Was it the intention of the Founding Fathers of the United States that their own religious affiliation be applied to the entire country?

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U.S. Political Debates

18 Contributors
in this discussion.

Yes
33% of users

  • The founding fathers did base their new government on religion, because they came here for the freedom to practice it.

    I do believe that, at the time, the founding fathers of the United States did intend for their own religious affiliation to be applied to the entire country. There were far fewer religions back then, as compared to today. The people who founded America came here due to religious persecution. They hoped to start a new country, where they could practice their religion with freedom. I don't believe they ever considered that other religions might evolve, and should be granted that same freedom.

    Yes TedieDelight

  • No, there is a sentence in the Declaration of Independence that stresses the separation of church and state.

    The founding fathers knew that people first started to come to America because they were being persecuted for their religious beliefs. People came to America for a happy and free life. In the Declaration of Independence it states that, as citizens, we are allowed the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I believe they meant whatever that happiness entails, whether it be praying six times a day, or not believing in religion at all. The separation of church and state is there to prevent the government from being influenced by any religion.

    Yes R3gg43Mark

  • I believe the Founding Fathers wanted to bring unity in the entire country by intending this.

    Having all the citizens of a country follow the same religion can make many things easier for the rulers of that country. They can make an unanimous decision on various issues, and use the religion to back them up. There would be less rioting, and class discrimination.

    Yes KiPPAPenguin

  • Yes, I do firmly believe that it was the intention of the Founding Fathers of the United States that their own religious affiliation (i.e. Christianity), be applied to the entire country as evidenced by the motto on every coin -- In God we trust.

    The Founding Fathers took pains to make the US a great and respected country. They had firm faith in the Almighty, who guided their every action. Every coin in the US bears the motto "In God we trust." The Founding Fathers definitely were strong believers in God and Christianity and wanted to spread the word of God and faith to all. Religion was included as part of the curriculum in schools. Churches were set up, and every important national event began with a prayer. All this is evidence enough that the Founding Fathers clearly wanted their own religious affiliation to be applied to the whole country.

    Yes babyblu4u

  • I believe the Founding Fathers of the United States did intend for their own religious affiliation be applied to the entire country.

    Our Founding Fathers gave us the freedom to choose our own religion. However, this is "One Nation" founded "Under God". I believe that our forefathers wanted us to have the right to our own religion, but they wanted our country run by Christian morals. So as to say that any man has a right to choose a different religion but should still follow the rules and regulations set forth in the Constitution of The United States of America. By these decisions they have made and the laws they have set; it is clear to me that our Founding Fathers did not necessarily intend for their religious affiliation to be the only one. But, the morals and laws for this entire country were to be set with their religious morals.

    Yes w00tboycomic

  • Yes, this was their intentions.

    I do believe that the founding fathers had every desire for everyone to be one religion - theirs. I'm not sure that they perceived this as discriminatory or oppressive. They probably just believed that they knew the right and "civilized" way to do things and others could only benefit by following their example. Needless to say, they were not as sophisticated in the acceptance and diversity departments as we claim to be these days.

    Yes MohaI0v35
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No
67% of users

  • No, the Founding Fathers spoke and wrote about the importance of separation of church and state.

    If one reads the Federalist Papers and the records from the Constitutional Convention, where these issues were fully debated, there can be no doubt that the Founders did not want any kind of state religion. The First Amendment to the Constitution reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion...", and I find that very clear.

    No WoozyEusebio

  • The Founding fathers were strong advocates of civil liberties, personal freedoms (Religion), and as in the Constitution no theocracy is to be applied to government

    Thousands of men and women fought and died in order to obtain the right to practice their religion of choice, freely and without discrimination, so no as in the Bill of Rights we have the right to practice any religion we choose. With that being said they did not literally intend to apply Christian/Catholic law but they did (in my opinion) intend for every law to share a common moral basis shared in the majority of Religions, or (if your an atheist/agnostic) to share common principles/moral values that we develop as a part of our existence, you can't harm; an individual, an individuals private property, you can't defame them, etc. But I think one of the most important values lost from our Founding Fathers was that they did not impose their moral standards on another individual even if they opposed that individual's activity such as recreational drug use, civil unions, what food they eat, the treatments they wish to receive, among other private activities, Just as long as the person's personal activities did not harm another individual.

