This is really starting to become a pet peeve of mine. As some of the readers know, I still work the sound board for my parent's church once a month (because of a promise I made a few years ago before I fully deconverted). I always do the first Sunday of the month. The service around July 4th is always great for some revisionist history.
The actual sermon was secular, there was no mention of God, and I quite enjoyed it. One of the local doctors, who has served in the Navy and retired as a 2 star Admiral, gave a speech on the lives of each of the men who hoisted the flag at Iwo Jima and why it was important for America and World War II.
My issue was a little 3 minute video, played during the song service. You can find the video
here. I didn't have a chance to go through each of the quotes while there but have gone through them now.
First quote is Alexander Hamilton.
"I have carefully examined the evidences of the Christian religion, and if I was sitting as a juror upon its authenticity I would unhesitatingly give my verdict in its favor. I can prove its truth as clearly as any proposition ever submitted to the mind of man."
This quote is real. Hamilton made this claim. I would love to see the evidence he speaks of though.
Second quote is James Madison.
"The future and success of America is not in this Constitution, but in the laws of God upon which this Constitution is founded."
This quote is without citation or any record. It is similar to another quote made up by Christian revisionists and seems to be part of that. It is well dissected
here.
Third quote is Thomas Jefferson. (Yeah Jefferson supporting Christianity, you already know it is fake.)
"The reason Christianity is the best friend for government is because Christianity deals with the heart."
There is no record of Jefferson every writing or saying anything like this (
here).
Fourth quote is Andrew Jackson.
"The Bible is the Rock on which this Republic rests."
This quote is real. So what? Jackson had nothing to do with the founding of this country. It just shows that Christian Theocrats have been trying to take over the country for awhile now.
Fifth quote is Patrick Henry. (It is a longer quote than what I post but you can get the gist.)
"This great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians"
Another spurious quotation. These words appear nowhere in the writings or recorded utterances of Patrick Henry. You can read about it
here, along with quotes used by Sally Kern in her recent revisionist history here in Oklahoma. Patrick Henry was a believer, so making up quotes is just odd. You can find support for Christianity from him easily, but you can't find support for America being founded as a Christian nation.
Sixth quote is Daniel Webster.
"If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity."
I honestly can't find anything about this quote, except a lot of Christians use it. Again so what? Webster had as much to do with the founding of this country as Jackson.
Seventh and final quote is Woodrow Wilson.
"America was born a Christian nation. America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of Holy Scriptures. Ladies and gentlemen, I have a very simple thing to ask of you. I ask of every man and woman in this audience that from this night on they will realize that part of the destiny of America lies in their daily perusal of this great book of revelations. That if they would see America free and pure they will make their own spirits free and pure by this baptism of the Holy Scripture."
Wilson said it. Again, so what? Wilson obviously had no clue about the founding fathers.
So let's tally up the quotes.
Real quotes: 4
Fake quotes: 3
Of the real quotes, how many were founding fathers? 1.
Lying for Jesus is fun.
