The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism is Un-American, by Seidel, 2019.

Last edited Sun Apr 2, 2023, 04:58 PM - Edit history (1)

While MAGA nutters are ranting about US being a Christian nation (Boebert, et al.) this book tells the truth about our country's actual founding: before the Declaration of Independence made US a separate country, puritans and pilgrim British colonies on the American continent established Christian governments.

"The Puritans imposed the death penalty for worshiping other gods, blasphemy, homosexuality, and adultery. It is out of this society and this mindset that the terrible idea of a Christian nation founded on Christian principles lodged itself in the American psyche. And it is this intolerant legacy that must be abandoned That is what a Christian government looks like: exclusive, exclusionary, divisive, hateful, severe, and lethal...The insufferable Puritan theocracy declined after King Charles II revoked the colonial charter and passed the Toleration Act of 1689.
"All of this happened more than 100 years before the American Revolution and the drafting of the US Constitution. When the framers, like James Madison, surveyed history, they eschewed theocracy and intolerance, condemning the 'torrents of blood' spilled in the name of religion."

DUer Yellerpup in 2008 wrote "Refutations of 'Christian Nation' in quotes from Founding Fathers." Good to keep handy when the historically illiterate/shameless manipulators peddle the christian nationalist baloney about America. British colonies on this continent were examples of why the founders strongly supported separation of church and state.

Anywho, this book is a thorough exam by constitutional attorney Andrew L. Seidel at the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Highly recommend.