Colonial America Not That Christian By Neil Nissenbaum Christian apologists and televangel

Colonial America Not That Christian

By Neil Nissenbaum

Christian apologists and televangelists, bent on proving America a
"Christian" nation, generally look to the alleged piety of colonial
Americans. This erroneous claim is also utilized to show America's
"fall" into secular humanism and atheism.

Colonial America was not that Christian, contrary to apologist claims
and declarations. Tony Campolo, a well-known Christian educator,
author, and evangelist, stated on the "700 Club," much to Pat
Robertson's chagrin, that there were very few Christians in colonial
America. He also said that America could not be called Christian on the
basis of its colonial population. (He then went on to credit this tiny
group of believers for making America good and great, which was a
stretch by any means. The credit surely goes to the great majority who
were not believers.)

Campolo's statement is confirmed in The Perfect Crisis: The Beginning
Of The Revolutionary War, by Neil R. Stout (New York University Press,
1976). Stout credited information about church membership to
Hofstadter's America At 1750.

"America's religious life was just as paradoxical. Many colonies had
established churches; Anglican in the south and Congregationalist in
New England. Even Rhode Island, founded as an experiment in religious
freedom, limited full citizenship to Trinitarian Protestants. America
had gone through one of history's biggest revival movements--The Great
Awakening--during the 1740's, and its effects were still felt in 1774.
Political speeches and even business transactions were liberally
sprinkled with biblical quotations. Newspapers and magazines constantly
printed theological discussion. America probably had more religious
sects living side by side than any other area of the western world.

However, church membership was probably the lowest in American
history.  Even in New England, founded as the 'New Wilderness Zion' and
where Sunday blue laws were still strictly enforced, only one person in
seven was a church member. South of New England the average was less
than half that. This was not because the churches made admission to
communion difficult; indeed, the clergy were so worried about the loss
of membership that there were hardly any restrictions. It is evident
that, whatever Americans' private religious beliefs, there were not
much taken with organized religion."

Ideas, suggestions, leads and references welcome. Mail to Neil
Nissenbaum may be addressed c/o FFRF, Inc., for direct forwarding.


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This article is reprinted (with permission) from the April
1993 issue of Freethought Today, bulletin of the Freedom
From Religion Foundation.

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