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Is America A Christian Nation Essay

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Is America a Christian Nation? America’s dominant religion is Christianity, but America is also a secular nation with many different types of religions. Everyone is an immigrant, nobody is really from America not even the Native Americans originated from here. The colonist came from England to escape religious persecution, some Africans were forced to come to be slaves, along with migration. People are not just coming to America to live here. They are coming for religious rights and religious freedom. When you have so many different types of people migrating from all over the world they are not just bringing their families they are bringing their religion. Just because they moved to a new country does not mean that they are going to stop their religious practices. Especially in a new country where they have the freedom to practice …show more content…

Anglican missionaries were wanting to preach and convert Africans to Christianity. Some slave holders did not want their slaves to understand the message of equality in the Christian religion. Other slave holders wanted their slaves to convert to Christianity. The only problem was the slave holders still wanted to have the power of authority over them. They did not want to be considered brothers and sisters with their slaves. Slaves could not hold their own services. This was for the fear that there might be a revolt against their master. “The Anglican missionaries not only identified themselves with the masters but went out of their way to stress that the Bible taught slaves to be obedient (224).” Although the Anglican missionaries and some slave holders wanted the slaves to convert they still wanted the slaves on separate and unequal terms. Some slaves wanted to know more, but it was illegal for them to be able to read and write. Due to these factors once again the scare of a revolt came into play causing the nation to still be separated and not equal on the terms of

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In this day of time, there are many questions that rise controversy between people. A topic that has been the center of drama for years is the establishment between church and state. John Fea asks the blunt question: Was America Founded a Christian Nation? Throughout his book, John Fea contemplates the differing opinions on this subject. John Fea breaks this book into three parts.

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This shows how harsh the treatment of slaves were. They were given no rights, treated simply as a piece of property. White plantation owners remained superior to the slaves at the time. Although treatment of the slaves was bad, many owners did take a responsibility in Christianizing them. Seen in document 4, children that are slaves by birth can be admitted to the sacrament of baptism.

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Backed by religion slave owners thought it justified to own slaves because it was their God-given duty so they raised negro children “in the fear of God” Document 3 states that they were allowed to have slaves because God permitted them to they were given sufficient food, drinks, and clothing. Not only was their institution justified their forced conversion to Christianity in the eyes of God was necessary. For example, slave-born babies were not granted the right to freedom but they were granted the right to be baptized for the progression of Christianity according to Virginia General Assembly of 1667. (Document 4) Although they were not viewed as people plantation owners enforced religion onto slaves in hopes of a larger

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They were forced to endure the harsher philosophies presented in bible that gave the slave owner’s their religious backing to treat their slaves in any manner that they found fitting. They only selected the passages in the bible that promoted the continuance of slavery and demanded obedience from their slaves, “ʺHe that knoweth his master’s will, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes” (Douglass 1207). The slaves were taught the Christian doctrine to reiterate their sole purpose in live was to be obedient to their owners. It was apparent to Douglass, however, that his masters hid behind their religion to secure their superiority and be reaffirm that a higher power sanctioned the atrocious acts of humiliation and cruelty, “I have said my master found religious sanction for his cruelty” (1207). This highlights the duality of the Christian doctrine where they preach kindness to all, yet still condone treating slaves as subhuman chattel.

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