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The Rise of Atheist America
by World Net Daily
Reposted from:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57512
Why almost half of voters polled say they'd support a God-denier for president
The signs are everywhere. Many of America's top-selling books right now are angry, in-your-face, atheist manifestos. Judges try to outdo each other in banning references to God like the Ten Commandments and the "Under God" phrase in the Pledge of Allegiance. And nearly half of Americans, according to a recent Gallup poll, would be willing to vote for an atheist for president of the United States of America a nation founded by devout Christians.
In its groundbreaking September edition, titled "THE RISE OF ATHEIST AMERICA," WND's monthly Whistleblower magazine provides a powerfully eye-opening analysis of what's really behind the current atheist phenomenon.
"This is atheism's moment," brags David Steinberger, CEO of Perseus Books, celebrating the tremendous success of anti-God bestsellers like "God is Not Great: Why Religion Poisons Everything" by journalist Christopher Hitchens and "The God Delusion" by Oxford evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins. "Mr. Hitchens has written the category killer," he says, "and we're excited about having the next book." That's right this fall the publishing world will further cash in on the anti-God juggernaut with the release of "The Pocket Atheist," featuring the writings of famous atheists, edited by Hitchens.
In earlier eras, atheists were on the fringes of society, mistrusted by the mainstream. Those few who dared to publicly push their beliefs on society, like Madalyn Murray O'Hair, were widely regarded as malevolent kooks. But today, Hitchens' No. 1 New York Times bestseller, which has dominated the nonfiction charts for months, boldly condemns religion including Christianity as "violent, irrational, intolerant, allied to racism, tribalism, and bigotry, invested in ignorance and hostile to free inquiry, contemptuous of women and coercive toward children."
Indeed, arrogant denial of God and condemnation of religious people characterize today's popular atheist books, which besides Hitchens' and Dawkins' bestsellers include "Letter to a Christian Nation" by Sam Harris, sequel to his earlier bestseller "The End of Faith," as well as "God: The Failed Hypothesis: How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist" by Victor J. Stenger, "Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon" by Daniel C. Dennett, "Atheist Universe: The Thinking Person's Answer to Christian Fundamentalism" by David Mills and others.
"How can this be happening?," you might wonder. "Hasn't America always been a Christian nation?"
No question about it. America was founded by Christians. Its very purpose for being was the furtherance of biblical Christianity, according to the Pilgrims and succeeding generations. The nation's school system was created for the express purpose of propagating the Christian faith. Almost all of the Founding Fathers who drafted and signed the Constitution were Christian believers. Even U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Josiah Brewer, in the high court's 1892 "Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States" decision, proclaimed what was then considered obvious to just about everyone: "This is a Christian nation."
Today, however, many Americans are infatuated with outright, full-bore atheism. In fact, Dawkins, the Oxford scientist who wrote "The God Delusion," is even selling young people "Scarlet Letter" tee-shirts with a giant "A" for "atheist" on his website (and bumper stickers too). Somehow, atheism just like homosexuality, which used to be considered shameful and something to hide is now becoming hip, sophisticated, enlightened, even a badge of honor.
Click here for more:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57512
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57512
Why almost half of voters polled say they'd support a God-denier for president
The signs are everywhere. Many of America's top-selling books right now are angry, in-your-face, atheist manifestos. Judges try to outdo each other in banning references to God like the Ten Commandments and the "Under God" phrase in the Pledge of Allegiance. And nearly half of Americans, according to a recent Gallup poll, would be willing to vote for an atheist for president of the United States of America a nation founded by devout Christians.
In its groundbreaking September edition, titled "THE RISE OF ATHEIST AMERICA," WND's monthly Whistleblower magazine provides a powerfully eye-opening analysis of what's really behind the current atheist phenomenon.
"This is atheism's moment," brags David Steinberger, CEO of Perseus Books, celebrating the tremendous success of anti-God bestsellers like "God is Not Great: Why Religion Poisons Everything" by journalist Christopher Hitchens and "The God Delusion" by Oxford evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins. "Mr. Hitchens has written the category killer," he says, "and we're excited about having the next book." That's right this fall the publishing world will further cash in on the anti-God juggernaut with the release of "The Pocket Atheist," featuring the writings of famous atheists, edited by Hitchens.
