in political science, Divisiveness, Politics, War 1,073 Words

Is The United States of America a Christian Nation? – Part 1

Christian Nationalists love to say that the United States was founded as a Christian nation. That is simply not true.

Read the Declaration of Independence. Read the U.S. Constitution.

You will not find the word, “Christian.” You will not find the name “Jesus.”

The documents acknowledge a creator, but they do not in any way call for a national religion. In fact, read the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It makes it illegal for the United States to make any laws respecting the establishment of religion. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

That is the First Amendment. Our country’s founders were so adamant about that issue, they made it the First Amendment.

Americans, under our Constitution, are free to practice any religion they choose. They are free to practice no religion whatsoever.

In my March 27, 2026 blog post, Meanwhile, Trump continues to lower the bar, I made the statement, “The United States of America is not a theocracy… yet.”

Americans have the First Amendment, but there are forces working in the background and in the not so “back” background who are determined to make the United States a Christian nation. Stay tuned. Even when President Trump is no more, the Christian Nationalists who prop him up will still be among us.

A meme with the words of the First Amendment with the American flag in the background
The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America

One example of how Christian Nationalists are not-so-silently imposing their extreme beliefs through their positions in government is Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. He holds a monthly Christian service at the Pentagon. Attendance is technically not mandatory, but we all know how such an event at one’s place of employment can be in actuality.

We have an all-volunteer military since the draft was ended on January 27, 1973. Our military personnel come from various religious backgrounds. In other words, they are not all Christians, and besides, all Christians are not in agreement on details of the faith. The number of Christian denominations proves that.

At the Pentagon service on March 25, 2026, Hegseth prayed for “righteous targets for violence” and “overwhelming violence against those who deserve no mercy.”

Photo of praying hands
Photo by Deb Dowd on Unsplash

“Righteous targets for violence” and “overwhelming violence against those who deserve no mercy.” Let those words sink in. As a member of a congregation affiliated with the Presbyterian Church USA, I find that prayer offensive.

As I interpret it, a “righteous target” for our Department of Defense would be a target acceptable to God. The insinuation of Hegseth’s prayer is that God is on our side. Even if Hegseth believes that in his heart, it runs counter to United States tradition and principles. We do not see our wars as “holy wars,” but that is the impression Hegseth’s prayer gives.

(In contrast, it is my understanding that Iran sees its war against Israel and the United States as a holy war. In Iran today, there is no separation of church and state.)

It is not in the tradition or history of the U.S. for the Secretary of Defense to use words like “righteous target” or pray for “overwhelming violence against those who deserve no mercy.” If that is the mindset of our Secretary of Defense, he has a frightening interpretation of the foundation of our nation and the religious position of the U.S. military. The U.S. military has never had a religious position or religious mission.

“Overwhelming violence against those who deserve no mercy” goes along with Hegseth’s earlier statement that we will “give no quarter.” “Give no quarter” translates to “take no prisoners alive.” In addition to being against international law, that is not the way the United States operates. If it is, that is not what we’ve been told.

Does Hegseth want the Iranians to “give no quarter” if they capture members of our military? I doubt it. But what message does it send for our Secretary of Defense to make such statements?

The Washington Post reported, “Later that day, his department announced military chaplains would no longer wear their rank on their uniform and instead would wear religious insignia.”

On Sunday, March 29, The Washington Post reported, “Retired Army Maj. Gen. Randy Manner, who was second-in-command of the National Guard from 2011 to 2012, has worked in recent years to train hundreds of interfaith military chaplains. Manner said he has talked with ‘dozens and dozens’ of active-duty chaplains in recent weeks who say those who don’t identify with Hegseth ‘are being marginalized.’ They feel they can’t voice their concerns to their own superiors, he said, and feel their work as the primary advocate for troops’ spiritual, mental and moral health is being threatened.”

It has been reported that Hegseth has cut the number of faith codes within the military from 200 to 31 to remove “political correctness and secular humanism” from the Chaplain Corps.

Hegseth has brought his pastor into presentations at the Pentagon. This is a narrow-minded man who says women should not have the right to vote. That tells me all I need to know about Hegseth’s very small Christian denomination and its views about more the half the world’s population.

The Washington Post reported that the traditional norms that kept religious beliefs and individual religious affiliations of the top brass at the Pentagon out of their official dealings, “are being upended by the proselytizing Christian campaign of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, say multiple former high-ranking military officials and experts on religion and law. Rather than boosting cohesion through a more universal spiritual uplift, they say, the new approach violates the Constitution and undermines the bonds of mutual respect between troops that are essential, especially in wartime.”

Religion and government are not a match made in heaven. Everyone in government – and that includes the military — brings their beliefs with them, but they are never to force their religious beliefs on another person, co-workers, or the entire nation through their position of power or influence.

It appears that Secretary Hegseth’s possible affinity for alcohol, which was a topic of concern emphasized during his Congressional confirmation hearings, is turning out to be the least of our concerns about him.

Watch for Part 2 of this blog topic tomorrow, when I will look into what Jesus had to say about the government.

Janet

The government should be afraid of its citizens, not the other way around.

