Nearly two-thirds (of Americans) say nation’s founders intended ‘Christian nation’

[Jack]

Sixty-five percent of Americans believe that the nation's founders intended the U.S. to be a Christian nation and 55% believe that the Constitution establishes a Christian nation, according to the “State of the First Amendment 2007” national survey released today by the First Amendment Center... * Just 56% believe that the freedom to worship as one chooses extends to all religious groups, regardless of how extreme — down 16 points from 72% in 2000. * 58% of Americans would prevent protests during a funeral procession, even on public streets and sidewalks; and 74% would prevent public school students from wearing a T-shirt with a slogan that might offend others. * 34% (lowest since the survey first was done in 1997) think the press “has too much freedom,” but 60% of Americans disagree with the statement that the press tries to report the news without bias, and 62% believe the making up of stories is a widespread problem in the news media — down only slightly from 2006. * 25% said “the First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees,” well below the 49% recorded in the 2002 survey that followed the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, but up from 18% in 2006. # “Americans clearly have mixed views of what First Amendment freedoms are and to whom they should fully apply,” said Gene Policinski, vice president and executive director of the First Amendment Center. “To me the results of this year’s survey endorse the idea of more and better education for young people — our nation’s future leaders — about our basic freedoms.” The right to practice one’s own religion was deemed “essential” or “important” by nearly all Americans (97%); as was the right to “speak freely about whatever you want” (98%) and to “assemble, march, protest or petition the government (94%),” Policinski said. “Still, Americans are hard pressed to name the five freedoms included in the First Amendment,” he said. Speech is the only one named by a majority of respondents (64%), followed by religion (19%), press and assembly (each 16%) and petition (3%). Comments on the survey by other First Amendment Center experts: # First Amendment Center Senior Scholar Charles Haynes: “While the survey shows Americans highly value religious freedom, a significant number support privileging the religion of the majority, especially in public schools. Four decades after the Supreme Court declared state-sponsored religious practices unconstitutional in public schools, 58% of respondents support teacher-led prayers and 43% favor school holiday programs that are entirely Christian. Moreover, 50% would allow schools to teach the Bible as a factual text in a history class. “The strong support for official recognition of the majority faith appears to be grounded in a belief that the United States was founded as a Christian nation, in spite of the fact that the Constitution nowhere mentions God or Christianity. Of course, people define "Christian nation" in various ways — ranging from a nation that reflects Christian values to a nation where the government favors the Christian faith. But almost one-third of respondents appear to believe that the religious views of the majority should rule: 28% would deny freedom to worship to any group that the majority considers ‘extreme or on the fringe.’” # First Amendment Center Scholar David Hudson: “The survey results indicate the public does not have strong support for student expression — an unfortunate reality given that students may not appreciate our constitutional democracy if they live in an environment that does not respect their rights to freedom of expression. We all would do well to remember the words of Justice Robert Jackson many years ago: ‘That boards of education are educating the young for citizenship is reason for scrupulous protection of Constitutional freedoms of the individual, if we are not to strangle the free mind at its source and teach youth to discount principles of our government as mere platitudes.’”

firstamendmentcenter.org: news

The best way to undermine the Constitution is to fail to teach its contents to future generations and to allow misconceptions about its provisions to flourish uncorrected.

[Chancellor]

Quote by: Isherwood firstamendmentcenter.org: news The best way to undermine the Constitution is to fail to teach its contents to future generations and to allow misconceptions about its provisions to flourish uncorrected.

Those nearly two-thirds were wrong. There is nothing in the Constitution that even remotely resembles a "Christian" form of government (not that there even is such a thing).

[rez]

I know of only one fundamentalist Christian (dthmstr254) that would argue that the nation was founded on Christian principles, so I don't know how much debating can go on in this topic.

[Osborn F Enready]

More use of statistics to create a false "supposed fact", or something "resembling" a fact.

I think this "national survey" could probably be picked apart as much as the shoddy education they pass off as an "education" in public schools.

Since when could you create the reality you want by simply teaching everyone the wrong information? Oh yea, since religion.

[rez]

Quote by: Osborn F Enready Since when could you create the reality you want by simply teaching everyone the wrong information? Oh yea, since religion.

I wouldn't really blame "religion" itself or the idea of beleiving that magic is real.

I blame it on ignorance and apathy. Those who are less intelligent tend to turn to information that requires no intelligence. Not everybody is willing enough to sit down and critically think about issues, so they turn to the information that doesn't require this type of thinking.

[Cephus]

That just goes to prove that people are stupid. Is anyone surprised?

[Mia]

We have 'In God We trust' printed on our money. There are several more similar examples. Our laws are based on Christian principles. While it may not be true that it was intended to be a Christian nation, it's not 'crazy' or 'stupid' to believe that, based on what can be seen in front of one's face.

[Cephus]

Quote by: Mia We have 'In God We trust' printed on our money. There are several more similar examples. Our laws are based on Christian principles. While it may not be true that it was intended to be a Christian nation, it's not 'crazy' or 'stupid' to believe that, based on what can be seen in front of one's face.