In earlier eras, atheists were on the fringes of society, mistrusted by the mainstream. Those few who dared to publicly push their beliefs on society, like Madalyn Murray O'Hair, were widely regarded as malevolent kooks. But today, Hitchens' No. 1 New York Times bestseller, which has dominated the nonfiction charts for months, boldly condemns religion including Christianity as "violent, irrational, intolerant, allied to racism, tribalism, and bigotry, invested in ignorance and hostile to free inquiry, contemptuous of women and coercive toward children."
Indeed, arrogant denial of God and condemnation of religious people characterize today's popular atheist books, which besides Hitchens' and Dawkins' bestsellers include "Letter to a Christian Nation" by Sam Harris, sequel to his earlier bestseller "The End of Faith," as well as "God: The Failed Hypothesis: How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist" by Victor J. Stenger, "Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon" by Daniel C. Dennett, "Atheist Universe: The Thinking Person's Answer to Christian Fundamentalism" by David Mills and others.
"How can this be happening?," you might wonder. "Hasn't America always been a Christian nation?"
No question about it. America was founded by Christians. Its very purpose for being was the furtherance of biblical Christianity, according to the Pilgrims and succeeding generations. The nation's school system was created for the express purpose of propagating the Christian faith. Almost all of the Founding Fathers who drafted and signed the Constitution were Christian believers. Even U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Josiah Brewer, in the high court's 1892 "Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States" decision, proclaimed what was then considered obvious to just about everyone: "This is a Christian nation."
Today, however, many Americans are infatuated with outright, full-bore atheism. In fact, Dawkins, the Oxford scientist who wrote "The God Delusion," is even selling young people "Scarlet Letter" tee-shirts with a giant "A" for "atheist" on his website (and bumper stickers too). Somehow, atheism just like homosexuality, which used to be considered shameful and something to hide is now becoming hip, sophisticated, enlightened, even a badge of honor.
Click here for more:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57512
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Posted: Saturday, September 8, 2007 | PermalinkComments 1 - 50 of 78 |
Reload Comments | Back to Top | Page Numbers2. Comment #68832 by Russell Blackford on September 8, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Selling the T-shirt to young people? Well, also to not-so-young-anymore people. I'm pleased with my scarlet-letter T-shirt, and have already worn it a couple of times now that the (Australian spring) weather is warming up.Other Comments by Russell Blackford
3. Comment #68833 by heathen2 on September 8, 2007 at 10:22 pm
And nearly half of Americans, according to a recent Gallup poll, would be willing to vote for an atheist for president of the United States of America
It just struck me that we should be viewing this from the "glass half full" perspective.
The believers are really scared. Dawkins is selling t-shirts, be afraid, be very afraid!
Other Comments by heathen2
4. Comment #68837 by bob syr on September 8, 2007 at 10:42 pm
The founding fathers of the USA were for the most part Deists and not devout Christians.Other Comments by bob syr
5. Comment #68838 by atheist_peace on September 8, 2007 at 10:55 pm
"Somehow, atheism just like homosexuality, which used to be considered shameful and something to hide is now becoming hip, sophisticated, enlightened, even a badge of honor."The only true statement in the entire article. ;)
Other Comments by atheist_peace
6. Comment #68839 by Richard Morgan on September 8, 2007 at 10:57 pm
"God-denier"? Why do I have the impression that this sounds just a little nastier than "atheist"? But it was bound to happen - sub-editors the world over will be looking for and inventing synonyms for "atheist". Should we help them out or just sit back, amused, and watch their linguistic antics?Any suggestions?
Other Comments by Richard Morgan
7. Comment #68840 by JemyM on September 8, 2007 at 11:03 pm
The best thing with atheism is that you never need to lie. Other Comments by JemyM
8. Comment #68842 by Theocrapcy on September 8, 2007 at 11:17 pm
I like "God-denier" in the same way I like "Santa-denier". Both should only sound mean to children. Other Comments by Theocrapcy
9. Comment #68843 by automath on September 8, 2007 at 11:18 pm
I haven't read any further than this so farMany of America's top-selling books right now are angry, in-your-face, atheist manifestos.
So I'm left wondering if you guys over the pond have had a few book launches I haven't heard of as yet? I'd certainly like to get my hands on these angry, in-your-face atheist manifestos, so if someone can provide me with a web link I'd be grateful, Thanks.
