Who says our founding fathers weren't Christians?
-----------------------------------
When people were talking about founding America as an independant country, a verse
that was referred to was Isaiah 33:22:
"For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is
He who will save us."
That is why the three branches of government were formed, to follow those three
elements. They believed these were the essential parts of the civil magestrate.
-----------------------------------
The second-best selling book in the American colonies (the Bible was #1) was the
New England Primer. It was the book from which we taught Americans to read and
write. It would be introduced to children at the same age as first grade is now.
In the book, they taught the basics, such as the alphabet to children. But they
defined the alphabet like this:
A - In Adam's Fall, We sinned all.
B - Heaven to find, The Bible Mind.
C - Christ Crucified, for Sinners Died.
D - The Deluge Drowned, The Earth Around.
E - Elijah hid, By Ravens fed.
F - The judgement made, Felix afraid.
And then they taught them big words, like fornication, edification, gratification.
Then they taught them lessons:
- Pray to God
- Love God
- Fear God
- Serve God
- Take not God's Name in vain
- Do not swear
- Do not steal
- Cheat not in your play
- Play not with bad boys
- Call no ill names
- Use no ill words
- Tell no lies
- Hate lies
- Speak the Truth
- Spend your Time well
- Love your School
- Mind your book
- Strive to learn
- Be not a dunce
And then, questions:
- Who is the oldest man? Methuselah
- Who is the strongest man? Samson
- Who saves lost men? Jesus Christ
(and there were many more having to do with stories of the Bible)
And then catechisms, which were a series of questions and answers to help the
children build a Biblical worldview.
For example, the teacher would ask little first-grade Suzie, "Question 22: How did
Christ being the Son of God become man?"
And Suzie would stand up and say. "Christ the Son of God became man by taking to
himself a true body and a resonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy
Ghost, in the womb of the virgin Mary, and born of her, and yet without sin."
-----------------------------------
The National Education Association (NEA) said this, regarding the Bible, in 1892:
"...if the study of the Bible is to be excluded from all state school; if the
inculcation of the principles of Christianity is to have no place in the daily
program; if the worship of God is to form no part of the general exercises of
these public elementary schools; then the good of the state would be better served
by restoring all schools to church control."
-----------------------------------
Harvard University's Rules and Precepts - 1636
"Let every student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well,
the main end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is
eternal life (John 17:3) and therefore lay Christ at the bottom, as the only
foundation of all sound knowledge and learning."
-----------------------------------
Harvard's Original Motto
"Veritas Christo et Ecclesiae"
Truth for Christ and the Church
This motto has been abandoned for the shorter:
"Veritas"
Truth
-----------------------------------
Princeton's founding statement:
"Cursed is all learning that is contrary to the Cross of Christ."
-----------------------------------
Columbia University's Seal
Above her head: Yahweh (in Hebrew)
At the top: Psalm 36:9 in Latin "In thy light we see light"
On the ribbon: Psalm 27:1 in Hebrew "God is my Light"
Under her feet: 1 Peter 2:1-2 (admonishment to desire the pure milk of God's Word)
-----------------------------------
Gouverneur Morris - One of the most prominent speakers during the constitutional
convention, the chairman of the committee of style, he actually wrote the US
Constitution, said this:
"Religion is the only solid basis of good morals; therefore education should teach
the precepts of religion, and the duties of man towards God."
- Life of Governer Morris, Vol III
-----------------------------------
Samual Adams
"Let divines and philosophers, statesmen and patriots, unite their endeavors to
renovate the age, by impressing the minds of men with the importance of educating
their little boys and girls, of inculcating in the minds of youth the fear and
love of the Deity...in short of leading them in the study and practice of the
exalted virtues of the Christian system."
- Letter to John Adams, October 4, 1790
-----------------------------------
Benjamin Rush - One of the signers of the Declaration of Independence
"In contemplating the political institutions of the United States, I lament that
we waste so much time and money in punishing crimes, and take so little paints to
prevent them. We profess to be republicans and yet we neglect the only means of
establishing and perpetuating our republican forms of government. That is, the
universal education of our youth in the principles of Christianity by the means of
the Bible."
- Benjamin Rush, "A Defense of the Use of the Bible as a School Book," 1798
-----------------------------------
North-West Ordinance - Laid down the requirements for a territory to become a
state
"Article III. Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good
government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall
forever be encouraged."
July 13, 1787
-----------------------------------
Noah Webster
"In my view, the Christian Religion is the most important and one of the first
things in which all children, under a free government, ought to be instructed...no
truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian Religion must be the
basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free
people."
- Reply to David McClure, Oct. 25, 1836
-----------------------------------
Murals that line the rotunda of the capital
The first mural depicts the arrival of Christopher Columbus. Christopher believed
his name was given as "One who bears Christ". His purpose for coming to America
has been rewritten.
The second mural depicts the baptism of Pocahontas, which of course is never
featured in history books or the Disney movie.
The third mural depicts the pilgrims as they are on the deck of the Speedwell
before their initial departure. The Scripture is open, and their hands are held
open and their eyes and hands are uplifted to heaven.
-----------------------------------
George Washington, Farewell Address, September 17, 1796
"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion
and morality are indispensable supports...In vain would that man claim the tribute
of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness,
these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens."
-----------------------------------
John Adams
"Statesmen, my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is Religion
and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can
securely stand."
- Letter of June 21, 1776, quoted in The Wall Builder Report, Summer 1993
-----------------------------------
Benjamin Rush - Signer of the Declaration of Independance
"The only foundation for...a republic is to be laid in Religion. Without this
there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is
the object and life of all republican governments."
