THE QUESTION

Is America A 'Christian Nation'?

Some politically conservative Christians say that America is "a Christian nation," and at this time of year, with the country saturated with Christmas imagery, it can seem that they are right. Are they? Is America a "Christian nation"? Should it be?

Posted by Sally Quinn and Jon Meacham on December 13, 2006 7:30 AM

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FEATURED COMMENTS

Is America A 'Christian Nation'?

Some politically conservative Christians say that America is "a Christian nation," and at this time of year, with the country saturated with Christmas imagery, it can seem that they are right. Are they? Is America a "Christian nation"? Should it be?

I believe that we ought to do our best to live and teach our convictions. But it is my opinion that God is not looking for a place to fit in. The real Christian nation does not have geographical borders.

As a Christian, and an evangelical Christian at that, I want to say emphatically that America is not, and should not be, a “Christian nation.”...

The U.S. Constitution does not contain the word God. What the Constitution, thank God, does do is guarantee the free exercise of religion by not establishing a religion.

I am constantly amazed that we can still debate what so obviously is not even a question: The fact that Christianity—its history, values, morals, beliefs, practices, and sacred texts—forms the sacred canopy under which we Americans find shelter.

The notion that there is a war on Christianity, a war on Christmas, or an effort to sanitize all mention of religion in public is simple bewildering and belied by what I see and hear every day

Christians who want to think that America is a Christian nation have their work cut out for them.

Authors of the Declaration of Independence came close to spirit of Jesus by not being dogmatic or intolerant in their written word

We must be careful to protect the gift of religious liberty given us by the wise men who wrote the U.S. Constitution

Frankly, I shudder to imagine the nation that is envisioned by those who would like this country to become what its founders never intended: a nation grounded in Christian doctrine

Those who promote a “Christian nation” that mistreats non-Christians are misinterpreting the message of the Christ they profess to serve

Declaring America as special, or uniquely Christian, or more favored by God than, say, Canada, or Mexico, or even Iran, is a form of idolatry

Franklin and Madison and Jefferson would have positive things to say about how far we’ve come in religious liberty

Are politically conservative Christians doing everything possible to lower rising levels of violence or are they giving violence the validation of a “Christian” blessing?

For Evangelical Christians, "Christian nation” implies one where the vast majority of people are “converted” individuals who profess Christ as their personal Savior--a situation that has never been true in the United States

This is not a Christian nation, but it is a place where Christians are battling for the heart and soul of Christianity

The faith of the Founders was that God operates in the conscience of each individual and the search for religious truth must be free for God to be worshipped in truth.

It ought to be that anybody who declares that their allegiance to their religion comes before their allegiance to democracy is simply unelectable

The letter and the spirit of the U.S. Constitution has always embraced pluralism and jealously guarded the religious and secular freedoms of ALL AMERICANS

Would I want Wal-Mart greeters saying “Happy Winter Solstice” to every customer? No.

Christ emphatically said his kingdom was not of this world

I would prefer to see elected officials take their oaths on the Constitution rather than any sacred book