Other Comments by automath
10. Comment #68845 by Zaphod on September 8, 2007 at 11:33 pm
What an idiotic website, magazine and article. History revisionist much? Other Comments by Zaphod
11. Comment #68846 by the_assayer on September 8, 2007 at 11:34 pm
"Arrogant deniel of God"?.... "Condemnation of believers"? -BEAT THAT STRAW MAN! HARDER! HARDER!If only these jounalists could just get their facts straight.... Would be saving us a day's worth of "pointing out misrepresentations".
Other Comments by the_assayer
12. Comment #68848 by Russell Blackford on September 8, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Richard Morgan"God-denier"? Why do I have the impression that this sounds just a little nastier than "atheist"? But it was bound to happen - sub-editors the world over will be looking for and inventing synonyms for "atheist". Should we help them out or just sit back, amused, and watch their linguistic antics?
Any suggestions?
Theocidal maniacs?
Theorists of theomachy?
Deodenouncers?
Deodeconstructors?
Deodefenestrators?
Other Comments by Russell Blackford
13. Comment #68850 by automath on September 8, 2007 at 11:49 pm
I haven't read any further than this so far
Many of America's top-selling books right now are angry, in-your-face, atheist manifestos.
So I'm left wondering if you guys over the pond have had a few book launches I haven't heard of as yet? I'd certainly like to get my hands on these angry, in-your-face atheist manifestos, so if someone can provide me with a web link I'd be grateful, Thanks.
Ah ha not to worry I've just realised this writer is an Adherent of the Repeated Meme.
Other Comments by automath
14. Comment #68853 by ryanbooker on September 9, 2007 at 12:01 am
No question about it. America was founded by Christians. Its very purpose for being was the furtherance of biblical Christianity, according to the Pilgrims and succeeding generations. The nation's school system was created for the express purpose of propagating the Christian faith. Almost all of the Founding Fathers who drafted and signed the Constitution were Christian believers. Even U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Josiah Brewer, in the high court's 1892 "Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States" decision, proclaimed what was then considered obvious to just about everyone: "This is a Christian nation."
How do people get away with such fictions? How are they deluded into believing this is true, and/or how do they get away with spreading such obvious lies?
Other Comments by ryanbooker
15. Comment #68855 by epicure on September 9, 2007 at 12:27 am
Somehow, atheism ... is now becoming hip, sophisticated, enlightened, even a badge of honor.
No, just the default position.
Other Comments by epicure
16. Comment #68857 by JemyM on September 9, 2007 at 12:44 am
Ironically, atheism is the default position in Sweden, so default really that if you officially claim you are an atheist people will start to question why you call yourself that and assume you have some kind of hostile agenda against religious people. Other Comments by JemyM
17. Comment #68868 by PaulJ on September 9, 2007 at 1:35 am
In fact, Dawkins, the Oxford scientist who wrote "The God Delusion," is even selling young people "Scarlet Letter" tee-shirts with a giant "A" for "atheist" on his website (and bumper stickers too). Somehow, atheism just like homosexuality, which used to be considered shameful and something to hide is now becoming hip, sophisticated, enlightened, even a badge of honor.The tone of this article is obviously transparent, and its 'facts' appear suspect. But speaking as one of the not-so-young, I wore my scarlet letter tee-shirt for one day at Dragon*Con (the world's largest annual science-fiction convention) in Atlanta last weekend, and it did get comments, despite the inevitable proliferation of tee-shirt graphics at such an event.
On a related matter, I noticed that the organizers of Dragon*Con had mischievously placed the Skeptics Society stand next to that of Fans for Christ.
Other Comments by PaulJ
18. Comment #68873 by Logicel on September 9, 2007 at 2:05 am
Should we help them out or just sit back, amused, and watch their linguistic antics?Any suggestions?
______
Deflators of faith
Busters of belief
Crushers of creed
Other Comments by Logicel
19. Comment #68884 by happy monkey on September 9, 2007 at 2:51 am
This person seems to characterise atheism as some sort of craze. A mere flash in the pan for those who are arrogant and stupid enough to dare to question gods existence.many Americans are infatuated with outright, full-bore atheism.
Yeah right, American "full-bore" atheists are just like a teenager with the lastest video game, they'll soon get tired of it, you hope.
Somehow, atheism just like homosexuality, which used to be considered shameful and something to hide is now becoming hip, sophisticated, enlightened, even a badge of honor.
Ahhh what are we to do the atheists and the homosexuals are free, it must be the endtime.
