1. American Freedom: Are We Losing It?
Copyright by Norman L. Geisler 2010

2. American Freedom: I. How Did We Get It?

3. American Freedom: I. How Did We Get It? II. How We Are Losing It?

4. American Freedom: I. How Did We Get It. II. How We Are Losing It. III
American Freedom: I. How Did We Get It? II. How We Are Losing It? III. How Can It Be Restored?

5. American Freedom: Part one I. How Did We Get It?

6. 1. The Mission of our Forefathers 1620: The Mayflower Compact
“For the advancement of the Christian Faith”
In the name of King James the “Defender of the Faith”

7. Our Freedom Has Religious Roots
Thanksgiving to God

8. 2. The Purpose of the First Schools
1647: “Old Deluder Satan Law”
The first schools were started to teach children to read the Bible!

9. 3. The Founding Document 1776: Declaration of Independence
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

10. 3. The Founding Document 1776: Declaration of Independence
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

11. Agreement with The Declaration: A Condition of Statehood
All the original states endorsed The Declaration, and every state since has been required to form a government that is in conformity with the U. S. Constitution “and the principles of the Declaration of Independence.”
As late as August 21, 1959, Hawaii was admitted to the United States based on the fact that it concurred with “the principles of the Declaration of Independence” (see Gonzales v. Planned Parenthood, 2007).

12. The Foundations of Freedom
Creator---Creation---God Given Morals

13. The Articles of Confederation (1781)
In Articles of Confederation document drafted in 1777 and ratified in 1781 all agreed in “cooperation between the States” and sent “delegates of the United States of America” to participate. This acknowledges that the country already existed before this time and had delegates to send. Indeed, following the spirit of The Declaration of Independence, these Articles spoke of the “Great Governor of the world” who “authorize[d] us to ratify the said Articles of Confederation and perpetual union.”

14. 4. The First Amendment’s “Free Exercise” of Religion
“Congress shall make no law respecting an the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” (1791).
Note: This Amendment encourages religion in general while it forbids a national religion in particular.

15. The Myth of “Separation of Church and State”
1. This phrase in not in the Constitution.
2. It comes from a private letter of Jefferson.
3. Jefferson did not mean it the way secularist do.
a) He had a religion department in Uni of Virginia.
b) He proposed laws requiring church attendance.
c) He gave government money to missionaries.
d) He meant it to keep the Federal Gov’t from interfering with States and their religions.
4. He was not even present at the Constitutional Convention.
5. Five of the 13 Colonies had their own State religions when they enacted the First Amendment.

16. 5. Promoting Religion in Schools
For example, the Northwest Ordinance (1787 and 1789) declared: "Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." Thus, religion was deemed by our Founding Fathers to be “necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind."

17. 1830’s-1930’s McGuffy’s Reader
McGuffy Taught:
Creator
Creation
God-given Moral Absolutes

18. 1830’s-1930’s McGuffy’s Reader
McGuffy Wrote:
“God is the Creator, and His creation enables us to understand Him. In proportion as we investigate the secrets of the natural world, we are able to understand the nature of God.”

19. 1830’s-1930’s McGuffy’s Reader
McGuffy Wrote
"John, you must always bear in mind, that it is God who made you, and who gave you all that you have and all that you hope for.
He sent his Son to show you his will and to die for your sake.
He gave you his word, to let you know what he had done for you and what he bids you to do” (77, 78, 80).

20. 6. Presidential Prayer Proclamations
President Washington (Oct. 3, 1789) declared: "Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor…. [I recommend] to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer...."

21. President John Adams proclaimed: “Whereas the safety and prosperity of nations ultimately and essentially depend on the protection and blessing of Almighty God, and the national acknowledgement of this truth is not only an indispensable duty which the people owe to Him, but a duty whose natural influence is favorable to the promotion of that morality and piety without which social happiness can not exist…” (3/23/1798).

22. 7. Congressional Prayers
At the very first Continental Congress Benjamin Franklin urged that "In the beginning ... we had daily prayer in this room for Divine protection.--Our prayers, Sir, were heard, & they were graciously answered.... And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?... I therefore beg… that henceforth prayers…be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service."
Congress has begun with prayer ever since.

23. 8. School Sponsored Prayers
Class prayer was practiced in Schools for over 300 years from the 1647 to 1962 when it was outlawed by the Supreme Court (in Engel, 1962).

24. 9. Government Supported Missionaries

25. 9. Government Supported Missionaries
In 1796, under president Washington, Congress gave land to the United Brethren for the purpose of “propagating the gospel among the heathen.”

26. 9. Government Supported Missionaries
In 1796, under president Washington, Congress gave land to the United Brethren for the purpose of “propagating the gospel among the heathen.”
In 1803 Congress granted money, signed by President Jefferson, for a Catholic Church to do missionary work among the Kaskaskian Indian.

27. 10. Religious Based Colleges Established
Harvard’s Rules for Students: “...To consider well the main end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life, John 17:3…” (1636).

28. The vast majority of colleges in America were founded on the Christian Faith
Princeton University

29. 11. Government Based on Belief in God
“[The First Amendment] embraces all who believe in the existence of God. This provision does not extend to atheists because they do not believe in God or religion.” (Massachusets Supreme Court, Kneeland, 1838)

30. North Carolina State Constitution
Preamble
“We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign ruler of Nations, for the preservation of the American Union and the existence of our civil, political and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those blessings…ordain and establish this Constitution.”

31. North Carolina State Constitution
Article IV, Section 8
“Disqualifications for office.
The following persons shall be disqualified for office:
First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God.”

32. 12. School Sponsored Bible Reading
“Why may not the Bible, and especially the New Testament be read and taught as divine revelation [in schools]?”(Vidal, 1844).

