Opinion: USA is Not a "Christian Nation"

Is America the Christian Nation so many claim it is?

Recently, a man named Jim Budde sent in a letter to the editor to my local newspaper that I have several comments on. First, I'll let you read it, then I'll add my comments.

President Obama has repeatedly claimed that America is not a Christian nation and takes down the Christian faith. Here is a few of over 50 times:

•  May, 2, 2009 -- Obama declines to host services for the National Prayer Day (a day established by federal law) at the White House.

•  Nov. 5, 2010 -- Obama misquotes the National Motto, saying it is "E pluribus unum" rather than "In God We Trust" as established by federal law.

• Aug. 8, 2010 -- Obama speaks with great praise of Islam and condescendingly of Christianity.

To me, America always has to be a Christian nation, if we want to live in a country that our founding fathers and Constitution gave us. America is the only country that was shaped and molded around the Ten Commandments and the Bible. Since 1962, the liberal movement banning of prayer and Bible reading from public schools our country has gone totally downhill. We lost the true principles and values our country was founded upon. 

Even if you don't believe in God, the Ten Commandments are the stepping stones to make everyone a better person in life, take personal responsibility, which makes a more free and civil country.

First of all, let me say I do not like Obama. He's not the worst president, but I'd much rather have someone else in charge. 

But even though I do dislike Obama, it is not for any of the reasons talked about in this letter. In fact, these reason sound like reasons to support Obama. 

America is not a "Christian Nation." The founders were mostly Christians, yes, and a majority of Americans are Christians, but part of the backbone of America is the freedom of religion, meaning you can live here and be believe whatever you want. So that fact alone makes it impossible for America to be a Christian nation.

The list of Obama's actions above are actually mostly positives. 

"National Prayer Day" (which is actually called the National Day of Prayer) has no place in the White House, or Government at all. During the National Day of prayer, American's are asked "to turn to God in prayer and meditation". 

The fact that they say "Turn to God" is bad. This is basically saying, there is a God, he is called God, and there is him.

This totally ignores the percentage of Americans who are Atheist (1.6%) or people who call themselves "Secular unaffiliated" (6.3%) or all of the many smaller religions that believe in more than one god, or may not even call their deity "God."

Christians seem to be offended that the White House refuses to host this day of prayer. They don't seem to realize that this day could offend others, such as all the groups mentioned above.

These people seem offended that Obama doesn't think America is a Christian Nation.
What they don't realize, is that over 21% of the population
(including me) are offended by people calling America a Christian Nation. 

I would be offended if the White House said that no one could observe the National Day of Prayer, but they are not. They are simply saying the Government is not sponsoring a day of prayer that could offend, or go against the beliefs, of some citizens. Beliefs that they have the right to have. A right given to them by the Christian founders of our country. 

The people of the Government, and everyone else, are allowed to pray on this day (or any day) or do whatever else they want on that day (or any day), but the White House hosting it is basically saying, this belief is right, there is a God, called God. 

As for Obama misquoting the National Motto, as "E pluribus unum" rather than "In God We Trust" (as established by federal law), I don't think In God We Trust should be the national motto, for the same reason listed above. Saying that as an official Government motto could offend, and certainly go against the beliefs, of some Americans. 

Also, E pluribus unum is the traditional motto of the US, though it is not official. Frankly it seem like a much better motto. For those of you who don't know, it means "Out of one, many" (or "From one, many"). That seems to represent America for the melting pot of many groups, races, and religions that it is. It especially represents America better than saying, we trust in God to solve all our problems. 

Really, God doesn't care about tax rates or most of the other crap politicians debate about for days and years. I think it would be much more efficient to try and find our own solutions to problems we incounter. 

And the statement "even if you don't believe in God, the Ten Commandments are the stepping stones to make everyone a better person in life" is slightly inaccurate. If, for example, you were an Atheist, the commandment "do not take the lord God's name in vain" (or however it's worded) would not really apply, as would the one about honoring Sundays. 

But yes, the rest of the commandments are pretty much moral standards (honor parents, don't kill, steal, etc.).

And while I disagree with most every liberal movement, "the... movement banning of prayer and Bible reading from public schools our country" is a good thing. Public schools are supported by the Government, and children are all but required to go there. As a government institution, public schools have no place for prayer time or Bible readings. Sure, allow students to pray by themselves during lunch, or in the morning or whatever, and allow them to have a Bible and read from it. But setting apart time for students to pray or read from the Bible, or any other holy book, is not good. 

If students or teachers want a religious learning experience, they can fork over the cash for a private, religious school (which I have opinions about, but I'll save those for another time), or go to a Sunday School or after school program or something. 

People of all religions, and those without religion, go to public schools, so the experience should be completely secular. Teachers should be able to teach about religions, but not only one, and they should teach them in the same way history books do. (Saying "God created everything and knows everything, and is ever living, etc..." is much different than saying "Catholics believe that their God created everything and knows everything, etc...). 

Students should not be restricted from praying, but the prayer should not interfere too much with the learning experience, which is what schools are made for. To learn facts and theories about the way the world works (gravity is, after all, a theory, just as evolution is), not beliefs about God or Gods or 26 armed blue people. 

So basically, America is not a Christian Nation. 78.4% of America is Christian, but than again 21.6% are not. It is not required you be a Christian to live here, and you need not believe in an almighty man in the sky to be elected into the Government, hold a job, own property, or get married. 

And that is one of the things that makes America the land of the free. You can believe whatever you want, and still do whatever you want (legally) inside our borders. That is (one of the many things) that is great about America. 

(But America is no where near perfect)

Sources: Statistics on Religion, Wikipedia: National Day of Prayer, Wikipedia: US, My glorious brain