Other Comments by happy monkey
20. Comment #68885 by Russell Blackford on September 9, 2007 at 2:52 am
"Who you gonna call?" "God-busters!"Other Comments by Russell Blackford
21. Comment #68886 by Fanusi Khiyal on September 9, 2007 at 2:53 am
Okay, can we all look on the bright side?>>That's right this fall the publishing world will further cash in on the anti-God juggernaut with the release of "The Pocket Atheist," featuring the writings of famous atheists, edited by Hitchens.<<
Okay, sorry guys, but I think that I am going to avoid purchasing the out-campaign t-shirts in favour of one with the slogan:
ANTI-GOD JUGGERNAUT.
Say what you will about the crazy right, they have some cool slogans.
Other Comments by Fanusi Khiyal
22. Comment #68888 by irate_atheist on September 9, 2007 at 3:05 am
May I suggest 'delusion destroyers'? Other Comments by irate_atheist
23. Comment #68889 by doodinthemood on September 9, 2007 at 3:05 am
"arrogant denial of God and condemnation of religious people characterize today's popular atheist books...'breaking the spell' by Dennet"WHAT??? It's an understandable, if irrelevant point to make about Hitchens, Dawkins and Harris, but throwing in Dennet just for good measure makes no sense at all. I cannot find one point in breaking the spell that includes either arrogant denial of God or a condemnation of religious people.
Other Comments by doodinthemood
24. Comment #68891 by drive1 on September 9, 2007 at 3:07 am
nearly half of Americans, according to a recent Gallup poll, would be willing to vote for an atheist for president of the United States of America
Really? That's either encouraging news, or a big fat fib.
Other Comments by drive1
25. Comment #68893 by AdrianB on September 9, 2007 at 3:14 am
No question about it. America was founded by Christians. Its very purpose for being was the furtherance of biblical Christianity, according to the Pilgrims and succeeding generations....."This is a Christian nation."Well if the writers of this article are willing to ignore the constitution to claim that the USA is a Christian nation because of the beliefs of the Pilgrims, then perhaps we should also take into account the nationality of the Pilgrims.
Can England have it's country back now please?
Other Comments by AdrianB
26. Comment #68894 by irate_atheist on September 9, 2007 at 3:21 am
AdrianB - Quite frankly, the way they're fucking everything up, I wouldn't want it back anyway.
Other Comments by irate_atheist
27. Comment #68896 by Richard Morgan on September 9, 2007 at 3:25 am
And nearly half of Americans, according to a recent Gallup poll, would be willing to vote for an atheist for president of the United States of America a nation founded by devout Christians."would be willing" in what conditions.? If all the other candidates were Flying Spaghetti Monsters?
Sorry, I'm being cruel. I've just found a poll that shows that almost one third of Americans would be willing to vote for a FSM.
Other Comments by Richard Morgan
28. Comment #68901 by rokort on September 9, 2007 at 3:39 am
Besides the virtual polemic of a knife stabbing a Bible on the cover of their magazine, how about this bunch of misrepresentations and lies to show the agenda:WND's monthly Whistleblower magazine provides a powerfully eye-opening analysis of what's really behind the current atheist phenomenon
angry, in-your-face, atheist manifestos
...anti-God bestsellers
...the publishing world will further cash in on the anti-God juggernaut
...arrogant denial of God and condemnation of religious people characterize today's popular atheist books
The nation's school system was created for the express purpose of propagating the Christian faith
America was founded by Christians
Today, however, many Americans are infatuated with outright, full-bore atheism
Somehow, atheism just like homosexuality, which used to be considered shameful and something to hide is now becoming hip, sophisticated, enlightened, even a badge of honor.-sigh-
But, WorldNetDaily has the answer and remedy against the atheist-disease!
So, a few 'highlights' of the September issue that will help ward off the plague:
"How to outlaw Christianity" by Chuck Norris, who says 30 million Americans profess there is no God, and shows how atheist organizations are working to undermine Christianity
"Separation of atheism and state" by Bob Just, who explores the nightmare scenario America is headed for and also points the way out
"Dawkins: Religion equals 'child abuse,'" in which the Oxford scientist compares Moses to Hitler and calls the New Testament a "sado-masochistic doctrine"
"Teachers rebel over atheism promotion" by Bob Unruh, who profiles a school district that makes teachers dispense handouts promoting atheist summer camps for children
And this all to bring back the *cough* safe and religious *cough* environment the USA 'once' was:
"Many Americans are becoming attracted to atheism," said WND Managing Editor David Kupelian, "and there are real reasons for it reasons we need to understand if we ever hope to see a return to 'faith, hope and love.'
