This is actually uncomfortably close to an argument I had with a friend of mine which went as follows:
Him: We’re a Christian Nation, our founding fathers meant for us to be a Christian Nation!
Me: We’re not, at least according to most of the founding fathers themselves when they signed The Treaty of Tripoli which stated “As the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian Religion…”
Him: Maybe, but they were all Christians and founded this country on Christian Principles.
Me: A) Some were, most weren’t. Most were nondenominational deists. B) Thomas Jefferson made his own bible by ripping out all the supernatural parts (which he referred to as “misguided” and “nonsense,” amongst other things) and just focusing on what Jesus said. It’s called The Jefferson Bible, by the way, and it was 46 pages long, if memory serves. So if you want to return to the “Christian Principles upon which this country was founded,” they’re in part the principles of calling the vast majority of the bible “misconceptions” and “nonsense.”
Him: Where do you hear this bullshit, MSNBC? You’re way out of line.
Me: I’m quoting other people here - people you brought into this conversation as voices of reason and respect - so I’m not sure how you get to call me out of line. You’re somehow simultaneously on the wrong sides of both history and verifiable reality. Do you want references?
It sort of went downhill from there.
This conversation also comes up way too often with some friends, makes me wonder if steering clear of them is wise for keeping friends or if my backbone should be stronger in voicing my belief in facts, and not mere opinion.
If there is any evidence of intelligent design, it’s hard to find among the revisionists.
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