Many people today claim America is not now nor ever has been a Christian nation. Yet, the Founders of America spoke of her as a Christian nation many times. The first Supreme Court Chief Justice, John Jay, proclaimed: “Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation, to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.” The Supreme Court ruled in 1892 that “this is a Christian nation.” They recognized America, not as an ecclesiastical state where the church ruled nor one without sin, but as a nation founded upon Biblical principles, where Biblical truth and law were the standard for public life, law, and societal institutions.
This course examines the broad evidence of the Christian foundation of America: the motive and Christian influence in colonization, the Christian foundation and source of law, the Christian nature of societal institutions, the Christian thought and life of the Founders, the Christian power and form of government, the fruit of liberty and prosperity, and the central role of the Bible. It also addresses the claim that America is now pluralistic and thus Christianity must be treated like all other beliefs, concluding, as did America’s Founders, that Christianity is the source of liberty, and if its principles are ignored no freedom and permanent happiness are possible.
Session 1 – The Bible: Rock of the American Republic
Session 2 – America, a Christian Nation? Examining the Evidence of the Christian Foundation of America
Instructor: Stephen McDowell
Format: Two one hour long DVD Teachings
Course No.: HIS08