# Are we now a Christian nation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 3, 2004, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-now-a-christian-nation/272806 "2004-11-03T18:21:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-now-a-christian-nation/272806/21 "2004-11-04T12:53:04Z")
I see no signs at all that this is a Christian nation. Zero, zip nadda. ---
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-now-a-christian-nation/272806/22 "2004-11-04T12:58:04Z")
> [@Airblairxxx](#): > > There’s at least one conservative who sees in yesterday’s results a [mandate for a culture war.](http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/bennett200411031109.asp) Pretty much sums up all we fear… ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-now-a-christian-nation/272806/23 "2004-11-04T13:23:23Z")
> [@vanilla](#): > > The more christians the better, however. I see. Care to help me pack? ---
**Author:** ![Iceland\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@Iceland\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iceland_Blue)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-now-a-christian-nation/272806/24 "2004-11-04T13:25:58Z")
Depends how you define Christian. You could say that the majority are Christians purely in the sense that they are not Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, worshippers of Og,etc.etc. If you restrict it to those who actively follow Jesus Christ then it would be smaller I imagine. How you determine that I’ll leave you to sort out. Mind you, in Britain they keep telling us we’re a multicultural nation. 2001 census:1% Jews,Hindus,Sikhs 2% Muslims 76% Christians… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MMI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/53a042/32.png) [@MMI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MMI)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-now-a-christian-nation/272806/25 "2004-11-04T13:48:27Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Which would RETURN the control of that issue to the states The following paragraph presupposes the reversal of Roe v Wade, which seems unlikely to me. Do you find a federal abortion law inconceivable (absent Roe v Wade)? I guess I don’t think that the GOP’s commitment to federalism would trump its pro choice leanings. The only reason I could see for Congress not to try and outlaw abortion (and thereby force a picture perfect Democratic filibuster) would be that if they succeeded the wedge is gone. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-now-a-christian-nation/272806/26 "2004-11-04T15:57:37Z")
> [@vanilla](#): > > I don’t think so; whats wrong with christians? They honor and serve the Lord God of Israel, who is not a just God. Whether he exists or not, he is an evil abomination. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-now-a-christian-nation/272806/27 "2004-11-04T16:52:35Z")
> [@drewbert](#): > > I see. Care to help me pack? Nope, theres room for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-now-a-christian-nation/272806/28 "2004-11-04T17:01:49Z")
> [@vanilla](#): > > The more christians the better, however. Why? I disagree. ---
**Author:** ![My\_Darn\_Snake\_Legs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f14d63/32.png) [@My\_Darn\_Snake\_Legs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/My_Darn_Snake_Legs)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-now-a-christian-nation/272806/29 "2004-11-04T17:10:06Z")
> [@ShockingAlberto](#): > > …what’s wrong with any other system of beliefs? > > “The more Christians the better,” seems to imply “Christians _are_ better.” > > I apologize if that’s not what you meant, but I doubt I’m the only one to read it like that. I think y’all are being a little hasty. So **vanilla** is a Christian and likes Christians. Some of us are Liberal and Conservative and like the ideas of people of our own sort. We think that those ideas are better. I don’t remember reading that **vanilla** wants to put the heads of non-Christians on pikes in the National Mall. She just thinks that it is good to have people with ideas complementary to their own in office. It’s the same thing that the rest of us say. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-now-a-christian-nation/272806/30 "2004-11-04T17:11:30Z")
I didn’t even say “in office.” ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-now-a-christian-nation/272806/31 "2004-11-04T17:16:41Z")
> [@vanilla](#): > > I don’t think so; whats wrong with christians? > I don’t want a theocracy. if it’s non-proselytizing, tolerant Christians who truly believe in the spirit of the commandment “Love your neighbor as yourself” and keep their noses and morals out of everyone’s personal business, than I can somewhat agree with your statement. If it’s holier-than-thou Christian convertaholics who think abortion and homosexuality are the root of all societal problems, then, no. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-now-a-christian-nation/272806/32 "2004-11-04T17:23:36Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > No. Never have been, never will be. Several of the Founding Fathers like Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Thomas Paine were all Deists. Evangelicals dispute this but I still believe it true. Nonsense. Hardly any evangelicals dispute that _some_ of the Founding Fathers were deists. They were in the minority, but they were there. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-now-a-christian-nation/272806/33 "2004-11-04T17:24:46Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Not “several;” nearly all. Washington, Hancock, the Adams were others. Lincoln was most likely atheist. Are you sure you’re not missing the distinction between “theist” and “deist”? ---
**Author:** ![My\_Darn\_Snake\_Legs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f14d63/32.png) [@My\_Darn\_Snake\_Legs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/My_Darn_Snake_Legs)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-now-a-christian-nation/272806/34 "2004-11-04T17:25:06Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > If it’s holier-than-thou Christian convertaholics who think abortion and homosexuality are the root of all societal problems, then, no. Yep. My view too. I think that Bush is a God-schmooker. I have no problem with God-schmookers on the christian channel or something, but I don’t think that the White house is a good place to preach from. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-now-a-christian-nation/272806/35 "2004-11-04T17:25:56Z")
> [@Israfel](#): > > I got the impression that Franklin wasn’t a deist. There’s a part in his autobiography where he mentions that some of the most immoral people he knew were Deists- and so he comes to the conclusion that deism is an ineffective religion. I don’t have a copy of the book to double check that though > > But yeah, he definitely wasn’t evangelical. Franklin held different views at different times of his life. I don’t mind when people say that he was a Deist, but it would be more accurate to say that he appeared to profess deism at some point in his life. As with so many other people, his views appeared to change with time. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-now-a-christian-nation/272806/36 "2004-11-04T17:34:16Z")
> [@MMI](#): > > The following paragraph presupposes the reversal of Roe v Wade, which seems unlikely to me. > > Do you find a federal abortion law inconceivable (absent Roe v Wade)? I guess I don’t think that the GOP’s commitment to federalism would trump its pro choice leanings. The only reason I could see for Congress not to try and outlaw abortion (and thereby force a picture perfect Democratic filibuster) would be that if they succeeded the wedge is gone. [Sen Arlen Spector](http://www.postgazette.com/pg/04309/406471.stm) of Pennsylvania has specifically told President Bush _not_ to start sending anti-Roe candidates to the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which he is the presumptive chairman. So it doesn’t look like that prediction will happen any time soon. ---
**Author:** ![rfgdxm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@rfgdxm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfgdxm)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-now-a-christian-nation/272806/37 "2004-11-04T17:48:24Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > 😕 > From Lincoln’s first inaugural address in 1861: Also see [The Puzzling Faith of Abraham Lincoln](http://www.christianitytoday.com/holidays/memorial/features/33h010.html) by Mark A. Noll in _Christianity Today_. [http://www.humanismbyjoe.com/Lincoln’s\_religion.htm](http://www.humanismbyjoe.com/Lincoln's_religion.htm) That argues that Lincoln most likely was a Deist, and most certainly not a Christian. Exactly how strong Lincoln’s belief in god was is unclear. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-now-a-christian-nation/272806.md?page=1)