God, guns and guts made this country great. Just ask the Duke.

Wal-Mart popularized plastic. Ask Sam.

Cool Hand Luke sang, "I don't care if it rains or freezes....long as I got my plastic Jesus, riding on the dashboard of my car......"

Which gives me the opportunity to be the first to mention the name of Jesus, and open the wrathful floodgates of righteous opinions and terrible damnation.

If you got the plastic guts enough to print this, that is.

fred call

Sent by fred call | 3:00 PM ET | 10-09-2007

The framers of the Constitution took particular care to ensure that the U.S. was not founded as either a Christian nation or by Christian principles. In fact many of the founders of this country including Thomas Jefferson were in fact Deists, which was a religion that, among other things, believed in a God that did not become involved in creation. And Jefferson eventually edited the Christian Gospels to remove all references to both Jesus as anything more than a human being and supernatural events in human history. The U.S. is and should remain a religiously pluralistic society in which all religions are repected. John McCain and others are flat wrong on this issue.

Sent by Rev. Joel High | 3:16 PM ET | 10-09-2007

I never cease to be amazed that this debate is even still ongoing. Freedom OF religion means freedom FROM religion. Period. The Fundies (fundamentalists) who are so eager to see our government embrace state-sponsored religion are incredibly short-sighted. Let's look to the future they're so bent on creating. Just how will they feel when the religion sponsored by the State is radically different than their own? How are they going to feel when those loosey-goosey Unitarians come to power? Or, heaven forbid, the Catholics and their pope? Maintaining a wide boundary between church and state is the only way to ensure that we are ALL protected to worship who, how, and IF we wish.

Sent by Anne Kinney | 4:20 PM ET | 10-09-2007

Mr. McCain has become risible lately, because while I understand that a change of mind can happen, going from calling Jerry Falwell and co. "agents of intolerance" to boldly asserting that America is a Christian nation (all this while on campaign) is just an insult to the voter's intelligence. He's clearly pandering to the Christian right voters he hopes will get him the nomination. His comments should (and in fact ought to) be quickly forgotten, as they add nothing to the 'freedom of religion' debate. On that point, while the first amendment was originally intended to keep the state out of church affairs (and not the other way around), the Founders themselves could be viewed as more humanistic than religious. They were not fundamentalists in any way (and that's why the word God isn't anywhere on the Constitution). They saw however, that one of the purposes of (any) religion is to encourage values, and if there is anything they had to say about it I'm sure it'd be along those lines

Sent by Alex Medina | 5:15 PM ET | 10-09-2007

Well...while there's nothing in the consitution to make us officially a "Christian nation," I think it's silly to pretend that we're not in terms of historical or cultural predominance or power, for better or worse. So are most other Western nations--isn't that part of what makes us "Western"? Also, being a "Christian nation" doesn't mean that YOU have to be a practicing Christian, just like Afghanistan is certainly a Islamic state--but you can be sure there are some Christians there. The nice thing about the US is that it IS extremely tolerant, in the historical sense: dissidents/atheists/whatever are not summarily executed (well, here's hoping...), but permitted to continue in their ways.

Sent by Katie | 11:35 AM ET | 10-10-2007

Yes Katie, on the whole, we are much more tolerant, but Atheists are openly discriminated against with regards to being able hold public office in our country. Most states currently have laws barring someone who does not profess belief in a higher power of some sort from holding any sort of public office. Tell me how that's not government mandated religion, and tell me how that's constitutional.

I find it all ironic, considering that the basis for that kind of discrimination usually involves the assertion that one cannot be 'ethical' without religious faith of some sort. Even more ironic, is that many secular, humanist ethical systems (like Utilitarianism, Kantian Universalism, or even Social Contract Theory) are more practical, rational, and compassionate than the 'ethics' prescribed by Christian (or Muslim, or Jewish) religious dogma. Not only that, you don't even need to adopt a set of unproven (and likely unprovable) beliefs about the nature of reality to follow them. Neat, huh?

Sent by angsty | 4:16 PM ET | 10-10-2007

In his letters Thomas Jefferson coined the phrase "wall of separation between church and state" to describe what the Founding Fathers were trying to acheive, because it was deemed necessary to protect both organized religion AND the government. While I agree that the majority of Americans have always been Christian AND that Christianity has been highly influential, indeed the dominant influence, on our culture, McCain is pandering for the far right vote but he probably won't get the nomination. If he does, those words may come back to haunt him. The Marxists found out first hand what happens when you try to dictate spiritual beliefs through the government, in that case demanding athiesm: while communism slowly dies, religion is still here. Wish the Christian fundamentalists would pay attention to that.

