http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses_as_symbol_in_American_history

Hello cousin or kin… J. R. Manship here…

The men who have responded above recite the all too common pablum so many Americans, myself included, were taught – wrongly – in government schools in the past 50 to 80 years.

For example, Jefferson wrote to another Founding Father saying, “My opinions are very different from that anti-Christian system imputed to me by those who know nothing of my opinions…” and later in the same letter writes, “I am a Christian…”

The much maligned, and much misnamed “Jefferson Bible” was actually a Bible Study and “Gospel Tract” created by President Jefferson IN THE WHITE HOUSE, so much for so-called “Separation of Church and State”, created in response to Christian Missionary Rev. Dowse to help in the evangelization of Indians to Christianity.

Jefferson wrote that if the Gospel had been taught as pure as it came from His lips (Jesus) the whole civilized world would now be Christian. That is the theme of the so-called Jefferson Bible — it is a “Just Jesus” version of the Bible, sort of a “Red Letter” New Testament, just what Jesus is reported to have spoken.

THAT IS WHY the Virgin Birth does not appear and the Miracles are not described. Jesus NEVER described His Virgin birth, and never described the miracles, BUT DID list the Miracles in one verse that Jefferson INCLUDED, so did not “Deny the Miracles”.

For a whole lot more go to JeffersonTestament.blogspot.com.

I have a copy of a letter from Benjamin Franklin to his daughter saying not to miss Prayer Services. It is a classic, profound, respectful to the Prayer Book service, and yet funny about the foibles of clergy.

Other Founding Fathers were more clearly “Christian”. James Madison in a.d. 1788 composed words for the base of the Houdon statue of George Washington that said not the “ambiguous” Year of Our Lord, but the very specific Year of Christ.

I could go on and on, for this is my area of expertise, but this should be ’nuff for now.

Blessings to you “Cousin Jayson” Manship…

James Renwick Manship, Sr.

The question of being a “Christian Nation” has always been a difficult one. I feel the founding fathers relied more on their Masonic principles rather than rigid church doctrine. Masonic principles recognize that there is one God, however any person with a monotheistic religion may join the fraternity. While many of the founding fathers were members of the Church of Englad (Anglican/Episcopalian) on paper, I feel they held their fraternal bonds in much higher regard. In fact, some speculate that the founding fathers wanted to form the nation partly to get further away from the Church of England and it’s politics.

Jayson, you are right in saying that there is some clear Biblical foundation in our constitution. But, I’m willing to bet that our constitution will stand up to the moral codes of many other religions. Not just the Judeo-Christian sets.

Now, shifting gears. As a Christian minister, I think the the moral and religious education should be happening at home, not in the classroom. Teaching the background of the constitution and foundation of our country is great, but it needs to be done subjectively. We as Christians can’t even agree on whether the founding fathers were that pious in their motives, so how could the rest of the country accept it?

And if we want to discuss the shape our world is in, I blame us. Darkness can only exist where light is not shone. Perhaps if we were out building relationships with people rather than fighting it out at textbook companies we would begin to build the world we want to see. I believe it is time to stop arguing about forcing our religion into the state and it is time to start doing what Christ told us to do, love God and love our neighbor as ourself.

Though we disagree, you wrote a great blog. Grace and Peace to you my brother!

“The underlying authority for our constitutional form of government stems directly from biblical precedents,” writes Cynthia Dunbar in her book called “One Nation Under God,” “Hence, the only accurate method of ascertaining the intent of the Founding Fathers at the time of our government’s inception comes from a biblical worldview.”

I’m not trying to dis-invite any beliefs or force my thoughts on anyone else. I’m simply using this opportunity to share what I believe. From the time Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit we have created a separation from our Creator. Day in and day out we (the human race) rationalize and theorize our supreme existence. We convince ourselves that we know all and that we can use science to prove it.

Look at the shape our world is in and the direction it’s headed for our children’s generation. We continue to move God out of the center of our lives and our problems continue to worsen.

As I stated above, I’m not forcing my beliefs on you. I have faith in my God and in His infinite wisdom. I believe that this country was founded on this shared belief. And I believe that our children need to be taught these basic principles in this historical context.

Ultimately, because of the vagueness of our founding documents, everyone in our great country is free to believe whatever they choose. And I couldn’t support any other system. I’m thrilled that because of this freedom, I can believe in my God. Jesus Christ.

The majority were Deists, which is far different.

The idea of “one nation, under God” mentions not the God of Moses, nor does it mention Jesus Christ.

As a Christian, I share some, but not all of your beliefs, and I do believe that God gave us intelligence for a reason – to not use it is an insult to the Creator.

BTW, do you see your point of view as a dis-invitation to all who are not sharers of your faith? Should the exporting of non-believers soon begin?