Just a quick glance at history will reveal that this country was basically framed and founded upon a standard that is above and beyond, a "transcendent" objective truth--namely, The Bible, and specifically, Biblical Christianity. Now, I didn't say that all of the "founding fathers" were Christians (though many were). While we cannot dogmatically state that this country was founded specifically as a "Christian" nation (though it can be, and is argued that it was), it should go without saying that the underlying principles the country was based and founded upon was, again, the Bible, and specifically the Christian faith. There is literally tons of information from that time period, personal letters and official documents, which make it manifestly clear where the "founding fathers" stood on the religious spectrum, and upon what they had drawn their vision for the new Republic which they had formed.
So, while I take the position that though the U.S. was not specifically founded as a "Christian nation," it was nevertheless framed upon the same eternal truths that are found within the Bible itself, truths that are said to be "self-evident," and it is these truths where we derive our moral basis. George Washington himself echoes the importance of this foundation when he said, "It is impossible to RIGHTLY govern the world without God and the Bible." As I once pointed out to a left wing Atheist that I was debating, if George Washington were running for office today, he would be touted as a far right wing fundamentalist and extremist, one of those zealous Bible thumpers, who would be viciously attacked by every left wing liberal, to which the Atheist replied: "You're right...!!" Isn't that amazing! THE PARAMOUNT figure in this countries history epitomizes the belief system NOT of the left wing Democrat, but of the "right wing extremists." How's that for irony! To read more on the fascinating historical roots of the U.S., check out:
http://www.reclaimamerica.org/AM.HTM., and http://www.reclaimamerica.org/ROOTS.HTML., and http://www.afpub.com/page2.htm.
But for now, the question that is posed to Americans at large is, why would Washington say what he did about God and the Bible? I believe that the answer is clear: Because he realized that when we move from the foundation, we are left with nothing more than preference and/or personal opinion. "Truth" and morality are then determined by what is practical, or what seems right or feels good.
What we are seeing today in this country is not just a "turning away" from the moral principles that the country was founded upon, but actual antagonism toward them. Thus, we see laws instituted that militate against the very fabric of the foundation itself.
Sadly, it would seem that the core principles this country was founded upon have become a distant memory. There are no longer "inalienable rights." The concept of inalienable rights and relativism are diametrically opposed to one another. That's because when we speak of inalienable rights, we are speaking of those things that are absolute. But if there are no longer any absolutes, then we are no longer endowed by our "Creator" with those rights, because in the dominant world-view of today, there is no Creator! The country that promotes life (how can a liberal Democrat take that seriously given their pro-death agenda???!!), liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is beginning to reap the whirlwind caused by the onslaught of humanistic relativism, fueled by the blind faith belief in the unscientific and irrational theory of evolution.
Without truth, absolute truth, there cannot be the abundant life spoken of by Christ. Without THE truth, there can be no liberty, because only THE truth sets people free, and relativism has only produced dictatorships and communism. Without truth, there can be no pursuit of happiness, because true happiness is only attained when one deals with the truth on its terms. Without truth, there can be no justice, because by its very nature justice demands that there be an absolute standard.
So what do we have? A country dominated by a world-view that has no belief in an absolute truth, and therefore, is incapable of realizing the American dream spelled out in the Declaration of Independence. Life is meaningless, liberty is void of the responsibility to do that which is right, and the pursuit of happiness is nothing more than a "if it feels good, then do it" futile endeavor. Not only is our country incapable of realizing the American dream, but it is hostile toward it.
If you listen closely, you can hear the door slamming shut on the concept of "One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Note: I wrote this article in 1999. Recently (July 2002), issue was raised by a court concerning the words "Under God."
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