| Brewer, Justice David J. |
|
Justice David J. Brewer, author of the Holy Trinity opinion, also wrote a book in 1905 called The United States: A Christian Nation. Brewer opened his work with these words: We classify nations in various ways. As, for instance, by their form of government. One is a kingdom, another an empire, and still another a republic. Also by race. Great Britain is an Anglo-Saxon nation, France a Gallic, Germany a Teutonic, Russia a Slav. And still again by religion. One is a Mohammedan nation, others are heathen, and still others are Christian nations. This republic is classified among the Christian nations of the world. It was so formally declared by the Supreme Court of the United States. But in what sense can it be called a Christian nation? Not in the sense that Christianity is the established religion or that the people are in any manner compelled to support it. On the contrary, the Constitution specifically provides that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Neither is it Christian in the sense that all its citizens are either in fact or name Christians. On the contrary, all religions have free scope within our borders. Numbers of our people profess other religions, and many reject all. Nor is it Christian in the sense that a profession of Christianity is a condition of holding office or otherwise engaging in the public service, or essential to recognition either politically or socially. In fact the government as a legal organization is independent of all religions. Nevertheless, we constantly speak of this republic as a Christian nation-in fact, as the leading Christian nation of the world. 
How can we know anything about anything? That’s the real question |
Other Pages in this sectionFounding Documents Slavery Supreme Court The States Adams, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Samuel Boudinot, Elias Carroll, Charles Clinton, DeWitt Christopher Columbus de Tocqueville, Alexis Benjamin Franklin Hamilton, Alexander Hancock, John Henry, Patrick Jay, John Jefferson, Thomas Johnston, Samuel Lincoln, Abe Madison, James McHenry, James Morris, Governor Morse, Jedediah Muhlenberg, John Peter Gabriel Paine, Thomas Penn, William Rush, Benjamin Reagan, Ronald Story, Joseph Washington, George Webster, Daniel Webster, Noah Woodrow Wilson Wilson, James Witherspoon, John Recently Viewed |
