Ep127 Were the Founding Fathers Christian? Did God Really Bless America and the Constitution?

Special 4th of July Re-released Episode with Matt Harris!
On this episode of Mormonish, Rebecca and Landon are joined by Professor Matthew Harris to discuss the question of whether America was originally founded as a Christian nation or a secular republic. Evangelicals would have you believe that God played a prominent role, while the nones may believe otherwise.
This debate has resulted in a culture war over the narrative that shapes The United States today. Professor Harris helps us sift through the information to better understand the religious beliefs that informed the men who founded our country. The answer to this question might surprise you!
Previous Mormonish episode with Matt Harris
• Ep97: Tim Ballard, O.U...
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[@LifeAfterBelief]

Matt Harris is soooo respectful of believers. But he’s also very clear about the reality. It’s such a good balance. Honest + respectful. Kudos!

[@matthewharris7151]

Thanks for the kind words! I always try to be respectful. It’s who I am.

[@tawneenielsen4080]

Yes, I love the balance! I want to be a reality-based believer. I don't know if that's possible right now when believers don't want to know reality.

[@kentthalman4459]

Great to see scholarship applied to a topic that comes up often.

[@chuckkv]

I remember when i read the infamous Adams-Jefferson letters, it was funny because Adams was always sending Jefferson some latest preachers pamphlet to read, and then eventually Adams would ask, well what did you think of preacher so-and-so's pamphlet? Jefferson would make a quick response that always amounted to some kind of a "meh. It was okay..." 😂 I found humor in it as the the exchange and dance repeated itself several times. I always got the sense Adams was trying to convert him.

[@JeffDayPoppy]

Landon's last sentence really left me on hanging onto the edge!

[@maureenjamieson9730]

Cut off in mid-sentence.

[@peterwinstead7618]

Amazing episode and great timing!

[@ikustudies]

What do we know and how do we know that we know- this guy is using my line to convey the fundamentals of critical thinking nice

[@radiofreemormon5140]

Great show!

[@bookmedia67]

I have always loved the story of the “Thomas Jefferson Bible.”

[@mybachhertzbaud3074]

I have taken for granted that the founding fathers were simply trying to avoid a fight. After years of religious wars in Europe and many of the people coming to America were escaping the religions there. Too bad they did'nt have the foresight to see that they left several issues with way too much ambiguity.🤔

[@redandpink219]

Very interesting taster on this topic.

[@erinhimes7057]

Fantastic episode!

[@matthewharris7151]

A committee at the Second ContinentalCongress wrote the last paragraph of the Declaration.

[@janetmarugg9424]

Your intelligent convo is appreciated. 😊

[@mormonishpodcast1036]

Thanks for watching!

[@tawneenielsen4080]

How do I email mormonish?

[@ajadamsv9208]

Most of the signers of the Declaration were Diest meaning that they believed in a creator God but not organized religions. Thomas Paine is a great example of a founder who had much influence on the founding of our nation.

[@CatskillsGrrl]

I long for a secular country.

[@chuckkv]

Thomas Jefferson pseudoepigrapha, by David Barton.

[@brendy92100]

Who wrote the last paragraph if it wasn’t Jefferson why won’t he say

[@DapperDontheDad]

Chales Carroll became famous as a Founding Father only after the movie, National Treasure, made him famous.

[@toeknee5565]

Source for that claim?

[@CatskillsGrrl]

Did Landon lose his microphone? Normally his audio is much better.