is america a christian nation? (part 3)

Here is the last bit from the First Freedom First web site:

IS AMERICA A CHRISTIAN NATION? A Dialogue On Religion And Politics In The 21st Century

Rev. Dr. Gaddy leads the national nonpartisan grassroots and educational organizations, The Interfaith Alliance and The Interfaith Alliance Foundation, and serves as Pastor for Preaching and Worship at Northminster (Baptist) Church.

Rev. Barry W. Lynn is Executive Director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, and a member of the Supreme Court bar.

Here are some excerpts:

GADDY:It is time for us to renew our national commitment to this nation’s first freedom and to state in unequivocal terms our support for religious liberty and for the separation of church and state. Some people will do this out of their love for religion and others, quite frankly, will do it out of their fear of religion, and still others will do it out of respect and appreciation for secular government — government free from the competition, controversy, and violence that often erupts in the absence of religious freedom and in the presence of a merger between religion and government.

That is the intent of First Freedom First. The Interfaith Alliance Foundation and Americans United for Separation of Church and State aim to call the nation back to its first freedom and to encourage individuals to engage in a tangible expression of a renewed commitment to religious liberty by signing a petition of support for this precious treasure.

LYNN: First Freedom First is using a variety of methods to tell the common-sense story of why separation of church and state was the right model for America over 200 years ago, and is still the right model in 2006 when we find 1,500 different religions and 20 million freethinkers, humanists, and non-believers all working and living together in our country. Indeed, this principle of separation may be the greatest intellectual contribution of the United States.


We “previewed” this campaign at some old fashioned house parties on the Fourth of July; we have just unveiled a new internet website which informs visitors about the core issues of the project, and enables them to sign a petition with very specific objectives - a petition to be presented to the heads of major political parties before the 2008 Presidential election cycle. While absolutely avoiding the endorsement of any candidates, we want these issues to become a significant part of the public policy debate.

GADDY: So much is at stake in this effort that is of essential importance in the preservation of the uniqueness of our national experience — every person free to worship or not to worship, to believe or not believe, with no political advantage or denial of access to civil rights assigned to either one of those postures, and assurance of civil and social respect, liberty and justice for all.

My first day on the job of being president of The Interfaith Alliance Foundation, the great American icon — still known as “the most trusted man in America” — took me aside to speak to me of the challenge of my work. Walter Cronkite, who, I am delighted to say, is one of the first signers of the petition, said to me: “Nothing less is at stake in this work which you do than the fate of democracy as we have known it.”

And so it is in our work to reclaim the priority of protecting and guaranteeing our nation’s First Freedom. We need every one of you to be supportive of First Freedom First and to be involved.

That is the last of that paper. I hope you enjoyed it like I did. It had some great thoughts and sentiments.


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One Response to “is america a christian nation? (part 3)”

  1. Beth Says:
    March 8th, 2007 at 7:58 pm

    Thanks for your support of First Freedom First!

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