raison."

In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of Government but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered, and believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic Government, being incapable of any other. I doubt too whether any other Convention we can obtain, may be able to make a better Constitution. For when you assemble a number of men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men, all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views. From such an assembly can a perfect production be expected? It therefore astonishes me, Sir, to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does; and I think it will astonish our enemies, who are waiting with confidence to hear that our councils are confounded like those of the Builders of Babel; and that our States are on the point of separation, only to meet hereafter for the purpose of cutting one another's throats. Thus I consent, Sir, to this Constitution because I expect no better, and because I am not sure, that it is not the best. The opinions I have had of its errors, I sacrifice to the public good. I have never whispered a syllable of them abroad. Within these walls they were born, and here they shall die. If every one of us in returning to our Constituents were to report the objections he has had to it, and endeavor to gain partizans in support of them, we might prevent its being generally received, and thereby lose all the salutary effects & great advantages resulting naturally in our favor among foreign Nations as well as among ourselves, from our real or apparent unanimity. Much of the strength & efficiency of any Government in procuring and securing happiness to the people, depends, on opinion, on the general opinion of the goodness of the Government, as well as of the wisdom and integrity of its Governors. I hope therefore that for our own sakes as a part of the people, and for the sake of posterity, we shall act heartily and unanimously in recommending this Constitution (if approved by Congress & confirmed by the Conventions) wherever our influence may extend, and turn our future thoughts & endeavors to the means of having it well administred.

On the whole, Sir, I can not help expressing a wish that every member of the Convention who may still have objections to it, would with me, on this occasion doubt a little of his own infallibility, and to make manifest our unanimity, put his name to this instrument.

 

[miketx]

The founders did not want doctrinal differences to wreak civic havoc of the kind then evident throughout Europe. That is why they left not only Jesus but indeed any deity out of the Constitution. That the American population was and is overwhelmingly Christian is a fact. That makes it all the more remarkable that the founders did not establish a Christian government.

The ungodliness of the Constitution kept popping up in public discourse throughout the nineteenth century, most notably when a powerful group of Protestant ministers came to Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and demanded that he support an amendment to declare Jesus Christ, not “We the People,” the source of all governmental power. Lincoln, a canny politician who knew when not to take on another battle in the middle of a bloody civil war, declined to take any action and instead went along with a move to placate the ministers by putting “In God We Trust” on a two-penny coin in 1864. Lincoln presumably viewed the inscription of trust in a deity on a coin as an innocuous action calculated to avoid the trouble that would surely be generated by a Christian amendment to the Constitution. Little did he know that nearly 150 years in the future, right-wing politicians would employ that slogan to attack the much older motto E Pluribus Unum.

Here is how the Founding Fathers ensured America would not be a Christian nation

And just so we are clear. E. Pluribus Unum is our national motto. NOT In God We Trust.

 

[night_son]

The founders did not want doctrinal differences to wreak civic havoc of the kind then evident throughout Europe. That is why they left not only Jesus but indeed any deity out of the Constitution. That the American population was and is overwhelmingly Christian is a fact. That makes it all the more remarkable that the founders did not establish a Christian government.

The ungodliness of the Constitution kept popping up in public discourse throughout the nineteenth century, most notably when a powerful group of Protestant ministers came to Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and demanded that he support an amendment to declare Jesus Christ, not “We the People,” the source of all governmental power. Lincoln, a canny politician who knew when not to take on another battle in the middle of a bloody civil war, declined to take any action and instead went along with a move to placate the ministers by putting “In God We Trust” on a two-penny coin in 1864. Lincoln presumably viewed the inscription of trust in a deity on a coin as an innocuous action calculated to avoid the trouble that would surely be generated by a Christian amendment to the Constitution. Little did he know that nearly 150 years in the future, right-wing politicians would employ that slogan to attack the much older motto E Pluribus Unum.

Here is how the Founding Fathers ensured America would not be a Christian nation

And just so we are clear. E. Pluribus Unum is our national motto. NOT In God We Trust.