    No Anonymous

  • The Founding Fathers did not intend their religious affiliation to be applied to the whole country, as they supported the principle of Freedom of Religion.

    The Founding Fathers were all nominally Christians, but varied widely in their denominations and religiosity. They knew, for the United States to stay united, it would have to have religious freedom and that the state could not favor one denomination over another. They, therefore, often spoke for the freedom of religion, and that is why it is enshrined in the Constitution.

    No EminentBennett93

  • The majority of the Founding Fathers were not Christians or religious, and their papers have shown that they wanted a secular nation.

    Anyone who has studied history knows that most of the Founding Fathers were either not religious, or they were Deists. Deists believe in an idea of God who created the world, and then sat back and watched everything unfold, but they do not believe in Christ. They did not set the United States up as a Christian country, and they were more interested in scientific principles, rather than having a religious country.

    No TMacias

  • The intention of the Founding Fathers of the United States was to allow religious freedom, because they wanted to get away from oppression.

    The Founding Fathers of the United States came here because of religious oppression. Their intention was to create a nation that would allow religious freedom for all individuals. They wanted people to be able to practice their beliefs openly, and not be persecuted for it. Sadly, that freedom is now being twisted around into something different, while almost making it a necessity to turn the government into an agnostic or atheistic entity.

    No eyeslikethat

  • No, because religious beliefs varied widely among the founding fathers.

    Thomas Jefferson rewrote the New Testament, leaving out the miracles that Jesus performed. John Adams later introduced the Treaty of Tripoli, which stated the U.S. was not based on the Christian religion. Thomas Paine did not believe in any religion at all, and it is believed that George Washington was a Deist at best, as he never took part in communion and had no clergy at his deathbed. While it is clear that some were Christian, none wished to create a religious state such as what England had. They wanted America to be free from the oppression that accompanied such a state.

    No V4ughFace

  • No. The Founding Fathers wanted freedom for its citizens in all aspects including religion.

    They were working to create a country whose citizens were free from persecution. They purposely avoided mention of religion because it is such a hot button topic that it makes people a little nutty.

    No R4v4g3rPavI

  • The Founding Father's of the United States wanted citizen to be able to practice the religion of their choice.

    The Founding Fathers of the United States were repelled by the dictated religion of England. They felt that the citizens of the United States should have Freedom of Religion to practice as they wished whether religious or not. The citizens were to have complete freedom in this are including atheism. This has been a founding principle of this country since the beginning in spite of the fact that the Founders were primarily Christian.

    No KIemeP3nguin

  • It seems obvious to me that freedom to have your own religious belief was among the most important freedoms they founded.

    The great men that founded our country were from quite diverse backgrounds. Everything social, economic, educational, vocational, and religious diversity -- this is evident in the whole of our country from foundation to modern day. Their intentions were more towards freedom of belief not setting a standard for all to follow.

    No ErwyBug

  • The founding fathers did not intend that their religion would be applied to the whole nation because they included in the Constitution the idea of separation of church and state.

    The founding fathers of our nation, Jefferson, Franklin, Hancock, etc. themselves came from nations (or their ancestors did) that persecuted people who were not followers of the state religion. Many settlers came to America to escape religious persecution in their home countries in Europe. For this reason, the founding fathers were very careful to allow freedom of religion when writing the Declaration of Independence and later on, the Constitution.

    No NettN355

  • The founding fathers recognized the Christian origins of our nation but intended no religion to hold sway

    I think the founding fathers were merely acknowledging the Christian roots of our nation in the Constitution, but the inclusion of the separation of church and state principle shows that they never intended any religion to hold sway. The document's language is just a reflection of the time, like the inclusion of the phrase 'under God' in the Pledge.

    No Th4Fire

  • It was not the intent of the Founding Fathers to make their own beliefs the religious foundation of the United States, as religious freedom is one of the reasons they fought for their independence.

    All that is needed to see that the Founding Fathers wanted religious freedom for everyone is to look at the Constitution. The first amendment states that freedom of religion is a human right, that each citizen is free from persecution if his religion is different than that of the state.

    No Z Frye
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Was it the intention of the Founding Fathers of the United States that their own religious affiliation be applied to the entire country?
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