Sent by John R. Otten | 7:38 PM ET | 10-10-2007

I would like to see this nation move past religion when in comes to politics. Religion divides people and the nation is in a critical stage where more separation will damn us. Religion is used in politics to stir controversy or fear and it is not fair to use this smoke screen to take attention away from real issues like health care and illegal immigration.

Sent by Cory Palletti | 9:20 PM ET | 10-11-2007

It is amazing how many intelligent people equate "morality" with "christianity." That until the "10 Commandments" came down from on high, previous generations or those humans who are not christians, are incapable of figuring out that murdering, thieving, and adultry are not good things. Or that people may decide to not commit these acts for any other reason than punishment from God.

Sent by Ana Tristan | 8:09 PM ET | 10-12-2007

Simple-minded bunk. McCain might as well say, vote for me 'cause I'll be the one to pound us back to the stone age quicker than those other yahoos can. Since 9/11 these "believers" have done a bang up job of preying on fear and little else. Don't believe it? Take a look at the money trail for Home Land Defense. Look in your back yard and ask yourself just how many small towns need one more shinny new fire truck to fend off Armageddon? In that regard, my little town did hit the jackpot.

Anyway, it's like so passe to think we are still a nation with open arms and room for all. Racism, intolerance, you name it, it still exist and just as ugly as ever no matter how one wishes to dress it. If we are to remain a true to democracy by definition alone then the GOD factor has no place in our system and certainly no place as a political litmus test. And why should this topic be limited to politics, hasn't "Jesus" already invaded everything from football to police associations?

King George and his court will go down dismantling separation of church and state right to the very end, while candidates espousing real change will still be looking for their spines. Sad indeed.

(Tom, Canada is just smarter.)

Sent by George Gekas | 8:22 PM ET | 10-13-2007

America is not a Christian nation which requires faith in Christianity. However it is a nation with a Christian majority founded by those heavily influenced by Christian culture and teachings. There is a potential case to be made that the Christian era's progression toward individual human rights over authoritarian and totalitarian governments has at least some of it's roots in the decentralization of power brought about by the Protestant reformation which in turn was the spread of Christian teachings to the average person. Ideas of freedom and empowerment for the faithful can be seen directly in New Testament writings from early Christians. The case made in the bible is for a Christ-inspired or Christ-empowered freedom from what some would say is a natural tendency toward sin and self-destruction. This internal freedom ultimately creates the social conditions which discourage external, political enslavement that would otherwise be a natural result of man's internal slavery to sin.

Here are a few New Testament passages supporting this, which NPR can feel free to trim if desired. Note these particular references to freedom, so central to founding fathers and our modern American political thinking

Romans 8:21
"...that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God..."

2 Corinthians 3:17
16 "...But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect[a] the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit..."

Galatians 2:4
"...This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves..."

Galatians 5:1
"...[ Freedom in Christ ] It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery..."

Galatians 5:13
"...You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love..."

Ephesians 3:12
"...In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence..."

Colossians 2:6
[ Freedom From Human Regulations Through Life With Christ ] "...So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him... "

James 1:25
"...But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it ... he will be blessed in what he does..."

James 2:12
"...Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom..."

1 Peter 2:16
"...Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God..."

2 Peter 2:19
"(some false prophets)...entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity ... for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. 20If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning."

Now all that said, the danger in calling attention to Christian sources of inspiration for Western political thought is that these facts can become fodder for bigots who would paradoxically have nothing in common with Jesus' actual teachings. The question becomes: are the possible harmful consequences of this line of thinking worth the potential social costs to a modern, pluralistic and diverse society that the U.S. has become?

Sent by Greg Fiorella | 10:25 PM ET | 10-13-2007

Actually, the "10 Commandments" were (and are) Jewish -- they were given to the Jews thousands of years before Jesus was born. I wonder how many of the religious right have ever thought about that.

Sent by N Grady | 11:02 AM ET | 10-14-2007

Looking at this historically, the United States was founded and organized by Christians in general. Note: "one nation under GOD." It's a shame that some states now are omitting that from the Pledge of Allegiance. We were once a Christian nation. But not anymore. Now we have citizens that live by the other end of the "religious spectrum."

Sent by Abigail Rice | 12:58 PM ET | 10-14-2007

Mr. McCain, because he is an American, is perfectly free to state any way that he feels about religion in politics. America is a predominantly Christian nation and no matter what, religion will always play its part in politics. However, as Alex above wrote, it is extremely difficult to trust a man who says one thing and then later disregards his criticism to others by being intolerant himself. America is supposed to be a place where everyone can practice their beliefs without judgment. I find it very disturbing that a man who is vying for the presidency can plainly state he feels more comfortable with Christianity. The founding values of this country grant Americans tolerance, equality and acceptance. Mr. McCain is simply proving his ignorance by being so prejudiced and trying to use the Constitution to imply his own personal beliefs.