"Skews" is right. As in: skews history. Twist and turn, convolute and obfuscate. Have a glass of Laïcité with that revisionist bunk.

 

[theHawk]

The founders did not want doctrinal differences to wreak civic havoc of the kind then evident throughout Europe. That is why they left not only Jesus but indeed any deity out of the Constitution. That the American population was and is overwhelmingly Christian is a fact. That makes it all the more remarkable that the founders did not establish a Christian government.

The ungodliness of the Constitution kept popping up in public discourse throughout the nineteenth century, most notably when a powerful group of Protestant ministers came to Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and demanded that he support an amendment to declare Jesus Christ, not “We the People,” the source of all governmental power. Lincoln, a canny politician who knew when not to take on another battle in the middle of a bloody civil war, declined to take any action and instead went along with a move to placate the ministers by putting “In God We Trust” on a two-penny coin in 1864. Lincoln presumably viewed the inscription of trust in a deity on a coin as an innocuous action calculated to avoid the trouble that would surely be generated by a Christian amendment to the Constitution. Little did he know that nearly 150 years in the future, right-wing politicians would employ that slogan to attack the much older motto E Pluribus Unum.

Here is how the Founding Fathers ensured America would not be a Christian nation

And just so we are clear. E. Pluribus Unum is our national motto. NOT In God We Trust.

And yet today you leftwing regressive idiots welcome Islamists and are willing to accept Sharia Law.

 

[TheProgressivePatriot]

The 1st Amendment to the Constitution ensured religious freedom for everyone. It wasn't until a former KKK member appointed to the Supreme Court by FDR found a concept of "separation of church and state" that didn't appear in the Constitution that the democrat party's war on Christian beliefs started.

What SCOTUS decision are you referring to ? Who was the former KKK member?

 

[Wyatt earp]

Guess the OP is still upset the Republicans own Christmas, Easter, morals...lol





John 19:30 "It is finished"

The past, the present, the future


We will always be a Christian nation


.

 

[night_son]

Guess the OP is still upset the Republicans own Christmas, Easter, morals...lol





John 19:30 "It is finished"

The past, the present, the future


We will always be a Christian nation


.

And the day we stop being that . . . we'll be . . . France. Parents don't let you're babies grow up to vote for the U.S. of A becoming France. Frog legs go in the skillet, not on the Flag.

 

[TheProgressivePatriot]

The founders did not want doctrinal differences to wreak civic havoc of the kind then evident throughout Europe. That is why they left not only Jesus but indeed any deity out of the Constitution. That the American population was and is overwhelmingly Christian is a fact. That makes it all the more remarkable that the founders did not establish a Christian government.

The ungodliness of the Constitution kept popping up in public discourse throughout the nineteenth century, most notably when a powerful group of Protestant ministers came to Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and demanded that he support an amendment to declare Jesus Christ, not “We the People,” the source of all governmental power. Lincoln, a canny politician who knew when not to take on another battle in the middle of a bloody civil war, declined to take any action and instead went along with a move to placate the ministers by putting “In God We Trust” on a two-penny coin in 1864. Lincoln presumably viewed the inscription of trust in a deity on a coin as an innocuous action calculated to avoid the trouble that would surely be generated by a Christian amendment to the Constitution. Little did he know that nearly 150 years in the future, right-wing politicians would employ that slogan to attack the much older motto E Pluribus Unum.

Here is how the Founding Fathers ensured America would not be a Christian nation

And just so we are clear. E. Pluribus Unum is our national motto. NOT In God We Trust.

And yet today you leftwing regressive idiots welcome Islamists and are willing to accept Sharia Law.

Accept Sharia law?? Where do you get that idiotic crap from ?

 

[theHawk]

The founders did not want doctrinal differences to wreak civic havoc of the kind then evident throughout Europe. That is why they left not only Jesus but indeed any deity out of the Constitution. That the American population was and is overwhelmingly Christian is a fact. That makes it all the more remarkable that the founders did not establish a Christian government.

