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A State Religion? -- Never
Today, historical revisionists would deny or obscure
the fact that our nation was founded upon belief in
God. But have they really done their homework?
Don't think so. Consider just a few examples from
yesteryear.
In 1647, the General Court of Massachusetts
ordered every community of 50 families to have a
school to teach children to read. The reason given by
the court for establishing schools was:
"It being the
chiefproject of the old deluder, Satan, to keep men
from the knowledge of the Scriptures, effort must be
made to thwart this old deluder.
"
Those Founding Fathers regarded religion as such
a cornerstone of our new country that one of the first
official acts of the Continental Congress was to
requisition 20,000 Bibles to be printed and distributed
to the Indians.
In his first inaugural address, George Washington
clearly demonstrated the close relationship between
God and the people of this country:
It wouldbe peculiarly improper to omit in this
first official act my fervent supplications to that
AlmightyBeing who rules over the Universe, who
presides in the Council of Nations, and whose
providentialaids can supply evefYhuman defect,
that His Benediction may consecrate to the
liberties and happiness of the people of the
United States a government instituted by
themselves.
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