July 2004
Dear friend of KHCS,
Was America really founded by Deists and
agnostics, as so many claim?
Did President John Adams really write,
“The government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the
Christian religion”?
Let’s take this last question first.
The quotation is from the 1796 Treaty
of Tripoli, Article 11. This was one of eight treaties to put down
piracy against American vessels along the Barbary Coast of North
Africa.
Article 11, reads, in its entirety:
“As the government of the United States of America is not founded on the
Christian religion, -as it has in itself no character of enmity against
the laws, religion or tranquility 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.”
Now, Presidents do not write
treaties. Diplomats do. And in this case, the original treaty was in
Arabic and the American translator was Joel Barlow.
The kicker is this: about three years
later it was discovered that Barlow’s English translation of the Arabic
treaty contained many inaccuracies. In fact, Article 11 did not even
exist in the original treaty!
We can now only speculate as to why
Barlow inserted this bizarre phrase. But, when the treaty was revisited
in 1805, the part about America not being “founded on the Christian
religion” was removed.
Scoffers also declare that our founders
were not true Christians. But, when the Constitution was being drafted,
there was a great deal of debate over whether or not public office should
be open only to Christians. Some citizens expressed concern that
“Pagans, Deists and Mahometans might obtain offices among us.” Just think
about that ─ if our founders
were all Deists and pagans, why would anyone worry that they might hold
public office?
As we celebrate America’s liberty this
July 4th, let us remember the words of Thomas Jefferson, the
author of the Declaration, who wrote in 1781: “God who gave us life gave
us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be
thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in
the minds of the people that these liberties are the Gift of God.”
Let us all take up the cause of
preserving the freedoms for which so many before us have given their
lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.
You may be called to serve in the
military, or to run for public office.
You may be led to write letters to the newspapers
supporting such truths as I have presented in this letter. God may want
you to financially support organizations that work to preserve our
freedoms to pray, to worship, and practice our faith.
I do hope that you will also do your
part in the support of the listener-supported, non-commercial ministry of
KHCS.
We are now operating from our new studio
location, and have just two weeks to move our old equipment. This will
become a backup system that will better enable us to serve you. However,
we are still far short of the funds needed to finalize this project. I
hope you can assist us with a special, one-time tax-deductible
contribution of $100, $200, $500 or whatever you can afford. Your
faithful support is always very much appreciated.
In His
joy!
Glen Kippel
General Manager
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