The ungodliness of the Constitution kept popping up in public discourse throughout the nineteenth century, most notably when a powerful group of Protestant ministers came to Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and demanded that he support an amendment to declare Jesus Christ, not “We the People,” the source of all governmental power. Lincoln, a canny politician who knew when not to take on another battle in the middle of a bloody civil war, declined to take any action and instead went along with a move to placate the ministers by putting “In God We Trust” on a two-penny coin in 1864. Lincoln presumably viewed the inscription of trust in a deity on a coin as an innocuous action calculated to avoid the trouble that would surely be generated by a Christian amendment to the Constitution. Little did he know that nearly 150 years in the future, right-wing politicians would employ that slogan to attack the much older motto E Pluribus Unum.

Here is how the Founding Fathers ensured America would not be a Christian nation

And just so we are clear. E. Pluribus Unum is our national motto. NOT In God We Trust.

And yet today you leftwing regressive idiots welcome Islamists and are willing to accept Sharia Law.

Accept Sharia law?? Where do you get that idiotic crap from ?

From you regressive faggots that defend Islam and promote more Muslim immigration. You all howled like banshees when President Trump implemented his partial Muslim country ban.

 

[TheProgressivePatriot]

The founders did not want doctrinal differences to wreak civic havoc of the kind then evident throughout Europe. That is why they left not only Jesus but indeed any deity out of the Constitution. That the American population was and is overwhelmingly Christian is a fact. That makes it all the more remarkable that the founders did not establish a Christian government.

The ungodliness of the Constitution kept popping up in public discourse throughout the nineteenth century, most notably when a powerful group of Protestant ministers came to Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and demanded that he support an amendment to declare Jesus Christ, not “We the People,” the source of all governmental power. Lincoln, a canny politician who knew when not to take on another battle in the middle of a bloody civil war, declined to take any action and instead went along with a move to placate the ministers by putting “In God We Trust” on a two-penny coin in 1864. Lincoln presumably viewed the inscription of trust in a deity on a coin as an innocuous action calculated to avoid the trouble that would surely be generated by a Christian amendment to the Constitution. Little did he know that nearly 150 years in the future, right-wing politicians would employ that slogan to attack the much older motto E Pluribus Unum.

Here is how the Founding Fathers ensured America would not be a Christian nation

And just so we are clear. E. Pluribus Unum is our national motto. NOT In God We Trust.

And yet today you leftwing regressive idiots welcome Islamists and are willing to accept Sharia Law.

Accept Sharia law?? Where do you get that idiotic crap from ?

From you regressive faggots that defend Islam and promote more Muslim immigration. You all howled like banshees when President Trump implemented his partial Muslim country ban.

Cut the bigoted horseshit right now. You made the moronic claim that we accept Sharia law, with not evidence to back it up. Who wants sharia law? Name names. And don't just toss out the names of the Muslim members of congress. Document what they have said and done that indicates that they support Sharia law over the constitution. Meanwhile, I can name a whole lot of Christians who believe that the bible should trump the Constitution. And yes, I can give examples .

 

[whitehall]

The founders did not want doctrinal differences to wreak civic havoc of the kind then evident throughout Europe. That is why they left not only Jesus but indeed any deity out of the Constitution. That the American population was and is overwhelmingly Christian is a fact. That makes it all the more remarkable that the founders did not establish a Christian government.

The ungodliness of the Constitution kept popping up in public discourse throughout the nineteenth century, most notably when a powerful group of Protestant ministers came to Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and demanded that he support an amendment to declare Jesus Christ, not “We the People,” the source of all governmental power. Lincoln, a canny politician who knew when not to take on another battle in the middle of a bloody civil war, declined to take any action and instead went along with a move to placate the ministers by putting “In God We Trust” on a two-penny coin in 1864. Lincoln presumably viewed the inscription of trust in a deity on a coin as an innocuous action calculated to avoid the trouble that would surely be generated by a Christian amendment to the Constitution. Little did he know that nearly 150 years in the future, right-wing politicians would employ that slogan to attack the much older motto E Pluribus Unum.

