The left is attempting to rewrite history
EDITOR:
In the first sentence of Bob Topper’s article entitled, “We are revisiting prohibition (The Courier News, Dec. 1, 2021, Page 4),” he gave away his intent to rewrite history with “The idea that America is a Christian nation is a modern myth.”
He incorrectly implied that America’s Founders and Signers widely “embraced” Deism and eschewed Christian principles en masse.
While it is true that Thomas Paine and Ethan Allen allegedly “embraced” Deism, they were a small minority.
For clarity and accuracy, perhaps we can look at an actual quote from Thomas Jefferson who said, “God who gave us life gave us liberty.”
On page 385 of The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, he also allegedly stated, “I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus Christ.” Furthermore, John Hancock, the first Signer of the Declaration of Independence allegedly stated, “Resistance to tyranny becomes the Christian and social duty of each individual.”
In his article that mirrors the Communist Manifesto, Mr. Topper stated: “Nevertheless, evangelicals promote and hold dear this modern myth of a Christian nation and are convinced that Christian belief transcends the Constitution.” Quite the contrary, most Americans (including Christians) that I know embrace freedom of religion and freedom of speech - and the Constitution in toto.
A belief in Christ and revering the Constitution are not mutually exclusive - as Mr. Topper implies. Much to Mr. Topper’s chagrin, Christians did not fall off the turnip truck last night - and most are fully aware that the freedom and liberty inherent (and guaranteed) within the Constitution does not preclude Christians from living and practicing their religion while enthusiastically embracing the Constitution.
In the end, Mr. Topper’s motivation for smearing and taunting Christians via a fictitious account of history is rooted in his zeal for a radical Leftist takeover of America amid the destruction of our long-held institutions and traditions.
This includes, but is not limited to, our Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of government - including the Supreme Court - of which he referenced vis-a-vis abortion. Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx would be proud.
Perhaps Mr. Topper can review the quote of a Founder and 4th President of the United States James Madison who said, “A watchful eye must be kept on ourselves lest while we are building ideal monuments of Renown and Bliss here we neglect to have our names enrolled in the Annals of Heaven.”
No, the Founders did not restrict, limit or abolish religions other than Christianity and they did wisely embrace the concept of “freedom to hold none at all.”
Mr. Topper’s misinformation campaign was exemplified in his statement, “They created a democracy.”
What “they created” was a Republic, and for very specific reasons. What the Founders also created was a Christian nation.
No amount of revisionist history or creative writing will change that.
Samuel T. Foust
Powell