Do you think in hind sight George Washington would have never added the words "So help me God" if he

[diabeticman]

knew that SOME future generations would use this one example to "prove" we are a "christian nation"?


I over heard my wife talking to a "friend" of hers. Generally my wife and her get along but about 4 years ago she became a born again christian and every three months now she gets into it with my wife about becoming a "TRUE CHRISTIAN" and how this country needs to see "THE LIGHT" and all this junk. earlier --well last night before going to work I over heard my wife's phone conversation with her and well the friend had the never to say that we are a christian nation and it is proven because George Washington said "So help me God" at the end of the oath of office for President.

My wife insisted that Washington added those words because that was what HE PERSONALLY felt that in his heart and those words where NEVER part of the actual oath.

So after my wife got done with this call she looked at me and asked if I thought IF the founding fathers knew how religious crazy this country would become IF they would in fact have made the case stronger for separation of church and state?

[TreasonousBastard]

1. We don't have witch burnings any more...

Back then religious wars in Europe were very recent history and they very well knew the difference between the histories of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.

They were also British citizens for most of their lives and knew the British history of using religion as a cover for their own internal wars for the crown.

Here's a reasonably accurate listing of their religious affiliations:

http://www.adherents.com/gov/Founding_Fathers_Religion.html

The discussion following the list is interesting.

Few, if any, were zealously religious, and we know Franklin, Jefferson, Paine, and others were publicly skeptical of most religious claims. Even Madison, although he once considered the Episcopalian priesthood, was never considered a religious zealot. Or all that religious at all.

[Major Nikon]

2. George Washington never identified as a Christian publicly or privately

So the next time a Christian wants to use George Washington as proof that we are a "Christian nation" you can remind them of this.

[Prophet 451]

3. Satan's Name, YES!

There was actually considerable debate over even including the phrase "endowed by their creator". Had the Founders known the kind of religious whackjobs the US would eventually be overrun by, they would have made the establishment clause much, MUCH stronger and clearer.

[MisterP]

4. or perhaps a reference to GAOTU