Is it a Positive Thing to Refer to America as a "Christian Nation"?

Yes - We were founded as a Christian nation and still are. (48%)

Yes - It helps our image around the world. (3%)

No - We were not founded as a Christian nation. (5%)

No - We were founded mostly by Christians, but that doesn't make us a "Christian Nation." (41%)

No - It hurts our image around the world. (3%)

By Leslie I T Assih (not verified) on November 4, 2007 - 11:51pm

This world is not the home of righteousness.

By Oengus Moonbones (not verified) on November 10, 2007 - 10:17am

Greetings, Mr. Cooke.

I recently stumbled over your interesting web site.

As for the choices in the above poll, I think they lack nuance. Here are some other optional choices that I would add:

No - America is Babylon, Mother of Harlots and the Abominations of the Earth.

Yes - But only modestly so. Some founders were freaking Enlightenment Deists.

No - Although it started out xtian. It's been downhill ever since World War I.

No - Although it started out xtian, It's been downhill ever since the 1960s.

Yes - It's a Theocracy. Pat Robertson runs the Inquisition.

By Jeff Reid (not verified) on November 26, 2007 - 7:32am

Whose concept of Christian are we talking about? The current stereotype? or, the real definition? America is also a nation that's full of some of the best medical doctors and hospitals in the world, but nobody refers to us as a doctor nation... Just ask any youth pastor, social worker, teacher, or public servant - they won't mince words about the fact that present-day America, Christian-nation or not, is thoroughly messed-up. But that's our opportunity, isn't it?!

By Matt Johnson (not verified) on November 26, 2007 - 8:33am

Yes - Even though it hurts our image around the world, it helps it at home.

By Phil on November 26, 2007 - 9:34am

How exactly?

By David (not verified) on November 26, 2007 - 10:45am

Wow, it is astonishing to me that the majority are fine associating the actions of this nation with the person of Jesus Christ. When you call America a "Christian Nation", the world interprets that to mean that this nation acts according to the teachings of Jesus Christ. They identify the actions of America with that of Jesus. If this is true, then the only exposure many will have to "Christianity", will be men with guns.

By Jim Miller (not verified) on December 3, 2007 - 1:36pm

I worked at a company that sells projectors to churches. The owners of the company are all professing Christians, and their walk lines up with their talk as far as I can tell, and I know them personally. The CEO often told the salespeople, "Don't tell people we are a Christian company because there is no such thing. Only people can be Christians, not companies."

I think the same could be said of our country. Sure, it's a great place, but I don't see anywhere in the Bible or in church tradition that establishes what a country must do to achieve most-favored nation status with God.

By John Shannon (not verified) on December 7, 2007 - 5:04am

If 'Christian' is a homogenized term that encompasses every level from Billy Graham to my cousin Eddie who goes to church every Easter unless something better comes up or he wants to sleep in, to people who believe that Jesus was only a man albeit a great one, or perhaps he was a great prophet. If 'Christians' can believe that the Bible is God's inspired word, or a collection of interesting anecdotes, or the incomprehensible ramblings of mad-men. If 'Christians' are people who try to live their lives after the example that Jesus set, and are people who stumble blindly through life trying to be 'good people' or balance the scales of bad deeds with the scales of good deeds...

If the above statements are all true, then America is a Christian nation.

They are not.

In my experience, America is an agnostic nation. If you don't believe me, start asking 'Christians' what Christianity means to them.

It is not positive to refer to America as a Christian nation. History may claim the actions of our nation as the actions of a Christian nation, and call future Christians to account for the mistakes of a nation.

We live in a society that loves pigeonholes. Twenty years ago there were only a few kinds of music. Today there are dozens. We have blues/rock, alt/country, zydeco, hard rock, southern rock, classic rock, indie, etc... The list goes on and on.

We're learning a little more about the different factions of Islam, and Muslims. We've come to accept that different sects have different opinions.

Yet, with so many differing opinions and belief systems involving Christ, the world is still content to label them all Christians; every shade of belief from Protestant, to Branch Davidian to wedding ministers with online certifications.

No wonder there is so much distrust of Christians in America.

By breaklight on December 7, 2007 - 5:45am

Now here is someone who has a good understanding of the situation. Well said, well placed and well executed.