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christian nation

Many of our religious friends falsely believe the United States is a christian nation. This is false for a lot of reasons, including:

Treaty of Tripoli, 1796, 1806

"This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding."

(Article VI, Section II, United States Constitution)
Gentlemen of the Senate:
I lay before you, for your consideration and advice, a treaty of perpetual peace and friendship between the United States of America and the Bey and subjects of Tripoli, of Barbary, concluded at Tripoli, on the 4th day of November, 1796.
John Adams
United States, May 26th, 1797.
The Senate proceeded to consider the message of the President of the United States, of the 29th instant, and the treaty therewith communicated, between the United States the Bey and subjects of Tripoli, of Barbary.
ARTICLE 11.
As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense 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.
Source of Information:
Treaties and other International Acts of the United States of America, Volume 2, Documents 1-40; 1776-1818, edited by Hunter Miller, United States Government Printing Office, Washington: 1931. pp 364-66)
Promoting Understanding of Religious Suffering

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