THE DIVERSITY DEMON By: Al Cronkrite

The New World was initially settled by Reformed Christians of English origin. Though there were differences, both the Pilgrims and the Puritans adhered to the Reformed Faith.

As the colonies established themselves they became a magnet for Christian groups with divergent theological views. Congregationalists, Lutherans, Anglicans, Moravians, Presbyterians, Quakers, Heugenots, Amish, Brethern, Mennonite, Dutch Reformed, and Roman Catholics planted seeds in the available fertile ground, all put down roots and grew.

Efforts to maintain the exclusivity of the Reformed Faith were futile. The Thirteen Colonies became a potpourri of diverse Christianity. Following the Revolutionary War more denominations were established: Episcopals, Methodists, Universalists, Unitarians, and Mormans all developed substantial followings.

When the Constitution was constructed in the late Eighteenth Century there were so many religious denominations that any attempt to designate a preference would have opened a hornets nest. A number of the colonies themselves had competing official religions. The First Article of the Bill of Rights addressed this issue by removing the right of the government to establish a particular religion and guaranteeing the right of all religions to exist.

Though it was common for the State Constitutions of the original thirteen colonies to mention the name of the Savior, the Constitution for the United States of America did not. Delaware was the first colony to ratify the new document in December 1787. Legislatures of many of the thirteen colonies produced significant resistance. With a vote of 34 yeas and 32 nays, Rhode Island was the last colony to ratify in May of 1790. Of the total votes cast by all colonies there was one nay for every two yeas.

Though our fledgling nation was ninety eight percent Christian, conflicting theologies

Full Article...

Sphere: Related Content