Issues: Religion: not in any sense founded on the Christian religion

[Flash The Cash]

n 1797 our government concluded a "Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the United States of America and the Bey and Subjects of Tripoli, or Barbary," now known simply as the Treaty of Tripoli. Article 11 of the treaty contains these words:

As the Government of the United States...is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion--as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity of Musselmen--and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, 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.

This document was endorsed by Secretary of State Timothy Pickering and President John Adams. It was then sent to the Senate for ratification; the vote was unanimous. It is worth pointing out that although this was the 339th time a recorded vote had been required by the Senate, it was only the third unanimous vote in the Senate's history. There is no record of debate or dissent. The text of the treaty was printed in full in the Philadelphia Gazette and in two New York papers, but there were no screams of outrage, as one might expect today.

[Broadlighter]

I would say that the United States was not founded on the Christian religion, but on values expressed in Christianity and Judaism. These values - Life, Liberty, the essential dignity of man, Individual rights deriving from our creator are universal - they are not the sole province of Christianity or Judaism.

I think the purpose of that statement in the Treaty was to acknowledge that the conflict with Tripoli was in no way connected to Religious strife.

Also, it is said that the Government is not founded on Christianity. National values, constitutional principles, understanding of American Citizenship is a different thing, IMO.

[Carl]

there were no screams of outrage, as one might expect today.

Maybe that's because people back then understood the English language, which is more than I can say about the people who keep bringing up that treaty as if it signifies something profound in support of their beliefs.


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[SeanEdwards]

The country was not founded on any religious beliefs. It's more correct to say that many religious traditions share some common ideas about human morality, and that the U.S. was founded upon those underlying principles.

An example being the 'golden rule', which is an important moral concept that is not drawn from any religion in particular. More likely this concept evolved out of the most ancient practices of human tribal groups and became commonplace, and ultimately became part of the philosophies taught by various religious figures.