第41节：SUMMER夏(10)

　　It is obvious that America used to be a Christian nation. First of
all, the motivation of the initial settlers was seeking religious freedom.
“America was once a Christian nation …was founded by people who sought
religious liberty and worked to establish religious freedom ” (Smith
26). Secondly, the principles of government was Christian —there ’s
a dilemma which appeared here. But it wasn’t so obvious back in that
time—when Christians were persecuted and came to find freedom—the problem
of whether religious freedom is more important or making more people become
Christian is more important. As we all know, at that time, faithful Christians
were the majority of the continent. Now, when this country is prosperous
with different people from all around the world, people choose to say:
“‘No, I don ’t think the United States is a Christian country. It wasn’
t set up to be that. It was set up to be a free country where people of
all beliefs could come’” (Smith 30). Thirdly, the founding fathers were
theistic. They might be selfish, shortsighted and temperamental, but there’
s no doubt that most of them meet the standard of Christian:“‘an individual
must repent their sins and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord
and Savior by faith ’” (Smith 31).

　　America was founded as a Christian nation, but Christianity ’s impact
on America is much more than that. Even now, when Christianity is diminishing
rapidly in this country, 92% of American households own a Bible (Twitchell
23-24). Along the history, we can almost see God in every battle, not
considering if it is really God or only a slogan. It’s “God ” that ’
s blessing the country, it’s God who wants Americans to invade Iraq but
still saying they are liberating people. God, or a slogan of“God ”,
exist every time, everywhere in this country.

　　People are still saying that they are Christians; but in fact, they
are not the Christians America had before.“Membership in the United Church
of Christ has dropped every year since 1965, from 2.1 million then to
1.3 million today ” (Twitchell 133). Not to mention how“Christian ”
are American Christians; even the people who call themselves“Christians”
is diminishing.

　　　　　　　　　　　

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