As a “Christian” nationalist said a couple of years ago: ““America should be governed according to biblical law for the benefit of believers.” [FN137] That’s brazen, not at all consistent w/equal protection of the law, and based on false narratives (a/k/a lies) about history. 1/18

One such false narrative: this country was founded as a “Christian” country. Add, as a factor, that people who hold elected office share these views and you arrive at why I’ve blogged the past few days about the founding of this country and our government’s secular origins. 2/18

Maryland, on 4/28/1788, became the 7th State to ratify, [FN138] w/the phrase “in the year of our Lord” absent from its notice to Congress. [FN139] In 1632 was the “first emigration [] “chiefly Roman Catholics” w/freedom of religion & “establishing Christianity agreeably 3/18

to the old common law w/o allowing preeminence to any particular sect.” In 1649, “blasphemy, or denying the Holy Trinity” was made punishable by “death, and confiscation of goods and lands.” Under Cromwell, “Roman Catholics were denied” protection” & “the test 4/18

and abjuration acts, in 1716, excluded all Roman Catholics from office.” [FN140] Delegates to the Maryland convention met in Annapolis on April 21, 1788. The record silent as to any prayer or invocation. [FN141] Of 15 amendments voted down by committee, one addressed 5/18

religious liberty. [FN142] The record indicated only four (4) members of the committee named to offer amendments, only one of whom voted to ratify, and eight (8) other delegates present when proceedings were adjourned with invocation to what seems a deist entity. [N143] 6/18

South Carolina was the 8th State to ratify. [FN144] Ante-Revolutionary War history for South and North Carolina only diverged when the two Carolinas were formally partitioned in 1732. [FN145] A 1669 constitution avoided “making too much a democracy.” 7/18

The Church of England was declared “the only true and orthodox religion. “Every man of seventeen years of age was to declare himself of some church or religious profession ... otherwise he was not to havew benefit of the laws.” Every freeman had to “acknowledge a God, 8/18

and that God is to be publicly worshipped. In other respects there was a guaranty of religious freedom.” [FN146] South Carolina’s notice of ratification includes 3 dates: 2 are followed by “in the year of our Lord” & 1 by “Anno Domini.” It also sought to amend the religious 9/18

oaths prohibition. [FN147] Proceedings of its convention are short, with comment on Article VI being only a summary: “made some observations on the too great latitude allowed in religion.” [FN148] No one stated a Christian country was being founded. [FN149] 10/18

New Hampshire’s ratified as the 9th State, [FN150] without reference to “Lord” or other phrasing in stating dates, and the Constitution had met the number required. [FN151] The only record of debates at the convention is an excerpt that addresses slavery. [FN152] 11/18

New Hampshire does not state at any place that a “Christian” country was being created.
Next: the final three States & ratification. 12/18

Footnotes:
FN137. Sean Feucht, self-avowed “Christian” nationalist, Rolling Stone, 4/21/23.
FN138. Constitution of the United States, “Adoption of Constitution,” West’s Annotated Indiana Code, Constitution,” (1999), p. 29; 1 Elliot’s Debates, pp. 324-25. 13/18

FN139. 1 Elliot’s Debates, pp. 324-25.
FN140. 1 Elliot’s Debates, p. 34.
FN141. “A Fragment of Facts, Disclosing the Conduct of The Maryland Convention on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution,” 2 Elliot’s Debates, pp. 547-556. 14/18

FN142. “12. That there be no national religion established by law; but that all persons be equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty.” Id., p. 553.
FN143. “May the all-wise and omnipotent Being, who made us masters of a fair and fruitful empire...” Id., p. 555. 15/18

FN144. Constitution of the United States, “Adoption of Constitution,” West’s Annotated Indiana Code, Constitution,” (1999), p. 29; 1 Elliot’s Debates, pp. 325.
FN145. 1 Elliot’s Debates, p. 40. Id. “Resolved: that the third section of the sixth article ought to be amended, by inserting the word ‘other’ between ‘no’ and ‘religious.’” 16/18

FN146. 1 Elliot’s Debates, p. 39.
FN147. Id., p. 325.
FN148. 4 Elliot’s Debates, p; 312.
FN149. That religion is mentioned once, but “slavery” or “importation of negroes” appears at least seven (7) times in the index of debate is disturbing. 17/18

FN150. Constitution of the United States, “Adoption of Constitution,” West’s Annotated Indiana Code, Constitution,” (1999), p. 29; 1 Elliot’s Debates, pp. 325-26.
FN151. Const. Art VII.
FN152. 2 Elliot’s Debates, pp. 203-04. 18/18