Here is how the Founding Fathers ensured America would not be a Christian nation

And just so we are clear. E. Pluribus Unum is our national motto. NOT In God We Trust.

And yet today you leftwing regressive idiots welcome Islamists and are willing to accept Sharia Law.

Accept Sharia law?? Where do you get that idiotic crap from ?

From you regressive faggots that defend Islam and promote more Muslim immigration. You all howled like banshees when President Trump implemented his partial Muslim country ban.

Cut the bigoted horseshit right now. You made the moronic claim that we accept Sharia law, with not evidence to back it up. Who wants sharia law? Name names. And don't just toss out the names of the Muslim members of congress. Document what they have said and done that indicates that they support Sharia law over the constitution. Meanwhile, I can name a whole lot of Christians who believe that the bible should trump the Constitution. And yes, I can give examples .

Justice Hugo Black ---1947...Everson v BOE

 

[Bezukhov]

Wait, didn't Jesus say: "Go, therefore, and set up Christian Nations, so you can lord over and dominate everyone else!"

 

[TheProgressivePatriot]

The founders did not want doctrinal differences to wreak civic havoc of the kind then evident throughout Europe. That is why they left not only Jesus but indeed any deity out of the Constitution. That the American population was and is overwhelmingly Christian is a fact. That makes it all the more remarkable that the founders did not establish a Christian government.

The ungodliness of the Constitution kept popping up in public discourse throughout the nineteenth century, most notably when a powerful group of Protestant ministers came to Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and demanded that he support an amendment to declare Jesus Christ, not “We the People,” the source of all governmental power. Lincoln, a canny politician who knew when not to take on another battle in the middle of a bloody civil war, declined to take any action and instead went along with a move to placate the ministers by putting “In God We Trust” on a two-penny coin in 1864. Lincoln presumably viewed the inscription of trust in a deity on a coin as an innocuous action calculated to avoid the trouble that would surely be generated by a Christian amendment to the Constitution. Little did he know that nearly 150 years in the future, right-wing politicians would employ that slogan to attack the much older motto E Pluribus Unum.

Here is how the Founding Fathers ensured America would not be a Christian nation

And just so we are clear. E. Pluribus Unum is our national motto. NOT In God We Trust.

And yet today you leftwing regressive idiots welcome Islamists and are willing to accept Sharia Law.

Accept Sharia law?? Where do you get that idiotic crap from ?

From you regressive faggots that defend Islam and promote more Muslim immigration. You all howled like banshees when President Trump implemented his partial Muslim country ban.

Cut the bigoted horseshit right now. You made the moronic claim that we accept Sharia law, with not evidence to back it up. Who wants sharia law? Name names. And don't just toss out the names of the Muslim members of congress. Document what they have said and done that indicates that they support Sharia law over the constitution. Meanwhile, I can name a whole lot of Christians who believe that the bible should trump the Constitution. And yes, I can give examples .

Justice Hugo Black ---1947...Everson v BOE

Thank You. I learned something by this. That is why I do this. But you seem to be saying that the "separation of church and state was something that was made up long after the Constitution was ratified. HOIWEVER , the opinion quotes Jefferson intoning the "wall of separation" not to mention the fact that court decisions are binding precedents that carry the force of law just as the articles and amendments of the constitution do


Everson v. Board of Education - Wikipedia

The 'establishment of religion' clause of the First Amendment means at least this: Neither a state nor the Federal Government can set up a church. Neither can pass laws which aid one religion, aid all religions or prefer one religion over another. Neither can force nor influence a person to go to or to remain away from church against his will or force him to profess a belief or disbelief in any religion. No person can be punished for entertaining or professing religious beliefs or disbeliefs, for church attendance or non-attendance. No tax in any amount, large or small, can be levied to support any religious activities or institutions, whatever they may be called, or whatever form they may adopt to teach or practice religion. Neither a state nor the Federal Government can, openly or secretly, participate in the affairs of any religious organizations or groups and vice versa. In the words of Jefferson, the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect 'a wall of separation between Church and State.' 330 U.S. 1, 15-16.

