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For centuries religion has been used as propaganda to force the common man into submission towards the powers that be, example: the crusades. It is true that puritans came to the United States because they were in opposition to the Anglican church of England. However, one must look at some other factors:

1. The colonies were founded before their immigration.
2. They were not the only people who immigrated here

3. Our for fathers did not agree with religion being mixed with the government as it was in England

Why did Europeans sail from their shores? To find new ways to get to Asia that would not involve so many middlemen. That is when they discovered the New World and sought to exploit it's resources. The first colony in the United States was not a way for people to seek religious freedom. It was established by the Virginia mining company, to exploit the resources in Virginia. Many of our early settlers were indentured servants and criminals (similar to Australia). The very first established colony was the infamous Jamestown which was not a town founded on religion. Only a small portion of people had immigrated here for "religious freedom." The reason why they Pilgrims left England was because they felt that the Church of England had not done enough in the way of reformation. Reformations which, by the way included banning Christmas. These people were of low social standings and therefore were a prime target to be picked on. They didn't even come to America at first; they went to Holland but yet again could not find happiness with their strict lifestyle so they went to America.

In regards to our founding fathers it is so interesting that they are used in this argument that we are a Christian nation. The 1st amendment was created so that we would not have an established religion. Benjamin Franklin was member of a secret society known as the Hellfires which were known to partake in debauchery and mock Christians. In one of Benjamin Franklin's letters he wrote about a fire and brimstone preacher, mocking the man and relating him to that of a charlatan out to get money. It is true that Franklin was a Quaker but they were not as fundamentalist as some Christian groups were then and today. Even Thomas Jefferson said "Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law." If anyone were to actually read what Jefferson wrote they would see that Thomas Jefferson held a strict belief that the government should not be involved in our beliefs and day to day life, He kept his religion private and through clues we can see that he was a deist (nature based in his beliefs). Jefferson also owned a copy of the Qu'ran which he donated to the Smithsonian.

The basis for our government stemmed from enlightenist writers such as Jean Jacques Rousseau and John Stuart Mill. Another influence was Machiavelli who by no means was Christian nor did he promote Christian values.

Perhaps the best way to sum it up is as Carl Marx said "Religion is the opium of the masses." Our religious beliefs have no place in the government for when that occurs are we not any better than the government that we say we escaped from?

Learn more about this author, Diana Tierney.
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