"In God We Trust" was put on paper money in the 50s in the misguided and frankly idiotic belief that Communist agents wouldn't touch the money because of it.

Yes, that is crazy and stupid.

[HelioPrime]

Where is the 50% of people who feel the bible should be taught in the classroom? Most of the people in this poll seem to be of one christian faith, upper middle or higher income, and white. Was this only offered in Alabama?

[another day]

Quote by: Mia We have 'In God We trust' printed on our money. There are several more similar examples. Our laws are based on Christian principles. While it may not be true that it was intended to be a Christian nation, it's not 'crazy' or 'stupid' to believe that, based on what can be seen in front of one's face.

No, not crazy just ignorant as hell.

[Zeebadee]

"Nearly two-thirds (of Americans) say nation’s founders intended ‘Christian nation’"

Based on the rest of the survey, I'd say that two-thirds of Americans aren't aware of what the Constitution really says.

[Jack]

That's what should scare us all, Zeebadee. How staunchly will they defend something they really don't know much about or take the word of others as to what it says?

[Osborn F Enready]

I think that survey you posted Isherwood, which I thank you for posting a link and bringing this to our attention, is a classic example of evidence of sheeple.

Maybe it should be introduced as "evidence, exhibit A".

[The Architect]

How do people become so ignorant? Maybe this isnt related directly to this topic, but Americans are becoming more and more stupid. Am I right? People know more about pop-culture then they do about there countrys history and government. Is this a product of our education system? or are have we just lost the need to know it? People need to open their eyes.

[Osborn F Enready]

The Architect said: How do people become so ignorant?

-Self Intrest, if complacency is possible, can overwash the value of vital information that protects the very freedom, security and ability to be complacent.

People falsely have been "taught" over years of incrementalism, that the fight for freedom "can be" won, when it is not a fight with a finish line, final goal, or set checkpoints for victory. Freedom, or more accurately, individual liberty, is a CONSTANT, never-ending fight, where every inch of the battlefield is analyzed, plotted against and battled over daily, on every battlefield, every front, in every individuals daily interactions from home to business in interactions with all living things.

Freedom isn't free, never has been, never will be... nor can a people who wish to remain ambivalent, ignorant or irresponsible remain free.

Architect said: Maybe this isnt related directly to this topic, but Americans are becoming more and more stupid. Am I right?

If only looking at the statistical date, probably, you are right. That picture however is not complete, nor very accurate I would alledge.

Architect said: People know more about pop-culture then they do about there countrys history and government. Is this a product of our education system?

It is a product of who we let run our educational system, how we pay for it, and the lack of responsibility ALL parents put toward that role of educating their children, invidividually, since the state and fed has wrongly accepted that role of responsibility.

Architect said: or are have we just lost the need to know it?

False senses of security, as well as false senses of being "informed" are very hard nuts to crack. People today are by and large the products of a bi-partisan system, raised by bi-partisan parents, when partisanship should really have nothing to do with citizenship.

I agree, people need to open their eyes, but they also must do what they fear most, which is to confront the truths they find uncomfortable, to engage in debate they find unpleasant, and to hear views they don't find appealing, in the name of arriving at a COMMON THREAD which binds us, as opposed to finding the individual threads which can, and will break us apart.

All of the problems in the world revolve around the collective use of force, in the "supposed name and intrests" of the people.

In my opinion, that should be the central issue of any debate of differences..... the role physical force and intimidation play in ANY situation, individual to collective, under any society, anarchy to authoritarian.

All of the above of course, is "in my opinion."

[gallo]

Quote by: HelioPrime Where is the 50% of people who feel the bible should be taught in the classroom? Most of the people in this poll seem to be of one christian faith, upper middle or higher income, and white. Was this only offered in Alabama?

Actually, according to Gallup and several other polls, fundamentalist christians tend to be less educated, less affluent, more likely doing manual labor than blue collar work, and rural. Gallup, who is a fundamentalist christian, was actually quite distressed when he saw the results of his own poll. The segment of our population that is the least likely to be fundamentalist christian (and therefore the least likely to be a creationist) is biologists.

[Marilyn Monroe]

Quote by: Cephus That just goes to prove that people are stupid. Is anyone surprised?

You got that right!

[Mia]

I agree that it's complacency. I'm guilty of it myself.

[Clarence]

2/3 might actually be a smaller number than it was say 40 years ago but I don't know

[rez]

Quote by: gallo Actually, according to Gallup and several other polls, fundamentalist christians tend to be less educated, less affluent, more likely doing manual labor than blue collar work, and rural. Gallup, who is a fundamentalist christian, was actually quite distressed when he saw the results of his own poll. The segment of our population that is the least likely to be fundamentalist christian (and therefore the least likely to be a creationist) is biologists.

Do you remember the exact name for this poll? or could you possibly cite it?