If WND's idea of reality weren't so pathetic I'd laugh. Or is it cry?
ps: I hope i didn't use up my blockquote quota for the rest of the month. Sorry for that.
Other Comments by rokort
29. Comment #68906 by scooternyc on September 9, 2007 at 4:15 am
I have sent the following email response and encourage others to do the same:Greetings and Salutations,
Having just read this recent article I must take exception with your claim that America was founded as a Christian nation.
No reference articles were offered for such a fantastical claim, and in fact, there is quite a bit of writing and evidence to the contrary which organizations like Americans United and others continually research and provide as a means to understanding this issue within our society correctly.
While it may be that some Christians did get a new start here, that religion was a component of their beginnings, it is in no way an indoctrination into a religious dogma of adherence for its people. A simple read of our Constitution clearly outlines that we make no law "respecting" religion. Research will reveal the original construction of our Constitution regarding this issue. In August of 1789, Madison introduced the text that stated, "there shall be no law establishing religion or articles of faith" but when the First Amendment emerges from the House and Senate a few weeks later the verbiage has been further shown that that no law shall even show a "respect" to religion.
While there may a "majority" of society that engages in Christianity, the government must be neutral in such endorsements. Our Constitution protects the minority of this nation for just this reason.
Imagine if you will, the government endorsing a theocratic dogma by which everyone must believe and adhere. Note the immediate discrimination, which would endorse the 2nd class citizenship of all other faiths and the people who practice those faiths. In addition, what then of those who carry no faith or endorsement of such?
I offer these links of which there are many that I'm sure your author can glean through proper research:
http://www.au.org/site/PageServer?pagename=resources_brochure_christiannation]
http://www.tenamendmentsday.org/founders.php
http://www.tenamendmentsday.org/10afaq.php#q4
It is most irresponsible to continue to perpetuate this "opinion" when there is a plethora of documentation to the contrary, evidence to fact. The inflammatory rhetoric the article espouses continues to lead the unsuspecting "sound-bite" citizen into believing something that is just not true; it is a lie bold and emphatic. This misleading information becomes a basis for decisions of a voting public, which influences our future.
It would be greatly appreciated if your author would research this further and made the appropriate corrections and retractions.
Thank you.
Cheers,
Greg Wirth
New York, NY
Other Comments by scooternyc
30. Comment #68907 by stereoroid on September 9, 2007 at 4:19 am
I don't quite get why we should give a hoot about anything said on WorldNetDaily. Their regular columnists include the likes of Ann Coulter, and they recently carried her screed* on the "Darwin's Deadly Legacy" film. Say no more. * http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57351
Other Comments by stereoroid
31. Comment #68911 by detox on September 9, 2007 at 4:36 am
Being of an English persuasion I have to admit to being slightly confused (by the article....). Despite my old English teacher's admonishment not to broadcast my ignorance - could someone explain the agenda here? Is WND trying to subvert atheism from the inside or is it just another display of wilful ignorance?
Other Comments by detox
32. Comment #68915 by ChrisMcL on September 9, 2007 at 5:01 am
Crackpot article.Reading it from an athiest perspective it was slightly annoying in certain statements (Christian nation), but hopeful in its conclusions.
But, the author used a lot of politically loaded words and phrases that would make a fundie read the article as a call to arms. Methinks the author had an agenda.
Other Comments by ChrisMcL
33. Comment #68916 by A.Lex on September 9, 2007 at 5:04 am
#68873: "Should we help them out or just sit back, amused, and watch their linguistic antics? Any suggestions?"Deotergents?
