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Be it resolved: America's founders established a secular government with provision for a religious people. When the delegates met in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787, they deliberately prevented the government from favoring any religion. Then when the Bill of Rights were added, freedom of religious expression was guaranteed.
Those who wanted a Christian government at the time were upset at what they called the religious defect in the Constitution. They were honest enough to admit what today's Christian nationalists often cover up: The Constitution is not a Christian document and the nation was not founded on the basis of Christianity.
The Christian myths surrounding the Constitutional Convention and Constitution came out later. At the time, most people recognized that the founding was secular.
This is a bonus episode with regular segments to return in July.
Music provided by Earl's Taco Shack. Segment written by Warren Throckmorton
Artwork: Sarah Eshelman
The Christian Past That Wasn't: Formerly Telling Jefferson Lies