I'm not sure what Black allegedly being former klan has to do with anything but I will point out that Klan members consider themselves to be Christian

 

[whitehall]

And yet today you leftwing regressive idiots welcome Islamists and are willing to accept Sharia Law.

Accept Sharia law?? Where do you get that idiotic crap from ?

From you regressive faggots that defend Islam and promote more Muslim immigration. You all howled like banshees when President Trump implemented his partial Muslim country ban.

Cut the bigoted horseshit right now. You made the moronic claim that we accept Sharia law, with not evidence to back it up. Who wants sharia law? Name names. And don't just toss out the names of the Muslim members of congress. Document what they have said and done that indicates that they support Sharia law over the constitution. Meanwhile, I can name a whole lot of Christians who believe that the bible should trump the Constitution. And yes, I can give examples .

Justice Hugo Black ---1947...Everson v BOE

Thank You. I learned something by this. That is why I do this. But you seem to be saying that the "separation of church and state was something that was made up long after the Constitution was ratified. HOIWEVER , the opinion quotes Jefferson intoning the "wall of separation" not to mention the fact that court decisions are binding precedents that carry the force of law just as the articles and amendments of the constitution do


Everson v. Board of Education - Wikipedia

The 'establishment of religion' clause of the First Amendment means at least this: Neither a state nor the Federal Government can set up a church. Neither can pass laws which aid one religion, aid all religions or prefer one religion over another. Neither can force nor influence a person to go to or to remain away from church against his will or force him to profess a belief or disbelief in any religion. No person can be punished for entertaining or professing religious beliefs or disbeliefs, for church attendance or non-attendance. No tax in any amount, large or small, can be levied to support any religious activities or institutions, whatever they may be called, or whatever form they may adopt to teach or practice religion. Neither a state nor the Federal Government can, openly or secretly, participate in the affairs of any religious organizations or groups and vice versa. In the words of Jefferson, the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect 'a wall of separation between Church and State.' 330 U.S. 1, 15-16.

I'm not sure what Black allegedly being former klan has to do with anything but I will point out that Klan members consider themselves to be Christian

I'll tell you what the KKK had to do with it. Blacks weren't the only minorities targeted by the KKK. "Papists" were also the enemy. After WW2, Catholic schools sprung up all over the U.S. and the liberal federal government was concerned. As a KKK member, Black had a built in bias towards Catholics and the best way to curtail religious education was to create a fake issue called "separation of church and state" which had nothing to do with the Constitution but based on the thoughts of Thomas Jefferson contained in an obscure letter. It should be noted that Black also wrote the majority opinion exonerating FDR for incarcerating American citizens without due cause.

 

[Picaro]

lol rubbish OP. The Clause limits the Federal Government's ability to declare a national favored sect; most of the states kept their state-favored sects as privileged sects. Massachusetts was the last to vote down their state sect's privileges, in 1833, some 40+ years after the Constitution was passed. They changed their state laws because of demographic changes, not Supreme Court rulings, and in any case their taxing privileges were mostly for educational purposes, setting up schools and the like anyway. Jefferson went to church services held in the Treasury building and where Congress was meeting while Washington was being built, also evidence that 'Christian symbols' were not banned from govt. property but in fact welcomed.

This sucks for the assorted sicko deviants and pedophile supporters, of course, who have a whole raft of lies to peddle.

 

[Picaro]

I'm not sure what Black allegedly being former klan has to do with anything but I will point out that Klan members consider themselves to be Christian

And the 'Gay Rights' hoax was founded by a Communist Party member and had NAMBLA as part of it's 'Founding Faggots' groups. The 'Founder' also was a huge fan of NAMBLA, even liked to wear a " NAMBLA Walks With Me' sign in 'Pride' parades. "Progressives' love to gush over goods ole Harry, which is why your posts babbling about anything are so hilarious for the hypocrisy they represent.