Sent by Stephen Sanders | 2:21 PM ET | 10-14-2007

Well going with the last comment "one nation under god" wasn't added until 1954. The pledge of allegiance has been changed many times since it was created. Yes we are a mainly christian population and in many ways it is our main religion but I don't think it should get mixed up in our government. When you have church and state mixed up you start oppressing other religions. I believe that is the same reason we started leaving England in the first to place wasn't it?

Sent by John McCoy | 2:28 PM ET | 10-14-2007

Most people think that the choices they make are the right ones for everyone and being a christian makes them right over others. I'm ok with whoever a person wants to worship but when people start speaking of it on air, I think people should keep their religion to themselves.

Sent by CT | 3:43 PM ET | 10-14-2007

Religion, as Jesus practiced it, was a means of inclusion of different peoples.

Religion, as practiced by the conservatives in this country, is a means of exclusion, of dividing people.

The fundamentalists in this country are not technically Jesus-followers in my mind; they are followers of others who came after him.

If this group of conservative people manages to get control of politics, they will be like Saddam's party in Iraq or the white Russians in the Soviet Union - an unpopular minority trying to rule the majority.

Or, perhaps that's what's wrong with the Bush Administration?

Jesus deliberately refused to become a political leader. In my mind, a true follower of Jesus would do the same.

Sent by J Rhinehart | 4:02 PM ET | 10-14-2007

God is a huge influence on this country. Christian people establised this country and have helped make it what it is today.

Sent by mathew edmonson | 6:51 PM ET | 10-14-2007

This country should be run by a christian president. Talking with God first would solve all of our problems and then we would have no problems.

Sent by Karyn Harris | 10:30 PM ET | 10-14-2007

This country was founded upon Judeo-Christian principles. It does not mean that everyone in the U.S. is a Christian. It is simply basis upon which our laws were formed, and therefore the nation was formed.

Sent by Mo | 1:36 AM ET | 10-15-2007

I'm not sure that Mathew Edmonson's comments are positive statements...considering what exactly the US is today.

Sent by Emily | 4:53 AM ET | 10-15-2007

Methinks the statement that all problems would be eliminated if our President would talk first with God (comment by Karyn Harris) may not actually be true. It has been noted by many that our current President talks with God (or at least claims to) more than any other President in the modern era, and we sure seem to have plenty of persisting problems. Plus, the vast majority of our Presidents have been Christians of one stripe or another. Talking with God (presumably via prayer) is fine and perhaps to be encouraged (via whatever religion one chooses to follow), but effective leaders need to have lots of conversations with many many learned people in order to gather the cross-section of information needed to make genuinely wise decisions. Sadly, our current President is not disposed to talking with those who don't share his already preformed opinions.

Sent by JamesK | 6:09 AM ET | 10-15-2007

It is truly amazing how politicians today are trying to incorporate "God" into their campaigns and interviews it seems as though they are trying to scare or persuade the followers of "God" into believing them.

Sent by Christina Hileman | 7:53 AM ET | 10-15-2007

The United States was founded by Deists not Christians. Their god was not a personal one. I am not convinced that the effect of Christian belief has overall been positive on US history. (Christians supported slavery as well as its end.) We are a great nation when we embrace truth and justice despite our religious differences. In the end, like people, their our good Christians and bad Christians and I can not pick out Christians by their exemplary behavior--nor Muslims etc.

Sent by Liz | 8:48 AM ET | 10-15-2007

Karyn, Dubya talks to God all the time. After 7 years, do you honestly think that neither he nor we as a nation have no problems? That should be evidence your theory has no value.

Sent by Brian Questel | 9:04 AM ET | 10-15-2007

saying that there are Judeo-Christian values evidences a lack of depth of knowledge of both religions as they differ greatly. and "in God we trust" was added to the pledge of allegiance by Eisenhower who was pandering to Congress. we can be a nation of majority Christians without needing to be a Christian nation. Particularly as those didn't work out so well in the Medieval Ages.

Sent by J | 11:46 AM ET | 10-15-2007

McCain's just stirring up publicity. He's always been the Republican's whipp'n boy out to grab a few votes from the not so democratic democrats. Remember, publicuty is free but advertising is not. McCain's a pawn. I can't see why anyone listens to anything the man says any more to tell you the truth.

