The view of America as constituting a legitimately spiritual nation could only come from a total misunderstanding, more likely than not born of a superficial or face value analysis and a limited historical scope. It is my intention here to show that the seeds of secularism had been sowed in Europe long before the emergence of the U.S nation and that the birth of the state in question is in reality, the manifestation of the ideals present in 17th century Liberalism. As this is not an academic essay intended for university evaluation I will not dwell on an introduction any further but devote the extra space to the task I have set.
That the French Revolution and overthrow of King Louis XVI occurred only two years after the formation of the U.S. Constitution is of paramount importance to understanding the sign of the times. One would scour the U.S Bill of Rights in vain for anything concerning religion and the only mentions of it in the constitution pertains to the prohibition of congress from establishing a religion or from breaching the freedom of the individual in religious practice. What is undeniably present in both the articles cited is the heavy influence of the secular, enlightenment ideas that eventually spread throughout Europe in the 18th century, manifesting itself in the emphasis placed on individual freedom, democratic mob rule (arguably being the first real Democracy in fact) as well as private property and inalienable civic rights. This influence further shows itself in the American Dream placing individualism and private property as of the utmost importance whilst again making no reference to religion or even spirituality.
The founding fathers were a curious mix of religious views, including Deism and Freemansonry. As a result, the view that America is a Christian nation is simply unhistorical, at least as far as the structure of the state itself is concerned. That Calvinism has perhaps been the most widespread form of Christianity in the U.S. is significant in itself. In his book, Revolt Against The Modern World, Evola explains that this along with all Protestant doctrine is an essential reduction of Christianity to simple moralism. A Siegfried described Calvinism as "the view according to which the true cell of the social organism is not the individual but the community in which wealth is regarded , in ones mind as well as others', as a sign of divine election." This almost plutocratic intepretation of Christianity has nothing in common with the general acknowledgement by the Catholic Church of the kings divine right and presents the removal of any qualitive hierachy, something incompatable with most traditions, let alone Christianity. Democracy is for this reason, more or less inherently hand in hand with secularism. The notion of Divine authority being maintained through anything other than Aristocracy would simply have been absurd in Medieval Europe, any credible historian would acknowledge this.
The emergence of Creationism in America could have only emerged amid a secular backdrop. Historically, this can be placed alongside the entry of Newtowian physics as a "scientific" (or perhaps pseduo-scientific in the case of I.D, regardless of anyones view on Evolution) attempt to justify God, the essential opposite of religion. This argument is further boosted by the fact that Newton's work occured in a build up to the Age of Enlightment, a time of immense secularization in Europe. THe meaning of this should escape no one.
To show the advent of secularism in Europe, I will construct a brief timeline depicting its outbreak.
*1215: Signing of the Magna Carta in England, the weakening and arguably the rationalizing of the King's sovereignty.
*1642: Civil war breaks out in England, ending in the defeat of Royalist forces in 1651 and the execution of Charles I followed by Cromwell establishing the English Commonwealth. This eventually fails and England ends up with a merely consitutional monarchy.
*1648 Peace of Westphalia. A series of treaties with a result ultimately unfavourable to the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III and a denial of his Absolute authority. As a result, Catholicism lost power and states involved won the right to determine whether to adopt Catholicism or Lutherism/Protestantism. This could be seen as the beginning of the decline of Christianity in Europe.
(These examples have mostly focused on the secularization or rationalization of divine authority).
*1651 Proto-Liberal Thomas Hobbes writes Leviathan which amongst other things, establishes the philosophical view known as Materialism which puts forth the view that all that exists is matter, eliminating the possiblity of metaphysical entities including the Christian God.
*1762 Rousseau writes The Social Contract. This book puts forth the idea that society is formed due to an individuals need to compromise some degree of freedom in order to advance their own self interest, as opposed to any leader having divine authority.
(This could be seen as an important step in the developmemt of Liberalism).
*1776 American congress declares that "All men are equal and endowed with inalienable rights."
(Emergence of secular Liberal, humanitarian ideology in America's creation).
*1789 George Washington takes office and establishes a Bill of Rights based on Liberal ideology.
*1789 French Revolution, execution of the monarchy, Reign of Terror in which thousands are killed, establishment of a republic.
*1788 Secular American constitution ratified.
*1791 American Bill of Rights is published with no mention of religion.
When seen relative to the unfurling of European history, America can only be seen as a secular nation with a residual layer of Christian moralism (having briefly explained the role of Protestantism in reducing Christianity).
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