WAS AMERICA FOUNDED AS A CHRISTIAN NATION?

I hear this so much today. The logic is this:

1. America was founded as a Christian nation.
2. Christians have lost control of the nation.
3. Christians need to (and have a right to) take it back.

I do not believe the premise that America was founded as a Christian nation. I think the evidence for that premise is exaggerated and misstated.

Consider this. In 1797, the United States entered inot a treaty with Tripoli, an Islamic nation. Its pirates caused us a lot of trouble. Tripoli was reluctant to enter into the treaty, for its leaders saw the problem with a Christian nation and an Islamic nation trying to get along.

George Washington negotiated the treat. It was ratified by the Senate. It was signed by President John Adams.

Look what it says: "As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion, as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims, . . . it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries" (Hunter Miller, Treaties and Other International Acts of the United States [Government Printing Office, 1930], Vol.II, p.365).

So, when you criticize the current president for saying America is not a Christian nation, remember the beloved first president did also.

New suspect in the DB Cooper case? wow.

ONE MORE CHUCK NORRIS JOKE

When the Boogey Man goes to bed, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.

JOHN LENNON AND CHRISTIANITY

New information is coming out that John Lennon made serious inquiries about Christianity and may have come to faith. Yoko evidently covered this up for years. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifHere is a video with a short description of his efforts.

WELCOME TO MY WORLD

The heat moves east and north. I'm sorry, because I know you are not used to it and have not prepared for it. You are Americans and always assume that what happened in the recent past will always happen in the future.

It's just heat, though. Drink some water. Get some air. You'll be fine.

PLUTO PAYS US BACK

Reeling from its demotion from planet status, the object formerly known as Pluto has played a prank on astronomers as revenge. Pluto has been hiding something from us. It has another moon we have never seen before.

Newly discovered, the moon is not yet formally named. Astronomers refer to it cleverly as P4. Suggestions for its name include "Oops" and "Gotcha".

One thing I like about science is no matter how certain scientists are, nothing is ever certain.

MORE JOB LOSSES

This will not make the president happy. Borders is closing all of its stores and letting go 10,500 or so employees. Cisco, the computer network company, is laying off 16% of its work force.

Cisco's share price has been dropping all year, so they obviously have problems.

I do not think you can blame the economy alone for Border's death, but it may have hastened it. I think the brick and mortar book store days are numbered.

Nonetheless, yet more unemployed people populate America despite the so called recovery.