33. 13. Recognition of the Ten Commandments
I am the Lord your God...
1--You shall have no other god’s before Me
2--You shall not make any graven image
3--You shall not take the name of God in vain
4--Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy
5--Honor your father and your mother
6--You shall not murder
7--You shall not commit adultery
8--You shall not steal
9--You shall not bear false witness
10--You shall not covet

34. New Haven Colonial Law 1644
“The Judicial laws of God as they were delivered by Moses… [are to] be a rule to all the courts in this jurisdiction.”

35. James Madison: “Father of the U.S. Constitution”
“Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe.” (Memorial & Remonstrance, 1785).

36. Sixth President of United States
John Quincy Adams
“If ‘Thou shalt not covet’ and “Thou shalt not steal’ were not commandments of Heaven, they must be made inviolable precepts in every society before it can be civilized or made free” (The Right Constitution… Letter VI).
Sixth President ( )

37. New England Primer (c. 1700-1850)
The Third Section was a “Shorter Catechism” which taught the Ten Commandments, Bible history, doctrine, and prayer.
Note: Some estimated 3 million copies were sold.
It was the most widely read school book in America for over a hundred years.

38. [A Sample Lesson] Q. 53. What is the third commandment?
A. The third commandment is, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Q. 54. What is required in the third commandment?
A . The third commandment requireth the holy and reverend use of God's names, titles, attributes, ordinances, word, and works.
Q. 55. What is forbidden in the third commandment?
A The third commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abusing of any thing whereby God maketh himself known.
Q. 56. What is the reason annexed to the third commandment?
A. The reason annexed to the third commandment is, that, however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgement.

39. New England Primer: Ten Commandments in Poetic Form
1. THOU shalt have no more gods but me Before no idol bend thy knee Take not the name of God in vain Dare not the Sabbath day profane Give both thy parents honor due Take heed that thou no murder do Abstain from words and deeds unclean Steal not, though thou be poor and mean Make not a willful lie, nor love it What is thy neighbor's dare not covet.

40. 14. Supreme Court Upheld Moral Laws
Including laws against:
Murder, Rape, Theft, Polygamy, Incest, Adultery, Sodomy, etc.

41. Our Freedom is Rooted In--
1. The Mission of our Forefathers
2. The Purpose of the First Schools
3. The Founding Document: The Declaration
4. The First Amendment’s “Free Exercise”
5. Promoting Religion in Our Schools
6. Presidential Prayer Proclamations
7. Congressional Prayers
8. School Sponsored Prayers
9. Government Supported Missionaries
10. Religious Based Colleges
11. Government Based on Belief in God
12. School Sponsored Bible Reading
13. The Recognition of the Ten Commandments
14. Supreme Court Upheld Moral Laws

42. 1776: Declaration of Independence
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

43. The Foundations of Freedom
Creator---Creation---God Given Morals

44. Not All Founders Were Christians As a Deist, Jefferson Denied the Virgin Birth
“The day will come when the account of the birth of Christ as accepted in the Trinitarian churches will be classed with the fable of Minerva springing from the brain of Jupiter” (Letter to John Adams in 1823).
But All Believed in Creator, Creation, & God-given Morals

45. The Supreme Court Called America “Christian.”
“Bigamy and polygamy are crimes by the laws of all civilized Christian countries. They are crimes by the laws of the United States…” (Beason, 1890).

46. Is America A Christian Nation?
Response:
It opposed having a national religion in particular.
“Congress [federal gov’t] shall make no law respecting an establishing of religion…”
2. It encouraged having religion in general.
“…or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
3. It was founded on Judeo-Christian principles.
4. Many founders were strong Christian (The Pilgrims, Puritans, Washington, Adams, et. al.).
The sense in which it was “Christian”:
a. Descriptively but not prescriptively.
b. Christianity was informative but not normative.
c. Freedom was allowed for non-Christian religions as well (Jews, Muslims, and Deists).

47. America is a Religious Nation (It is not a Secular Nation)
a. Our government was based in God.
“We are a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being” (Zorach, 1952).
Later Court decisions affirmed this ruling (see Abington, 1963; Marsh, 1983; Lynch, 1984).
b. Our schools acknowledged God.
"Religion, morality, and knowledge…[are] necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind...” (The Northwest Territory Ordinance of 1787).

48. Remnants of Religion in American Gov’t
States must accept The Declaration of Independence for Statehood which speaks of Creator, creation, and God-given morals.
We pledge allegiance “under God.”
“In God we trust” is—
a) On our coins,
b) In the National Anthem,
c) On the wall of the House of Representatives.
4. Congress prays at the beginning of each session.
5. The Senate and the military have chaplains.
6. Federal Courts begin with a prayer: “God save the United States and this honorable court.”
7. Tax deductions provided for religious purposes.
8 Ten Commandments symbolized in the Supreme Court.

49. Top and Center: Outside the Court

50. On The Door Inside

51. Over the Chief Justice’s Head

52. Power of Gov’t Resting on the Ten Commandments

53. By God’s Care Washington Crossed the Delaware

54. George Washington First Inaugural Address 1789
“No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than those of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency.”

55. God’s Blessing is Based on Virtue
“…there is no truth more thoroughly established, than that there exists in the economy and course of nature, an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness…. We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained.

56. What is the Foundation of Our Freedom?
The Foundational Document: The Declaration of Independence.
The Foundational Precept: God’s Blessing Rest on a recognition of God’s Laws.
The Foundational Principles:
There is a Creator
All Men are Created Equal
There are God-Given Moral Laws

57. “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?
(Psalm 11:3)