Treaty of Tripoli - Is the US A Christian Nation? Hmm...

[David Floyd]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Tripoli

That's the complete text of the Treaty of Tripoli. I won't bother to rehash it here, but this is the relevant passage for discussion:

Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion,—as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen,—and as the said States never entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

Emphasis on the bolded section. The United States Senate UNANIMOUSLY ratified this Treaty, including Article 11, which was read aloud on the floor of the Senate. And by the way, this was in 1797.

Anyone still think the US is a "Christian nation"?

[DRoseDARs]

"Is the US A Christian Nation?"
No. Next question. What prompted this for the umpteenth time?

[David Floyd]

Perhaps the fact that the political/religious Right in the US by and large thinks that the US is a Christian nation and has been since it's inception.

[DRoseDARs]

Personally, I'd rather slam my dick in a car door than have this debate. Thank God we have a treaty ending the debate succinctly for us.

[David Floyd]

That was sort of my point. Most people aren't aware of the Treaty of Tripoli. I'm also genuinely interested in BK's take on it.

[N35t0r]

You mean you doubt he'll either ignore it or argue that it isn't valid because jesus was born before the treaty?

[SlowwHand]

The USA doesn't have a state authorized religion. That doesn't mean it stands for atheism, but it stands for choice.
David, you should know it without starting a thread about it, again.

[David Floyd]

Sloww, you know as well as I do that "The US is founded on Christianity" is a ****ing buzz word phrase for the Religious Right, which numbers in the millions in this country.

[Whoha]

They violated that treaty, so clearly we had to kick their heathen asses.

[SlowwHand]

Then they're stupid,. Are you saying you want to join the ranks?

As your dad would ask, if they jump off a cliff, will you want to join in and jump too?

[David Floyd]

I agree they're stupid. Jesus Christ, dude. What do you care that I posted the thread? If no one cares, on one will respond. I think it's a legit point that most people don't know, and furthermore, I'd hazard a guess that you'd never even heard of Article 11 of the Treaty of Tripoli prior to opening this thread.

[giblets]

Thanks for sharing. Although people who call the US a "Christian nation" mostly seem to believe whatever they want so it probably won't have much effect.

[SlowwHand]

JUDAS PRIEST! I'm sorry, David. I wasn't intending to get you riled so much. Go ahead.

[DRoseDARs]

Thanks for sharing. Although people who call the US a "Christian nation" mostly seem to believe whatever they want so it probably won't have much effect.

Except that quite a few of them are elected officials, found at all levels of government, as well as appointed to many agencies or otherwise working for them. Then there are those working in the private sector for major companies whose impact on the economy can be felt as a major shudder should something go wrong with their finances. We aren't just talking about Fred Phelps and a few other "bad apples" here.

[Berzerker]

old news