BATS: America's Christian Heritage

Blogging Against Theocracy Silliness


In "honor" of "Blogging Against Theocracy," a.k.a. "Marginalizing Christianity on its Most Sacred Holiday", a post on America's Christian heritage.


Was America a nation settled by Christians, founded by Christians, and founded on Christian principles?

Most of these items come from David Barton’s fantastic book, “Original Intent.” A friend gave me this book a couple of years ago, and while at that time I thought I knew a fair amount about the Christian heritage of America, this book quickly proved me a relative novice in this area. Like all of Barton’s works, he relies not on recent textbooks, or even books written in the intervening years, but follows the evidentiary trail back to the original books, letters and other documents.

We whose names are under-written having undertaken, for the glory of God, and the advancement of the Christian faith and honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colonie in the Northern pars of Virginia do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid.--Christianity in the Mayflower Compact of 162

In the name of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity. It having pleased the Divine Providence to dispose the hearts…--Christianity in the 1783 peace treaty that ended the American Revolutio

Frenchman Alexis de Tocqueville visited the United States in the early 1800s to find out what was going on in this incredible new nation that was capturing the attention of the whole world. What were some of the things to which he attributed America’s success and prosperity?

Upon my arrival in the United States, the religious aspect of the country was the first thing that struck my attention; and the longer I stayed there, the more did I perceive the great political consequences resulting from this state of things to which I was unaccustomed. In France I had almost always seen the spirit of religion and the spirit of freedom marching in pursuing courses diametrically opposed to each other; but in America, I found they were intimately united and they reigned in common over the same country.


Reminding us that while even Christians aren’t perfect morally, Benjamin Franklin said, “If men are so wicked with religion, what would they be without it.”

Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness. – George Washington’s Presidential Farewell Address

We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. – John Adams

It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. Religion and virtue are the only foundations…of republicanism and of all free governments. – John Adams

The laws of man may bind him in chains or may put him to death, but they never can make him wise, virtuous, or happy. – John Quincy Adams

While the people are virtuous, they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue, they will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader. – Samuel Adams

It should therefore be among the first objects of those who wish well to the national prosperity to encourage and support the principles of religion and morality. – Abraham Baldwin, signer of the Constitution

Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion whose morality is so sublime and pure…are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments. – Charles Carroll, signer of the Declaration of Independence

Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters. – Benjamin Franklin

Sensible of the importance of Christian piety and virtue to the order and happiness of a state, I cannot but earnestly commend to you every measure for their support and encouragement – John Hancock

Righteousness alone can exalt them [America] as a nation…The great pillars of all government and of social life: I mean virtue, morality and religion. This is the armor, my friend, and this alone, that renders us invincible. – Patrick Henry.

The practice of morality being necessary for the well-being of society…We all agree in the obligation of the moral precepts of Jesus and nowhere will they be found delivered in greater purity than in His discourses. – Thomas Jefferson

The Holy Scriptures…can alone secure to society, order and peace, and to our courts of justice and constitutions of government, purity, stability, and usefulness. In vain, without the Bible, we increase penal laws and draw entrenchments around our institutions. Bibles are strong entrenchments. Where they abound, men cannot pursue wicked courses. – James McHenry, signer of the Constitution, Secretary of War

I believe that religion is the only solid base of morals and that morals are the only possible support of free governments. Therefore education should teach the precepts of religion and the duties of man toward God. – Gouverneur Morris, penman and signer of the Constitution

Religion and morality…are necessary to good government, good order and good laws, for “when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice” – William Paterson, signer of the Constitution, U.S. Supreme Court Justice

Without the restraints of religion and social worship, men become savages. – Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration

Men, in a word, must necessarily be controlled either by a power within them or by a power without them; either by the Word of God or by the strong arm of man; either by the Bible or by the bayonet. – Robert Winthrop, Speaker of the U.S. House

As nations cannot be rewarded or punished in the next world, so they must be in this. By an inevitable chain of causes and effects, Providence punishes national sins by national calamities. – George Mason, Father of the Bill of Rights

The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained. – George Washington’s Inaugural Address

The law…dictated by God Himself is, of course, superior in obligation to any other. It is binding over all the globe, in all countries, and at all times. No human laws are of any validity if contrary to this. – Alexander Hamilton, signer of the Constitution

