Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
Religion News
America After 250 Years: Should We Be a Christian Nation?

America After 250 Years: Should We Be a Christian Nation?

Last updated on: July 2, 2026 at 5:36 pm by Ginny Baxter

0 Comments

America After 250 Years: Should We Be a Christian Nation? 2026-07-02T17:36:01-04:00 Ginny Baxter

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The American flag (courtesy of Pixabay)

A deeply religious Founding Father once said this about separation of church and state: The government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.

Don’t misunderstand me. I’m a lifelong Christian, but I see a need for secular government. Many Americans are celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which took place in 1776. But in a divided nation, many of us have no interest in celebrating. Meanwhile, the country cannot even answer such basic questions as these:

Who are we?
Are we a Christian nation?
Should we be?
Will our democracy survive?

The nature of America’s soul remains elusive after 250 years. In the 19th century, we fought a bloody civil war to resolve the issue of slavery, but unrepentant racists kept their repugnant beliefs alive despite losing the war. And white Americans slaughtered Native Americans, primarily after the war, and took their tribal lands through treaties the U.S. didn’t always honor. In the 20th century, the nation struggled through several assassinations, fought in Vietnam, and battled bigotry and misogyny during the civil rights, women’s rights, and gay rights movements.

Americans struggled through these difficult times and survived. Yet, many of us held onto our white entitlement and hatred toward people of color. Sometimes, hatred simmered just below the surface. At other times, it exploded into violence. But hatred has always been with us and leaves a dark stain on our history.

Christians have no excuse for harboring hatred of people who are “different.” Christ gave us the example of the Good Samaritan and taught love, famously saying, Love the Lord your God with all your heart… (and) love your neighbor as yourself Matthew 22:37-40.

A Violent Past

Slavery split the U.S. apart in the mid-19th century. Millions of American slaveowners, especially in the South, had no intention of giving up the people they enslaved, and even white churches supported slavery. The region’s agriculture-based economy depended on slavery. In the North, whose economy didn’t depend on slavery, people were less likely to support that ugly institution. A relatively small number of abolitionists in the North even wanted to end the horror altogether.

Elsewhere, white Christians continued to murder Native Americans and push them farther west. Whites claimed the lands where indigenous peoples’ ancestors had lived for thousands of years and herded the Native Americans onto reservations.

America’s Civil War (1861-1865) and a constitutional amendment legally settled the argument over slavery, but unrepentant southerners found ways around it. However, no comparable legislation helped the Native Americans.

The behavior of so-called Christians was and is sinful and unchristian. Some racists let go of their hatred over time, but majority white populations in the South often took their hatred underground. They fiercely clung to it and passed it down to their children and grandchildren.

Yet, Christ said love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you (Matthew 5:44). The Apostle Paul wrote: Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to one each…. (Ephesians 4:31-32). If only we could.

By the Way…

Before we continue, let me make a few facts clear. I’m a native southerner and lifelong Christian. Christianity is my foundation, and I try to live my faith. The Apostles’ Creed expresses my beliefs fairly well, beginning with the words, I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord.

But I also have a progressive streak.

Despite a strong Christian faith, I’m committed to the idea that the U.S. Constitution is a secular document rather than a religious one. The Founding Fathers intended it that way for very good reasons.

Religion and Laws

When one group of people tries to inflict their religious beliefs on another – and I do mean inflict — violence tends to erupt. Coercion simply doesn’t work. Hundreds of years ago, state churches were prevalent in Europe, and ordinary citizens were forced to support their nation’s church financially and otherwise, regardless of their religious beliefs. And ordinary people hated this arrangement.

America’s Founding Fathers decided to try something different. They added a Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution, and in it, they prohibited Congress from passing any laws regarding religion.

Americans United points out that religious freedom, as outlined in the First Amendment to the Bill of Rights…

Frees us from the scourge of an officially established church
Promotes pluralism
Protects your right to believe as you choose
Protects secular public education (except in Texas)
Crushes the lies of Christian nationalism.

There’s also a biblical basis for separating government and religion. Christ preached his gospel to anyone who would listen, but he never forced anyone to believe or follow his teachings. We should follow his example. If you can find Scripture in which Jesus used coercion, please let me know.

The Founding Fathers Have Their Say

Neither the Founding Fathers nor the American colonists were united in their religious beliefs. The early leaders’ beliefs ranged from Christianity to atheism, but they were quite clear about their dislike of state religions.

John Adams, who was the second president of the U.S. and deeply religious, once said, The government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion…. The United States is not a Christian nation any more than it is a Jewish or Mohammedan (Muslim) nation. He also believed this about separation of church and state: The government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.
Thomas Jefferson, the chief author of the Declaration of Independence and third U.S. president, strongly opposed state religions. In a document called the Virginia Act for Religious Freedom, Jefferson wrote, We, the General Assembly of Virginia, do enact that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship place of ministry whatsoever…but that all men shall be free to profess… their opinions in matters of religion.

James Madison, the fourth U.S. president and so-called “father of the U.S. Constitution,” wrote that religion is essentially distinct from Civil Government, and exempt from its cognizance; that a connexion (sic) between them is injurious to both….” according to the Anti-Defamation League. The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe with blood for centuries.

Confronting America’s Past

Ironically, many modern Americans are quite hypocritical. The ones who proclaim their so-called Christian faith the loudest are frequently the same people who are deeply racist. It’s as if they need to announce that they are Christian at the top of their lungs when their behavior should reflect it.

The hypocrisy can be astounding.

A Fourth to Remember & One to Forget

America will never be a truly great nation until we deal with our hatred and so-called Christians deal with their unchristian behavior.