By far the most popular religion in America is Christianity. A short drive through any decent sized city in any state will prove that to anyone. I have no problem with that and I have no problem with the word "God" in the various parts of our society either be it government, schools, coinage etc. But, the placing of a hand on a Bible in a court room while swearing an oath to "tell the truth" is simply insane in my opinion. In the Bible it is mentioned to not swear by heaven because it's not yours to swear by... umm, isn't heaven mentioned several times in that book? Besides that it just seems counter intuitive to swear by a book that is full of unproven, unsubstantiated claims that are on the same factual or logical level of the greek myths. It's a book that says over and over again that belief is to be sought more than proof. Every time I see someone asked to put their hand on a Bible and swear an oath my stomache just crawls and several words flash through my mind: ignorance, rednecks, mobs, inquisition, crusades, lynchings. It makes absolutely no sense from any angle - especially to one that really really believes what's written in that book.

Sent by Bryon | 11:57 AM ET | 10-15-2007

Persecution comes from good people trying to make other people good. I don't doubt the Religious Right's sincerity, but in their desire to make us a Christian nation, that's what they are doing--and that's the problem. Let's get back to converting individuals and leave trying to save our whole society. That's in God's hands, not ours.

Sent by Teresa Thompson | 12:46 PM ET | 10-15-2007

That America is a Christian nation is and has always been true. America was colonized by religious extremists cast out of mainly secular european society.
That and entrepenuers looking to exploit the wealth of the New World. What a horrid mixture of people to start a country! Gold-diggers and Bible-thumpers, that's where we're at and that's who runs this train wreck of a country! Ultra-religious, white, rich business men who think the Earth is their dominion under almighty God! Here's an interesting fact. Nearly half the population of the U.S. actually believes in the "Devil". Northern Ireland is right behind us at 43%. The REST of the World doesn't get above the 30% range and is usually much lower than this. The most powerful nation on Earth and we still think there's a red, cloven-hoofed satyr making people do evil things. Sad......

Sent by Adam Leadingham | 4:54 PM ET | 10-15-2007

Based on just passed history American was and still is at its roots based in faith namily Christian. We have as a whole drifted away from the fundimentals.We have gone to the understanding that everyone can believe what they desire. Now the founding fathers desired a whole nation to be united and one. This is not the case any more. One day it will be again though.

Sent by A. Johnson | 5:45 PM ET | 10-15-2007

America was formed from a christian christian backbone, by christians, following the guidelines of christian practice. they simply wanted people to be able to practice whatever religion they want too. because we are a christian nation doesnt mean all our citizens are christians, it simply means we follow the guidelines and laws based on christianity

Sent by zac lay | 6:10 PM ET | 10-15-2007

I believe are nation should be run by someone that keeps their religous beliefs to themselfs.Whatever religion they believe in is fine as long as they do not try to influence the nation with their beliefs.

Sent by Zach Westfall | 6:15 PM ET | 10-15-2007

I don't believe in God. He is nothing more then a bedtime story to make us feel better and feel that there is a life after death. I don't think that this will affect our government. I don't care what God they pray to as long as they swear to protect our nation from all enemies to the best of your abilities.

Sent by kyle robison | 6:31 PM ET | 10-15-2007

What ever happened to the separation of church and state? Is America looking for a Christian to run the country or is America looking for the best candidate to run the country. I read earlier that freedom of religion should also mean freedom from religion. This is so true in my opinion.

Sent by Teresia T | 6:38 PM ET | 10-15-2007

America as a Christian nation is kind of comparable to a gay kid experimenting with coming out of the closet. Sometimes it's fiercely proud of being Christian. Sometimes it's not ruled by any religion and there's a freedom of religion and like the gay kid, was "just joking" to see how others would react. We do seem to hate Muslims and most Christians hate Muslims...

Sent by Eric Frankland | 7:20 PM ET | 10-17-2007

That's a pretty broad and harmful generalization. The very foundation of Christianity is love, not hate. Thus, hating anyone is in and of itself un-Christian in nature. Boiled down; I don't hate Muslims, and I doubt many true Christians do - are they uncomfortable with other religions? Sure, but hate doesn't help bring others into our faith and is essentialy counter-productive.

This is all a red herring issue anyway, the GOP candidates cow to my religion, get elected, keep gay marriage and abortion around and allow everything that keeps America from being a Christian nation going. But what do I know; I'm just a college kid.

Sent by Billy E. | 11:30 PM ET | 10-17-2007

If America were truly a Christian nation, we would as a nation be following what Jesus taught. Why is it that none of the "Christian" candidates have suggested anything even remotely similar?
"Love your enemies as you love yourself..." How's that for a foreign policy? Even though many politicians claim to be "Christians," you don't see many of them going out of their way to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, visit the prisoner, or do any of the other things Jesus told his followers to do. "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."
That's what a Christian nation would be doing. Both Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr got their nonviolent countercultural ideas from reading the words of Jesus. Why are those who claim to be leading a "Christian Nation" not doing the same? Its a crying shame that Jesus is used as a political toy for those who openly support wars, greed, and looking out for self interest anytime it conflicts with that of another.

Sent by K | 2:00 AM ET | 02-19-2008