Other Comments by A.Lex
34. Comment #68918 by AfraidToDie on September 9, 2007 at 5:40 am
Does anyone really care "why" they came here? If they happened to be a group of "wife beaters", would that make it "what our country was founded for/on", and therefore OK? Hell no. What matters is that we have a great set of laws on the books, and over time the interpretations have (in general) evolved toward the "life, liberty, and the persuit of happiness" creed. Withstanding (hopefully) minor setbacks, we'll eventually separate the theists from their strangle hold of our govenment. I'm just not confident it will happen in my lifetime. But again, who cares of the beliefs of our forefathers? What is important is that government continually evovlves in the direction of reason. Other Comments by AfraidToDie
35. Comment #68919 by Yorker on September 9, 2007 at 5:55 am
Don't knock this too much, history shows propaganda works! Other Comments by Yorker
36. Comment #68920 by EgoSumNemo on September 9, 2007 at 6:05 am
I'm getting sad and scared of the world when reading this. Honestly. Where is the world going? Lucky I live in Sweden and not in the US...But Sweden is getting worse every day as well. As fast as every other country in the world. For example, take the latest pictures of Muhammad published in Swedish newspapers(the first ones were in fact published in Denmark...but the Muslim world seemed as good at geography as the US (pardon my prejudice), and they attacked Sweden as well). People are seriously discussing whether or not you should be allowed to publish those kinds of pictures...makes me scared. And what makes me even more scared is that nobody really stands up and says: "No, that's shit. We want our freedom of writing/publishing. It is important to our democracy"...makes me scared...and why do the Muslims care about whether or not a small Swedish newspaper publishes a picture they think is Muhammad? If they care so much about other ppl committing heresy, why don't they just say: "Well, that's not really Muhammad". If they think it makes Muhammad less to draw a bloody picture of him, why do they agree that it is Muhammad?! By doing so THEY are making him less as much as the ones who drew the picture. And since the creators of the picture obviously doesn't care, it is really just the Muslims' fault that "Muhammad is made less"...Scared of the world...Is this the beginning to the end of the world?
Other Comments by EgoSumNemo
37. Comment #68921 by Roger Stanyard on September 9, 2007 at 6:06 am
Ah, the wonders of fundies!Yet again WDN demonstrates just how pig ignorantly stupid fundies are - it's playing straight into the hands of the new atheists and is so dumb it doesn't know it.
Let's hope in continues with its idiocy. They are clueless.
Roger Stanyard
Other Comments by Roger Stanyard
38. Comment #68922 by Roger Stanyard on September 9, 2007 at 6:08 am
Um, dumb me, I should have said WND.Other Comments by Roger Stanyard
39. Comment #68923 by debaser71 on September 9, 2007 at 6:11 am
WND is a right wing rag with an agenda to push.Other Comments by debaser71
40. Comment #68924 by Jack Rawlinson on September 9, 2007 at 6:12 am
World Net Daily is a right-wing, god-bothering loony camp. I'd be disappointed if we didn't cause these crazies to wet their beds and cry for mommy at least once. Other Comments by Jack Rawlinson
41. Comment #68928 by tgbarton on September 9, 2007 at 6:35 am
I sent them the following:-------------------------------
Regarding your article "The Rise of Atheist America": the U.S. was not founded as a Christian nation. True, it's always been possible to describe it as a Christian nation - like Justice Brewer did in his citation in the article because its population has been predominantly Christian (although that marginalizes the non-Christian citizens who have also always been present). However, to quote the U.S. treaty with Tripoli drafted in 1796 by George Washington, signed by John Adams in 1797, "...the government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion..."
Furthermore, it's widely known that the most prominent of our Founding Fathers were not Christians. David L. Holmes, in his book "The Faiths of the Founding Fathers", put it this way:
"The U.S. wasn't founded by people who believed Jesus was their personal Lord & Savior: the Christian religions at the time were heavily-influenced by Calvinist ideals of predestination. The educational institutions (colleges & universities) taught the principles of the Enlightenment, which emphasized the use of reason and, at most, a deistic view of the world. That's why, being educated people, most of the Founding Fathers who signed the Constitution were not Christians (although their uneducated wives often were). The most well-known fathers certainly weren't: Thomas Jefferson created his own version of the Bible where Jesus did no miracles and emphasized he had no affiliation with a church; he, Founding Fathers Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, James Madison, Ethan Allen, and Thomas Paine (author of "Age of Reason", which inspired the revolution and Declaration of Independence) were non-Christian Deists of the Voltairean vein, although some of them were affiliated (i.e. attended) Christian denominations (e.g. Franklin supported a Presbyterian church; Washington went to ). The only exception was Alexander Hamilton (he was Episcopalian, but far from a fundamental Christian: "As to religion a moderate stock will satisfy me [my prospective wife] must believe in God and hate a saint."). It's true that they often equated generic religion with morality, and thus regarded religion as important to society, but they were using a very liberal - not literal or fundamental - definition of religion (i.e. they would not have endorsed evangelicalism)."
If the theory of evolution had been developed at the time of the nation's founding, it's probable that most of our Founding Fathers would have discarded even their deistic beliefs.