Sadly, this Fourth of July will be a shadow of the national celebration held in 1976. For the 200th anniversary, the American Freedom Train carried “iconic” treasures representing the nation’s history. The train crossed the country, and millions of Americans had the chance to see important items in the nation’s history such as a lunar rover, George Washington’s copy of the U.S. Constitution, Benjamin Franklin’s handwritten draft of the Articles of Confederation, the original Louisiana Purchase, and Judy Garland’s dress from The Wizard of Oz.

Operation Sail, which took place in New York Harbor, featured 200+ sailing vessels from roughly 30 nations. They formed a watery parade that featured 16 breathtaking “tall ships” that stole the show. The event drew a crowd of 6 million people, and millions watched it on television.

This year, there will be a Trump rally and fireworks. Visitors to Washington, D.C., may also view the damaged Reflecting Pool, which has turned an ugly shade of green. That is, they can see it if they can get past National Guardsmen guarding the pool. They also might want to see the tarp that obstructs the Kennedy Center.

Trump’s Great American State Fair is equally exciting. It’s nearly empty of exhibits, activities and people. There’s a cardboard mockup of the arch Trump desperately wants to inflict on D.C. and the nation. One visitor who saw it posted on X that Trump’s stupid arch looks like it was put together with duct tape…. It’s all about appearances, but the façade is fake and backed by nothing real.

America’s 250th anniversary celebration is a good metaphor for the U.S. in 2026. Fake Christians, fake leadership and fake facades. Perhaps we will eventually set aside our differences and do the difficult work that’s needed for the nation to survive. Otherwise, the U.S. won’t be around for a 300th anniversary.

Religion News

History and Religion

Uncategorized

American hypocrisy

bigotry and Christianity

Christian nation

hatred in America

racism

Previous Post

June 18, 2026

This Is My Song: How Black Artists Changed American Music

Next Post

July 31, 2026 Lindsey Graham's Contested Legacy: Hero or Traitor?

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"I'm not here to defend President Trump, but the Pope has said some stupid things ..."

Rev. Dr. Gary Shahinian

A Pope, A President and A ..."

"Hilarious. https://uploads.disquscdn.c..."

Digger

A Pope, A President and A ..."

"Of course it's partisan. It's a blog in which Patheos writers give their opinions. In ..."

Ginny Baxter

A Pope, A President and A ..."

"It's not that I don't like your article. I don't like your article because it ..."

Digger

A Pope, A President and A ..."

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 8 points of Progressive Christianity Advent All dogs go to heaven Alvin York Amazing Grace heart health American violence Angels anti-semitism Beloved hymns Bible Trivia Quiz Biblical family conflicts Biblical family conflicts Bill Moyers death Black churches in America Black Music Month Buddhism Calming Bible verses Carter and Christian faith Carter and faith Carter Center Changes in Christianity Changing Christianity in U.S. Christ Christian aid to Ukraine Christian belief Christian beliefs Christian extremism Christian flag Christian help Christian martyrs Christian media campaign Christian nationalism Christian nationalism Christian Olympians Christian outreach Christian pastors Christian prayer room Christianity Christians and Donald Trump Christians and U.S. immigration Christians behaving badly Christmas Christmas holidays and depression church and state church attendance church membership church tax exemption Classical Christian music conservatives Creation Creationism and Science Crisis in the Clergy Early Christian women Easter lamb Easter preparations Easter worldwide Education and Religion evangelicals Faith and families Faith and Mental Health Faith and miracles Faith and Super Bowl Faith and winter blues faith healers faith leaders false leaders False Prophets family Father's Day feeding 5000 flags in churches Football and Christianity freedom of religion friends Genesis Ghosts God Golden Rule Good Friday Good Samaritan Gospel of Thomas grief grieving Halloween hate hatred hatred of Jews He Gets Us He Gets Us campaign Hinduism Holocaust how are Abrahamic religions similar How to read the Bible Hubble Islam James Webb Telescope Jesse Jackson's legacy Jesus Jesus' brothers and sisters Jewish holy days and hate Jews Judaism judging others July 4th & Religion Kamala Harris's faith Lent Liberal Christianity liberal Christians Liberal Theology liberals Lindsey Graham's legacy Lord's prayer losing church members loss loss of church members loss of husband loss of spouse love love thy neighbor marketing Christ Mary Magdalene Methodist's split National Day of Prayer National Day of Prayer New United Methodist leader Pat Robertson Pope and President Pope Francis compassion Portals for demons post-evangelicals pray prayer prayer survey praying Preserving religious freedom President Jimmy Carter Presidents' Day Project 2025 Putin's faith Racism and radicalized Christianity racism in America religion Religion and Entertainment Religion and football Religious coercion religious tyranny in U.S. Remembering Jimmy Carter resurrection Revelation Rewriting black history Riley Leonard's faith risen lord Rosalynn Carter Rusty Golden death science Scientology Sen. Joe Leiberman dies Sex abuse and Christianity Sex abuse in churches South Africa Southern Baptist Convention spirituality St. Paddy's Day St. Patrick St. Patrick myths St. Patrick's Day St. Paul suicide and religion Susanna Wesley taxes and religion Televangelists television evangelists the Philippines The Trinity Trump's faith adviser U.S. Ukraine Uncategorized Underground churches universe women and happiness Women church leaders women in the pulpit Yoga and Christianity Yule Zimbabwe

Select a Month July 2026 June 2026 April 2026 March 2026 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who found Moses' basket in the Nile?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Pharaoh's daughter Jochebed Miriam Zipporah