Bob is fond of inferring that the Framers of the
Constitution did not want intend to form a secular government since the end of the Constitution states:
"Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names,"
That's right folks. Bob believes that the Framers weren't trying to set up a secular government based on this
mere dating convention. Bob rejects that this use is mere convention. In doing so, Bob ignores so much:
- There is no evidence that the Framers actually debated or voted on using the "year of our Lord" language when writing the Constitution. Doesn't it seem more reasonable that the calligrapher who prepared the document for signing, merely added the verbiage?
- The text of the Constitution also references "Sunday" and "Monday". These words are pagan in origin referring to the Sun and Moon gods. Obviously, these words were used as mere dating conventions. So why can't the word "Lord" be considered as a mere dating convention as well? Unless, of course, Bob thinks that the Framers were also honoring the pagan Gods?
- The Constitution makes no reference to Jesus, Christ, or God. If the Framers were trying to solicit God's blessing for the nation, why didn't they say something like, "We the People, under the divine guidance of Jesus Christ..." in the preamble or elsewhere in the document?
- Article VI of the Constitution stipulates that "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States." If the Framers did not want a secular nation, why didn't they at least say, "only those who profess to be Christians are qualified"?
- The Bill of Rights, approved two years after the Constitution, omits the "year of our Lord" language in its date. It is this document which prohibits laws respecting an establishment of a religion.
Bob is famous for only telling one side (his side) of the story. I pray that Bob's listeners will take the time to do their own independent research on Bob's claims. In most cases, they will find there is always more to the story then what Bob gives you.
4 comments:
I would have to agree in some respect with Bob that America is a Christian nation in that most of the Europeans who settled here were practicing one or another variety of the Christian religion.( And trying to prevent the other Christians from practicing their brand of Christian holiness which was the impetus behind Jefferson's letter to the Danbury, CT Baptists who were afraid of persecution by the Congregationalists who were the "official" Christian religion of CT ). You could also argue that America is a "pagan" nation since the Native Americans,who were here before the European onslaught, weren't Christians. Bob wants to prove that America is was and always will be a Christian nation. I caught a bit of today's ( Tuesday 12/4/07) show and heard Bob talking with Roy Moore ( of the "Don't Move my 10 Commandments fame) .They were mentioning the usual persecution stories of removing " under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance and not having nativity scenes on public property ( and Bob mentioned " in the year of our Lord " again). Someone,don't remember if it was Bob or Roy Moore , said the ACLU was "terrorising" towns over nativity scenes. If Bob is such a stickler for original documents as proof of intent why doesn't he advocate using the original version of the Pledge which didn't have the phrase "under God" in it. Personally ,I don't really care about Nativity scenes out in front of the town hall as long as every other religion gets its chance to display whatever symbols it wants to. ( I can't wait for the Flying Spagetti Monster people to decorate the town square). I do care about saying in public that I believe in one nation "under God" when I don't.
It's all a part of the persecution complex people like Bob try to create so that he can keep his people conservative and in fear.
John,
Bob doesn't use the term "Christian Nation". Instead, he talks about "America's Christian Heritage", but the meaning is the same. There is no doubt that the vast majority of the Framers were Christian.
But these men were students of the Enlightenment. They wanted religion out of government, leaving people to worship (or not worship) according to their own conscience. Why can't Bob live with that?
Jeff
Thanks for the correction as to what the official "Bob-Speak" terminology is
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