Debate that last sentence, if you will, but one thing is certain: a retraction/correction to that article is owed regarding the subject.
---------------------------------
Feel free to cut-and-paste any of the above into responses of your own to this rag and any others who spread that false propaganda.
Other Comments by tgbarton
42. Comment #68934 by Richard Morgan on September 9, 2007 at 7:03 am
Yorker :Don't knock this too much, history shows propaganda works!Hey, you guys, knock it all you want! History shows that propaganda works in the short term, but that truth and reality have a tendancy to win in the long term.
Never forget, there was a lot of heavy propaganda (and worse) for a geocentric universe going around in the catholic church for years after Galileo's heretical claims of a heliocentric "solar system".
So who won on that on?
Always knock propaganda - and if it's with better propaganda, well, heck...all the better.
Ye shall know the truth, and the truth will have you squealing for Mummy.
Edit:
Young Russell : you have the winner so far with "God-busters", with "Deotergents" a close second.
Other Comments by Richard Morgan
44. Comment #68948 by PeterK on September 9, 2007 at 8:17 am
I'm not really sure what the point of this article is. Obviously it is aimed at a christian audience, and in his best Chicken-Little rant, cries to them: "The sky is falling, the atheists are taking over!".He then offers no sign of proposing any action to be undertaken to counter-act this situation which the atheists have apparently created in America. So the christians should then concede and just prepare for the inevitable? I would say it's long overdue.
Other Comments by PeterK
45. Comment #68957 by J. J. Ramsey on September 9, 2007 at 9:11 am
automath: "I'd certainly like to get my hands on these angry, in-your-face atheist manifestos ... "Well, they are certainly in-your-face, and "How Religion Poisons Everything" does look angry, if you'll pardon me for judging a book by its cover. (I can't say that I'm that interested in a book from a guy who tried a "reverse David Barton" on Thomas Jefferson.) As for The God Delusion, with which I am far more familiar, comparing religious indoctrination to child abuse looks kind of angry to me.
PeterK: "I'm not really sure what the point of this article is."
It's a Two-minute Hate, I think. The idea is to encourage the audience to be angry and afraid of the menaces to the Party, and vote for those who will supposedly save them from the menace, such as good, righteous Christians of the Republican Party.
I'm not sure if sending e-mails to WND would help much. It strikes me as a hopelessly ideological organization, and rather tabloidy to boot.
Other Comments by J. J. Ramsey
46. Comment #68959 by TrashcanMan79 on September 9, 2007 at 9:19 am
"You know your worth when your enemies praise your Architecture of Agression."- Dave Mustaine(a born again Christian)
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47. Comment #68960 by A on September 9, 2007 at 9:31 am
I genuinely though the article was a parody !Other Comments by A
48. Comment #68962 by Spartan88 on September 9, 2007 at 9:36 am
"God-denier"? Why do I have the impression that this sounds just a little nastier than "atheist"?
"God-denier" makes me think of other times when someone could be said to be a "denier". All that came to mind initially was "Holocaust-denier". Thinking of the second made the first seem worse by association. Perhaps it's a word association game.
I tapped "denier" into google to see what other deniers it might bring up and found mention of "Climate-change deniers". I'd heard of "Climate-change skeptics" but I guess that can sound like a relatively reasonable position, at least until the evidence is overwhelming. A "denier", however, sounds like someone who has seen the overwhelming evidence but flat-out refuses to accept it. A bit like the "Creationists", i mean "Evolution-deniers".
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49. Comment #68969 by Michael P. on September 9, 2007 at 10:47 am
No question about it. America was founded by Christians. Its very purpose for being was the furtherance of biblical Christianity, according to the Pilgrims and succeeding generations.Guess that would explain why it was built by slavery.
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50. Comment #68970 by Ewan D on September 9, 2007 at 10:52 am
Happy Monkey,Shouldn't your avatar be a monkey?
Good comment though!
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Over 1.5 million copies sold
Books by Richard Dawkins
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by Richard Dawkins
The Selfish Gene
by Richard Dawkins
The Blind Watchmaker
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The Ancestor's Tale
by Richard Dawkins
Unweaving the Rainbow
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1. Comment #68830 by hayesky on September 8, 2007 at 10:09 pm
America was NOT founded by Christians, as a Christian nation. If it was why would the constitution demand separation of Church and State.Other Comments by hayesky