Let it never be forgotten that there can be no genuine freedom where there is no morality, and no sound morality where there is no religion…Hesitate not a moment to believe that the man who labors to destroy these two great pillars of human happiness…is neither a good patriot nor a good man. – Jeremiah Smith, Revolutionary soldier, judge, U.S. Congressman, Governor of New Hampshire

It yet remains a problem to be solved in human affairs whether any free government can be permanent where the public worship of God and the support of religion constitute no part of the policy or duty of the state in any assignable shape. – Joseph Story, U.S. Supreme Court Judge, Father of American Jurisprudence

Religion and morality are the essential pillars of civil society – George Washington

Whatever makes men good Christians, makes them good citizens. – Daniel Webster

Christianity to which the sword and the fagot [burning stake or hot branding iron] are unknown—general tolerant Christianity is the law of the land. – Daniel Webstser

The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were…the general principles of Christianity. – John Adams

The moral principles and precepts contained in the Scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws…All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible. – Noah Webser

Human law must rest its authority ultimately upon the authority of that law which is divine. – James Wilson, signer of the Constitution, U.S. Supreme Court Judge

Whoever is an avowed enemy of God, I scruple not to call him an enemy to his country…God grant that in America true religion and civil liberty may be inseparable and that the unjust attempts to destroy one may in the issue tend to the support and establishment of both. – John Witherspoon, signer of the Declaration

No country on earth ever had it more in its power to attain these blessings than United America. Wondrously strange, then, and much to be regretted indeed it would be, were we to neglect the means and to depart from the road which Providence has pointed us to so plainly; I cannot believe it will ever come to pass. – George Washington (how deeply sad that we have betrayed Washington’s confidence)

When a citizen gives his suffrage [vote] to a man of known immorality he abuses his trust [civic responsibility]; he sacrifices not only his own interest, but that of his neighbor; he betrays the interest of his country. – Noah Webster

But the greatest injury of the “wall” notion is its mischievous diversion of judges from the actual intentions of the drafters of the Bill of Rights…The “wall of separation between church and State” is a metaphor based on bad history, a metaphore which has proved useless as a guide to judging. It should be frankly and explicitly abandoned. – the late Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court William Rehnquist



Here are some statements from the courts which show that even they (as Godless as they’ve become) once recognized the importance of religion and morality in public policy:

Religion is of general and public concern and on its support depends, in great measure, the peace and good order of government, the safety and happiness of the people. – Runkel v. Winemiller, 1799

The morality of the country is deeply engrafted upon Christianity…[We are] people whose manners are refined and whose morals have been elevated and inspired with a more enlarged benevolence by means of the Christian religion. – People v. Ruggles, 1811

No free government now exists in the world unless where Christianity is acknowledged and is the religion of that country…Christianity is part of the common law…Its foundations are broad and strong and deep…It is the purest system of morality…and only stable support of all human laws. – Updegraph v. Commonwealth, 1824

Why may not the Bible, and especially the New Testament…be read and taught as a divine revelation in the [school]?...Where can the purest principles of morality be learned so clearly or so perfectly as from the New Testament? – Vidal v. Girard’s Executors, 1844

Christianity has reference to the principles of right and wrong;…it is the foundation of those morals and manners upon which our society is formed; it is their basis. Remove this and they would fall…It [morality] has grown upon the basis of Christianity. – Charleston v. Benjamin, 1846

Whatever strikes at the root of Christianity tends manifestly to the dissolution of civil government…because it tends to corrupt the morals of the people, and to destroy good order…[O]ffenses against religion and morality…strike at the root of moral obligation and weaken the security of the social ties. – People v. Ruggles, 1811




So why have I bothered to spend so much of my time on these posts, so much time that I might have otherwise spent with my family, and in reflection this Resurrection Weekend? Here is why:

Let us take care of our rights and we therein take care of our prosperity. Slavery is ever preceded by sleep. – John Dickenson

[A] state of indolence [laziness], inattention and security…is forever the forerunner of slavery. – Samuel Adams

I conjure you, by all that is dear, by all that is honorable, by all that is sacred, not only that ye pray but that ye act. – John Hancock

America’s Christian heritage, and our future prosperity which depends upon the continuation of that heritage, are far too important to ignore the lie that faith has no place in public policy.