Lately many have tried to dismiss the fact that America was founded upon the biblical principles of Judeo-Christianity, but all the revisionism in the world cannot change the facts.
A casual search by anyone caring to know the truth brings forth an abundance of quotes showing the profound extent to which the thinking and lives of the founding fathers were influenced by a Christian worldview. Even those who were not Christian were deeply influenced by the principles of Christianity.
Of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, 28 were Episcopalian, eight Presbyterian, seven Congregationalists, two Lutheran, two Dutch Reformed, two Methodists, two Roman Catholic, one unknown, and three deists.
In an attempt to establish the unconstitutionality of the recent Supreme Court ruling allowing prayers to Jesus Christ in the public arena, in his May 12 opinion column, Bill Kennedy puts words in the mouth of John Adams (one of this nation's founding fathers) which Adams never said.
Kennedy bases his contention of the unconstitutionality of the Court's decision on one (erroneous) quote by one founding father. Following are some quotes which Adams actually did say:
"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 principles? I answer, the general principles of Christianity, in which all these sects were united ... Now I will avow, that I then believe, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity, are as eternal and immutable, as the existence and attributes of God ..."
"The Christian religion is, above all the religions that ever prevailed or existed in ancient or modern times, the religion of wisdom, virtue, equity and humanity."
"I have examined all religions, as well as my narrow sphere, my straightened means, and my busy life, would allow; and the result is that the Bible is the best book in the world. It contains more philosophy than all the libraries I have seen."
I suggest that the next time Kennedy ventures into the thought process on which the founding fathers based our Constitution he try reading the hundreds of quotations by those founding fathers found in America's God and Country by William J. Federer.
Mel Arbaugh
Westminster
