My response to the Article in Salon by

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,

Mr. Green falls into the trap that many do by recording a version of historical revisionism. While the founding fathers were not the rabid fundamentalists that many on the religious right portray them as today is not true, but nor is it true to conclude that they were not Christians at all to judge them and place them within the mores and values of 2015 is to play fast and loose with history and with all revisionist history is inaccurate due to the authors having some specific axe to grind. The founding fathers were religious men Christians who brought their respective faiths into the rooms and halls of government as it was a matter of course those days a more a custom ingrained, none would even consider atheism. Atheism was not part of the intellectual milieu of the 18th century and to judge it from today's standards where atheism is a part of the intellectual community and an almost dominate point of view is to misunderstand the founding fathers and the times in which they lived and did their work. (btw it was Lincoln who proclaimed thanksgiving day not the founding fathers). The founding fathers thus we concerned that each American was free to practice whatever version of Christianity he choose -- they did not want the church of England being imposed on them, and they did not want the president as the king of England was the head the pope if you will of the church of England. 

Religious freedom to these men meant the freedom to practice the Christianity of their choice unencumbered by the government -- unless of course you were Catholic which is another story Charles Carroll being the only Catholic signer of the declaration of Independence. Carroll suffered greatly from a lack of religious freedom and had to fight for the right for Catholics to hood elective office. This point and a further investigation into the the life of Charles Carroll and his family may make it i little clear as to just what the patriots, the founding fathers of which Carroll was one. really thought about religious freedom and separation of Church and state. Separation of Church and state mean they wanted away from the Church of England where not only did the king rule their financial, tax and business lives but was the head of their religious life as well. That is what the founding fathers meant by the separation of church and state it meant that within the halls of government each man was able to Christ the way he chose not as dictated by the king. No amount of revisionist history or attacking the excesses of the fundamentalist movement in the US is going to change the facts that the founders as in adherence to the values of their day not ours were Christians and wished to be free to practice their brand of Christianity Protestantism) without worry of government interference. The fundies are correct though when understood within the context of the times the 18th century, these men and Franklin included would have been appalled at the removal of Judeo-Christian principles and reminders like the 10 commandments hanging in court houses, nativity scenes being removed from government property. The separation of church and state to these men meant freedom to pray to Christ as they choose it did not include a freedom to be atheist, although they were not going to arrest anyone for being atheists but it did not include a freedom to bring completely secular values into government institutions this is not the mindset of 18th century men. Nor did it include a freedom to practice Satanism and witchcraft.

copyright Fred Celio 2015

Mark  Greens Article in Salon: http://www.salon.com/2015/06/28/god_is_not_on_our_side_the_religious_rights_big_lie_about_the_founding_of_america/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

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