Confusion at SouthDaCola Over Treaty of Tripoli

Ghost of Dude at SouthDaCola made it clear today that he needs a lesson in American history.

Ghost of Dude says he's "heard a lot lately about how this nation was founded by Christian men and with Christian principles" but expresses confusion that the Treaty of Tripoli says

As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion,-as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen (muslims),-and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan (Islamic) nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

Ghost of Dude brings this up now because

Because increasingly, theocrats disguised as republicans and campaigning on “values” have begun trying to foist religiously-based laws on this state and nation under the mistaken belief that we are a Christian nation. In reality, we have no official religion, and the establishment of such an organization is expressly forbidden by our constitution - which was written, voted on, and ratified by our “Christian” founding fathers.

His confusion is understandable, in that many people have been confused by this, despite the overwhelming body of evidence that America was founded by Christians on Christian principles, and was never intended to sanitize and separate Christian influence from our government.

Before I examine that overwhelming body of evidence, let's pause for just a moment to take a look at what was meant by this statement in the Treaty of Tripoli.

Muslim nations were--and many still are--genuinely theocratic institutions. Their laws come directly from their holy text and they are ruled in part or in whole by religious officials. As such, they rightly saw themselves as "Muslim nations," but also saw the Western nations they warred against (England, France, Spain, the United States, etc.) as "Christian nations." This could be said to be true of most of these nations in a couple of senses. It was true that the people of these nations almost all ascribed to the Christian religion. And in the case of most of them, they actually had official state churches and official state religions.

The United States obviously did not have an official state church or an official state religion. However, we were closely associated with the other European nations that did, and almost all citizens of the United States were in fact Christians.

Based on their own nationalized religion, and on that of several European nations, the Muslims saw (and still do to a great extent even today) conflicts between Muslim and "Christian" nations not as secular conflicts over land and property and such, but as religious conflicts.

It was in this manner that Article XI of the treaty stated the United States was not "is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion."

But what secularists usually don't include (and overlook even if they do included) from the Treaty of Tripoli is precisely what is needed to understand just what the authors of the treaty meant.

As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen [Muslims] and as the said States have never entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

So you see, the Treaty itself explains that it is not making a statement about the religious character of the people of the United States, nor about the principles upon which our nation founded. It was rather intended to assure the members of the Muslim nations with whom the treaty was made that we bore them no official hostility or disagreement based on "religious opinions."

Finally, Ghost of Dude suffers from the same fundamental misunderstanding of "theocracy" that many--especially of the liberal persuasion--suffer from today.

I wrote at length on the meaning of "theocracy" a few months ago. I would suggest a reading of that lengthy treatise, but I'll try to explain briefly here.

Theocracy is essentially a form of government where the laws come straight from a "holy book" and policy is dictated by religious leaders.

There are several examples of theocracies around the world, usually found in some Islamic countries.

The American form of government, while from the beginning based on Christian principles and a Biblical worldview, has never involved law that came straight from the Bible, nor has it involved civic leadership by religious authorities.

The founders of the United States were mostly Christians, and most believed Christian principles were the best way not only for living, but for producing a healthy society.

Their statements and writings illustrate this belief in abundance. Now, for some of that voluminous evidence I mentioned from the Founding Fathers:

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

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

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

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

Even though these men recognized that Christian principles were necessary for good government and a healthy society, they also recognized the potential for corruption and oppression when official religious institutions and civic governments were closely married.

For this reason, they established in the First Amendment that people would have the freedom to express themselves religiously as they saw fit, and prohibited a state church or religion.

They also established in the Constitution that no religious test for office would be required. In other words, you could not be officially denied to public office because you belonged to a non-favored religion or denomination, or held a non-favored religious view.

However, as illustrated above by the statements of the founders, this was never intended to sanitize Christian expression or influence from public life or even government itself.

Perhaps the best and most enlightening examination of how religion influences public policy in America in a healthy fashion comes from "Democracy in America" by Alexis de Tocqueville.

de Tocqueville was a Frenchman who visited America in the early 1800s. He traveled this young country in a quest to find out what made the United States, despite it's youth, such a successful mover and shaker on the world scene.

What he found was amazing. It also points strongly toward this unofficial mix of civics and religion which is so perplexing to some.

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.

Was this a union brought about by theocracy or state religion? Not at all.

In the United States religion exercises but little influence upon the laws and upon the details of public opinion, but it directs the manners of the community, and by regulating domestic life it regulates the State.

He further explains:

Religion in America takes no direct part in the government of society, but it must nevertheless be regarded as the foremost of the political institutions of that country

He also says

...there is no country in the whole world in which the Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men than in America; and there can be no greater proof of its utility, and of its conformity to human nature, than that its influence is most powerfully felt over the most enlightened and free nation of the earth.

de Tocqueville sums up the proper relationship between civil government and religious faith--actually the need for religious faith.

Despotism may govern without faith, but liberty cannot. Religion is much more necessary in the republic which they set forth in glowing colors than in the monarchy which they attack; and it is more needed in democratic republics than in any others. How is it possible that society should escape destruction if the moral tie be not strengthened in proportion as the political tie is relaxed? and what can be done with a people which is its own master, if it be not submissive to the Divinity?

Just as President George Washington indicated, we desperately need religious influence in public life in order to maintain the health of our government and society.

Without it, our government breaks down as it becomes more filled with immoral officials with no moral compass.

As our leaders move farther from a moral foundation which recognizes eternal accountability and the "golden rule" to treat other people as we would like to be treated, they make greater surrenders to selfishness, greed, corruption and personal pursuit of power.

When this happen, freedom suffers. In fact, freedom is gravely threatened. If our leaders cannot be trusted to govern themselves according to moral constraints, they cannot be trusted to safeguard the freedoms of those they are supposed to serve.

And this threatens not only those "values voters" so oft-despised by liberals, but liberals themselves.

For while the things a liberal loves today may be shared by those in power, tomorrow a different set of corrupt politicians may come along who could take it upon themselves to ruthlessly quash these things.

So while we have never had a theocracy, do not currently have a theocracy, and practically no one wants a theocracy, we nevertheless need to promote the traditional moral base of our nation.

That moral foundation is what has made us a great nation; without it, we will shrink to mediocrity at best, but most likely would implode catastrophically.

To illustrate this, I leave you with the relevant quotes of two of the Founders:

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