Responding to recent Fountain Hills letter about religion in government
OPINION — Mr. Dudash overlooked a few things when he concluded that President John Adams “warned that the Constitution was made for ‘a moral and religious people’” and was inadequate to govern any other." Dudash stated, “America's institutions were profoundly shaped by biblical faith, the constitution did not erase that inheritance. Religious liberty was one of its greatest achievements. That is how and why America is a Christian nation.” Really?
Funny he should quote John Adams. You see, in the Treaty of Tripoli (ratified in 1797 during the Adams administration), it's clear that the U.S. government isn't founded on the Christian religion, thus questioning America's religious identity.
According to the treaty, “the government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.” The treaty's primary goal was protecting American ships from Barbary pirates – addressing diplomatic relations with Muslim states.
Adams, when approving the treaty, emphasized a separation between religion and state affairs. Ever since, the treaty has been used to signify that the U.S. was not established as a Christian nation. As a result, that treaty has important implications regarding religion and U.S. governance.
While this specific Adams quote is often cited by White Christian Nationalists, Adams said he thought religion was way broader than Christianity. You see, Adams was Unitarian, professing a theological belief system affirming the oneness of God while rejecting traditional Christian teaching of the Trinity.
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