 

[Picaro]

And yet another reminder: Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin are only TWO of many 'Founders', so their opinions aren't the only the ones that matter, despite the fact that they're the only 'Founders' some people can find quotes to cherry lick from for bogus support on whatever idiotic lie they want to peddle as 'history n stuff'.

 

[Picaro]

The founders did not want doctrinal differences to wreak civic havoc of the kind then evident throughout Europe. That is why they left not only Jesus but indeed any deity out of the Constitution. That the American population was and is overwhelmingly Christian is a fact. That makes it all the more remarkable that the founders did not establish a Christian government.

The ungodliness of the Constitution kept popping up in public discourse throughout the nineteenth century, most notably when a powerful group of Protestant ministers came to Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and demanded that he support an amendment to declare Jesus Christ, not “We the People,” the source of all governmental power. Lincoln, a canny politician who knew when not to take on another battle in the middle of a bloody civil war, declined to take any action and instead went along with a move to placate the ministers by putting “In God We Trust” on a two-penny coin in 1864. Lincoln presumably viewed the inscription of trust in a deity on a coin as an innocuous action calculated to avoid the trouble that would surely be generated by a Christian amendment to the Constitution. Little did he know that nearly 150 years in the future, right-wing politicians would employ that slogan to attack the much older motto E Pluribus Unum.

Here is how the Founding Fathers ensured America would not be a Christian nation

And just so we are clear. E. Pluribus Unum is our national motto. NOT In God We Trust.

People came to America for religious freedom. They came from a land where the state preached from the pulpit. This is why the Founders did what they did.

Here is the greatest speech of Ben Franklins life. He recognized the evils of the state mixed with religion and also realized that the end of religion would mean the end of the Republic.

Mr. President

I confess that there are several parts of this constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them: For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise. It is therefore that the older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others. Most men indeed as well as most sects in Religion, think themselves in possession of all truth, and that wherever others differ from them it is so far error. Steele a Protestant in a Dedication tells the Pope, that the only difference between our Churches in their opinions of the certainty of their doctrines is, the Church of Rome is infallible and the Church of England is never in the wrong. But though many private persons think almost as highly of their own infallibility as of that of their sect, few express it so naturally as a certain french lady, who in a dispute with her sister, said "I don't know how it happens, Sister but I meet with no body but myself, that's always in the right — Il n'y a que moi qui a toujours raison."

In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of Government but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered, and believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic Government, being incapable of any other. I doubt too whether any other Convention we can obtain, may be able to make a better Constitution. For when you assemble a number of men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men, all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views. From such an assembly can a perfect production be expected? It therefore astonishes me, Sir, to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does; and I think it will astonish our enemies, who are waiting with confidence to hear that our councils are confounded like those of the Builders of Babel; and that our States are on the point of separation, only to meet hereafter for the purpose of cutting one another's throats. Thus I consent, Sir, to this Constitution because I expect no better, and because I am not sure, that it is not the best. The opinions I have had of its errors, I sacrifice to the public good. I have never whispered a syllable of them abroad. Within these walls they were born, and here they shall die. If every one of us in returning to our Constituents were to report the objections he has had to it, and endeavor to gain partizans in support of them, we might prevent its being generally received, and thereby lose all the salutary effects & great advantages resulting naturally in our favor among foreign Nations as well as among ourselves, from our real or apparent unanimity. Much of the strength & efficiency of any Government in procuring and securing happiness to the people, depends, on opinion, on the general opinion of the goodness of the Government, as well as of the wisdom and integrity of its Governors. I hope therefore that for our own sakes as a part of the people, and for the sake of posterity, we shall act heartily and unanimously in recommending this Constitution (if approved by Congress & confirmed by the Conventions) wherever our influence may extend, and turn our future thoughts & endeavors to the means of having it well administred.

On the whole, Sir, I can not help expressing a wish that every member of the Convention who may still have objections to it, would with me, on this occasion doubt a little of his own infallibility, and to make manifest our unanimity, put his name to this instrument.

Franklin was also constantly calling for prayers to God guide the decisions at the Constitutional Convention as well. He wasn't talking about Allah or some pagan frog 'god', either.