The United States was not "Founded" as a "Christian Country"

I am an American.
On top of that I am also a Texan.
I was born in Texas and can trace my family coming to Texas in the 1850’s.
Most of my family came from the United Kingdom. The rest came from Europe.
Some have been in the United States since the early 1700’s. Some fought in the American Revolution against England.
For what I can tell, they all were “Christians” of some sort or another.

I am an Atheist.
I’ve been an Atheist since the age of six.
I have a degree in History from Texas A&M University. It is a University that is conservative. There’s nothing “liberal” about it.

In order to graduate from high school in Texas, you are required to take a government class that covers both Texas and the Federal Government.
In order to graduate from a college or university in Texas you are required to take:
Six hours of American History
Three hours of Texas government
Three hours of American Government.
So you’re looking at a total of 12 hours of American history and government.

I’ve heard many a time my fellow student whine about having to take these classes that they’ll never use.
They use them. Or should I say, they “don’t” use them every time there’s an election.
I do.

I also use them when I hear such myths as, “America was founded as a ‘Christian’ country.”
It wasn’t.
“There’s nothing in the Constitution about ‘Separation of Church and State.‘”
There isn’t.
Any reference to “religion” is in the Bill of Rights:

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html

So what does that mean?
It means we don’t have a “National” religion like we did when we were the colonies and part of England.
This is religion is known as “The Church of England.” King George III was the head of it. As have all Kings and Queens have been going back to Henry VIII.
Henry, if you recall, told the Catholic Church and the Pope where to go and started his own.
You see, one of the reasons the American Revolution happened was that we felt we were not being fairly treated as our fellow Englishmen were in England. That we were not being “Represented” but were still being “Taxed” as all English subjects were.
Hence, “Taxation without representation.”

Also, for well over a thousand years, Kings and Queens had used the “Church” vis-à-vis religion to enforce and validate their positions, their power, and the rule.
The Founding Father’s knew this.
And didn’t buy a word of it.
In fact George III wasn’t even English. That’s also reflected in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. That’s why Arnold Schwarzenegger can’t be President.
But that’s for another time.

So when George Bush #43 say, “God wanted me to be President…” he should have been removed from office.
James Bakers law firm and a frivolous lawsuit got Bush #43 into office. Not “God.”
And how Mr. Baker was treated by Bush #43 in his second term, haunts Mr. Baker to this day.

But that’s not what I want to talk about.
What I want to talk about is the silly notion that the United States was founded as a “Christian” country.
It wasn’t.
It’s a myth being promoted by people who know nothing of the History of the United States and know even less about it’s government.
This can easily proven with a quick American History lesson.
One of the earliest issues the young country of the United States had to deal with were the Barbary Pirates. This cumulated in the Treaty of Tripoli.

Authored by American diplomat Joel Barlow in 1796, the following treaty was sent to the floor of the Senate, June 7, 1797, where it was read aloud in its entirety and unanimously approved. John Adams, having seen the treaty, signed it and proudly proclaimed it to the Nation.

Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/treaty_tripoli.html

So even as far back as 1796, the Senate of the United States gave proof not only to the people of the United States, but the world as well, that it is NOT a “Christian” country nor was it FOUNDED as one.

So when you hear this myth being promoted, you have the ability to be a “Myth Buster” and set the record straight. And please, reference Article I of the Bill of Rights and the 1796 Treaty of Tripoli that was ratified by the United States Senate and signed by the President John Adams.

And just to tweak their noses a bit more, remind them that John Adams also signed the Declaration of Independence and therefore a Founding Father.