Many would say today that those who founded our nation were free-thinking, godless men who didn't care a whit about God in general and Jesus Christ in particular. Those who point to the Christian principles upon which our Constitution was based and the religious convictions of those who wrote it are accused of "revising history to suit their cause."
Following are some quotes by those who were integral in the establishment of this country. Whatever your position is regarding this ongoing debate, there is one premise you can take to the bank:
George Washington
"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."
"No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States." (From his inaugural speech to both Houses of Congress, April 30, 1789.)
"I am sure that never was a people, who had more reason to acknowledge a Divine interposition in their affairs, than those of the United States; and I should be pained to believe that they have forgotten that agency, which was so often manifested during our Revolution, or that they failed to consider the omnipotence of that God who is alone able to protect them." (In a letter dated March 11, 1792.)
Patrick Henry
"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here."
"The Bible is worth all other books which have ever been printed."
Supreme Court of Maryland
"Religion is of general and public concern, and on its support depend, in great measure, the peace and good order of government, the safety and happiness of the people. By our form of government, the Christian religion is the established religion; and all sects and denominations of Christians are placed upon the same equal footing, and are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty." (1799, in the case of Runkel v. Winemiller)
The Declaration of Independence
"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary
for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them
with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate
and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitles
them...
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all
men are created equal. That they are endowed by their Creator
with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life...
"We, Therefore, the Representatives of the United
States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the
Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions...
"And for the support of this Declaration, with a
firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually
pledge to each other our Lives, Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."
Thomas Jefferson
"God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever." - (Notes on the State of Virginia.)
"No one sees with greater pleasure than myself the progress of reason in its advance toward rational Christianity, and my opinion is that if nothing had ever been added to what flowed from His lips, the whole world would at this day been Christian...Had there never been a commentator there never would have been an infidel. I have little doubt that the whole country will soon be rallied to the unity of our Creator, and, I hope, to the pure doctrines of Jesus also."
The United States Supreme Court
"Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible that it should be otherwise; and in this sense and to this extent our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian." (Justice Josiah Brewer who rendered an opinion of the Supreme Court on February 29, 1892)
Benjamin Franklin
"In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for Divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered.
"All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor.....And have we now forgotten this powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?
"I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing
proofs I see of this truth..... that God governs in the affairs of man.
And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice,
is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?
"We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord
build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this.
I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this
political building no better than the builders of Babel; we shall be divided
by our little, partial local interests; our projects will be confounded;
and we our selfs shall become a reproach and a byword down to future ages.
And what is worse, mankind may hereafter, from this unfortunate
instance, despair of establishing government by human wisdom and leave
it to chance, war, or conquest.
"I therefore beg leave to move that, henceforth, prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven and its blessings on our deliberation be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business."