Summary: Did America have a Christian Founding? This disputed question, far from being only of historical interest, has important implications for how we conceive of the role of religion in the American republic. Mark David Hall begins by considering two popular answers to the query “Of course not!” and “Absolutely!” both of which distort the Founders’ views. After showing that Christian ideas were one of the important intellectual influences on the Founders, he discusses three major areas of agreement with respect to religious liberty and church–state relations at the time of the Founding: Religious liberty is a right and must be protected; the national government should not create an established church, and states should have them only if they encourage and assist Christianity; and religion belongs in the public square. In short, while America did not have a Christian Founding in the sense of creating a theocracy, its Founding was deeply shaped by Christian moral truths.
Kim Chandler March 31, 2021 - 4:33 PM
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Alabama s decades-old ban on yoga in public schools could stay in place a little longer following push-back from conservative groups.
The Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday did not advance the bill after a public hearing in which representatives from two conservative groups objected, saying they were worried it could lead to the promotion of Hinduism or guided meditation practices. The Alabama lawmaker sponsoring the bill, a former college athlete, said the bill is about exercise and not religion.
âThis whole notion that if you do yoga, youâll become Hindu â Iâve been doing yoga for 10 years and I go to church and Iâm very much a Christian,â Democratic Rep. Jeremy Gray of Opelika.