- Essays, Literary, Moral and Philosophical, 1798
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
When people were talking about founding America as an independant country, a verse
that was referred to was Isaiah 33:22:
"For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is
He who will save us."
That is why the three branches of government were formed, to follow those three
elements. They believed these were the essential parts of the civil magestrate.
-----------------------------------
The second-best selling book in the American colonies (the Bible was #1) was the
New England Primer. It was the book from which we taught Americans to read and
write. It would be introduced to children at the same age as first grade is now.
In the book, they taught the basics, such as the alphabet to children. But they
defined the alphabet like this:
A - In Adam's Fall, We sinned all.
B - Heaven to find, The Bible Mind.
C - Christ Crucified, for Sinners Died.
D - The Deluge Drowned, The Earth Around.
E - Elijah hid, By Ravens fed.
F - The judgement made, Felix afraid.
And then they taught them big words, like fornication, edification, gratification.
Then they taught them lessons:
- Pray to God
- Love God
- Fear God
- Serve God
- Take not God's Name in vain
- Do not swear
- Do not steal
- Cheat not in your play
- Play not with bad boys
- Call no ill names
- Use no ill words
- Tell no lies
- Hate lies
- Speak the Truth
- Spend your Time well
- Love your School
- Mind your book
- Strive to learn
- Be not a dunce
And then, questions:
- Who is the oldest man? Methuselah
- Who is the strongest man? Samson
- Who saves lost men? Jesus Christ
(and there were many more having to do with stories of the Bible)
And then catechisms, which were a series of questions and answers to help the
children build a Biblical worldview.
For example, the teacher would ask little first-grade Suzie, "Question 22: How did
Christ being the Son of God become man?"
And Suzie would stand up and say. "Christ the Son of God became man by taking to
himself a true body and a resonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy
Ghost, in the womb of the virgin Mary, and born of her, and yet without sin."
-----------------------------------
The National Education Association (NEA) said this, regarding the Bible, in 1892:
"...if the study of the Bible is to be excluded from all state school; if the
inculcation of the principles of Christianity is to have no place in the daily
program; if the worship of God is to form no part of the general exercises of
these public elementary schools; then the good of the state would be better served
by restoring all schools to church control."
-----------------------------------
Harvard University's Rules and Precepts - 1636
"Let every student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well,
the main end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is
eternal life (John 17:3) and therefore lay Christ at the bottom, as the only
foundation of all sound knowledge and learning."
-----------------------------------
Harvard's Original Motto
"Veritas Christo et Ecclesiae"
Truth for Christ and the Church
This motto has been abandoned for the shorter:
"Veritas"
Truth
-----------------------------------
Princeton's founding statement:
"Cursed is all learning that is contrary to the Cross of Christ."
-----------------------------------
Columbia University's Seal
Above her head: Yahweh (in Hebrew)
At the top: Psalm 36:9 in Latin "In thy light we see light"
On the ribbon: Psalm 27:1 in Hebrew "God is my Light"
Under her feet: 1 Peter 2:1-2 (admonishment to desire the pure milk of God's Word)
-----------------------------------
Gouverneur Morris - One of the most prominent speakers during the constitutional
convention, the chairman of the committee of style, he actually wrote the US
Constitution, said this:
"Religion is the only solid basis of good morals; therefore education should teach
the precepts of religion, and the duties of man towards God."
- Life of Governer Morris, Vol III
-----------------------------------
Samual Adams
"Let divines and philosophers, statesmen and patriots, unite their endeavors to
renovate the age, by impressing the minds of men with the importance of educating
their little boys and girls, of inculcating in the minds of youth the fear and
love of the Deity...in short of leading them in the study and practice of the
exalted virtues of the Christian system."
- Letter to John Adams, October 4, 1790
-----------------------------------
Benjamin Rush - One of the signers of the Declaration of Independence
"In contemplating the political institutions of the United States, I lament that
we waste so much time and money in punishing crimes, and take so little paints to
prevent them. We profess to be republicans and yet we neglect the only means of
establishing and perpetuating our republican forms of government. That is, the
universal education of our youth in the principles of Christianity by the means of
the Bible."
- Benjamin Rush, "A Defense of the Use of the Bible as a School Book," 1798
-----------------------------------
North-West Ordinance - Laid down the requirements for a territory to become a
state
"Article III. Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good
government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall
forever be encouraged."
July 13, 1787
-----------------------------------
Noah Webster
"In my view, the Christian Religion is the most important and one of the first
things in which all children, under a free government, ought to be instructed...no
truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian Religion must be the
basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free
people."
- Reply to David McClure, Oct. 25, 1836
-----------------------------------
Murals that line the rotunda of the capital
The first mural depicts the arrival of Christopher Columbus. Christopher believed
his name was given as "One who bears Christ". His purpose for coming to America
has been rewritten.
The second mural depicts the baptism of Pocahontas, which of course is never
featured in history books or the Disney movie.
The third mural depicts the pilgrims as they are on the deck of the Speedwell
before their initial departure. The Scripture is open, and their hands are held
open and their eyes and hands are uplifted to heaven.
-----------------------------------
George Washington, Farewell Address, September 17, 1796
"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion
and morality are indispensable supports...In vain would that man claim the tribute
of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness,
these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens."
-----------------------------------
John Adams
"Statesmen, my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is Religion
and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can
securely stand."
- Letter of June 21, 1776, quoted in The Wall Builder Report, Summer 1993
-----------------------------------
Benjamin Rush - Signer of the Declaration of Independance
"The only foundation for...a republic is to be laid in Religion. Without this
there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is
the object and life of all republican governments."
- Essays, Literary, Moral and Philosophical, 1798
-----------------------------------
