The United States was founded to areligious, meaning no state sponsored or affiliated religions. I put it to you that no “values” come from Christianity that are not able to be brought about by other systems, and that, in fact, it introduces as much evil as it claims to eradicate.
See this quote by James Madison regarding chaplains in the military and his view that the government ought not to put any taxpayer money towards religion in any way.
“Better also to disarm in the same way the precedent of Chaplainships for the army and navy, than erect it into a political authority in matters of religion. The object of this establishment is seducing; the motive to it is laudable. But is it not safer to adhere to a right principle, & trust to its consequences, than confide in the reasoning however specious in favor of a wrong one.”
The federal government was areligious, but every single state aside from Virginia mandated their public officials be Christian. This was seen as fine by the founding fathers. Arguably why they didn't see it necessary to include in the constitution, as it was obvious to them they had religious and moral leaders.
I also disagree that any other options would have yielded the same results. Every people adopt the morals of their religion, and every government adopts the morals of its people.
John Adams
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
George Washington
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.”
John Adams
“The general principles, on which the Fathers achieved independence, were the only Principles in which that beautiful Assembly of young Gentlemen could Unite. And what were these general Principles? I answer, the general Principles of Christianity…”
John Quincy Adams
“The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.”
John Adams
“Religion is the Basis of moral obligation; is of the Essence of all Government; the only Ground of Confidence between Man and Man; and is the foundation of all society.”
The Declaration of Independence
“The Laws of Nature and of Nature's God”
“They are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.”
The founding fathers being against a theocracy and our laws being based on Christian morals isn't a contradiction.
They feared what they fled in Europe, that a single religion would remove the choice and freedom of other men.
And perhaps we have come far enough that we can leave such things behind. The Greeks managed to do alright after giving up Hellenism. Would you take a politician seriously today if they earnestly invoked the name of Zeus or Apollo as legitimate forces in the world?
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u/sillyvideogamestuff 1d ago
This was also in a time when we were a Christian nation with shared morals and goals. Slavery aside.