23 thoughts on “Is The United States of America a Christian Nation? – Part 1”

  1. Thomas Jefferson specifically spoke out against a state religious in one of the few books he wrote. That has been the official stance for 250 years in the USA. The Christian Nationalists are blowing it out their neither regions.

    Liked by 2 people

  2. One of the most beautiful aspects of the birth and development of the United States is that it was founded as a republic, no kings, no state religion, and as a country whose people would be free from most impositions placed upon them by European monarchies of the time. It is incredible that in the XXIst Century there are people in the actual government administration that would espouse such puritanical and closed-minded ideas. I am not criticising anyone for their beliefs…no matter how twisted or bizarre…but personal beliefs have no room in government administrations. I think the US is a Christian nation as I believe that Europe is a Christian continent, but only in spirit and culturally. Individually people can be…and are…whatever they choose. God gave us free will, how dare a man…or a government…deny it. Thank you Janet for a very important article and for invaluable information. I hope it serves for the better good and that it is assimilated by those who disagree and makes them think a bit. After all, if they try to push for their agenda, there could be an administration in the future that can then, having the precedence set, impose atheism, dialectical materialism or communism. All the best to you! And may God help you and bless you as you continue to inform us.

    Liked by 3 people

  8. Yes it is, Nia. I fear there’s soon coming a time that those documents will look like hieroglyphics to half of the Americans. It falls into the same category as our military ending the requirement that our personnel learn the Morse Code. “After all, we have computers and cell phones now. We’ll never need that skill again.” Don’t they realize how important it has been for POWs to communicate during war time? Short-sighted!

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  10. My blood pressure has always been low, but I don’t know how much longer I can maintain that. No one deserved to be fired more than prissy Pam Bondi today, but what will replace her? No doubt someone just as snarky and loyal to the orange man.

    Liked by 2 people

  11. Thank you, Francis. You always response with such deep sincerity and well-chosen words. I thought some readers would expect a blog post about the war in Iran from me today, but I stuck by my original plan to blog today and tomorrow about Christian Nationalism. Too many people are so short-sighted and narrow-minded that they think all Christians believe the same thing. You and I know that couldn’t be further from the true. I have little or nothing in common with the extreme Evangelicals as their brand of Jesus does not in any way resemble the Jesus who is my Savior. For their brand of “Christianity” to be forced on my country would be no better than Islam to be forced on it. They have somehow not grasped the concept of freewill. They are apparently told every Sunday that anyone whose beliefs differ from theirs does not deserve to breathe the air and live. They believe they can force Christianity in the schools regardless of the fact that all students — and all teachers — are not Christian. Forcing it in our schools smacks of Shira Law. It gives the parents the easy way out. It relieves them of the responsibility to teach and model the love of Christ in their homes. And, as you say, we know not what religion or laws against all religious beliefs could be forced on us one day. Thank you, as always, for your comments. Tomorrow I’ll address the Scripture I think the Christian Nationalists use as fuel for their misguided proclamations.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. I thank you, Janet for your dedication and due diligence in bringing out this matter which is of great importance. And it is always a pleasure to read your posts, and all of your work. I look forward to tomorrow’s post.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. My blood pressure had always been low but not anymore. (My doc said when I asked her that it’s an age thing.) When the orange abomination starts throwing his lackies under the bus, he knows he’s in big trouble.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Sorry about your blood pressure, Liz. No doubt, mine will be elevated at my next medical appointment. No one can be more snarky and loyal to Trump than Pam Bondi. Good riddance, but will Blanche or whomever he replaces her with be any less snarky and loyal? I’m afraid not. Looks like he will surely get rid of all the women in the cabinet. And now Hegseth forces the head of the Joint Chiefs to immediately retire. Another day, two more firings. What else is new in this circus?

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  20. I have to disagree even in public school they teach that it was founded by Christian’s (Puritans). The fact that persecution still exists, is such a truth about the situation. That’s what we I believe we originally fled England from. Trump is solid in his faith and I back him completely. He has made America great again by fact of establishment of branch of faith and national day of prayer in our lifetime that happened. Couldn’t possibly ask for a better situation as a Christian. Along with his bringing to justice the anti-Semitic and anti-Christian groups of people. I am now copying this msg and going to go back and read what you wrote this was purely on the title. Follow up, I didn’t feel had to read further than establishment of freedom of religion, this was Christianity, escaping persecution from the Roman Catholic Church.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. You are free to have your opinion, just like I am. The fact that you and I can completely disagree, yet have a conversation, is what makes America great. It certainly isn’t anything Trump is doing. I do find it sad that anyone thinks Trump is “solid in his faith.” I cannot think of one thing he has said or done that demonstrates he has any faith or belief in a higher power than himself. If nothing else, I can point to his statements in the last week alone. Jesus Christ is not in Trump’s thinking or speaking.

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  23. The National Day of Prayer dates back to 1952. The Department of Faith and Office of Faith make his followers feel good but Trump shows by his words and actions that he is devoid of faith. He does these things for show. These are all artificial, outward displays and are all just part of the show. He does not live by any faith in a higher being. He is a narcissist. He neither respects nor fears God. He has dismantled every program in the federal government that benefitted the poor and downtrodden. Stopping USAID, stopping medical research, dismantling the CDC…. wreaking havoc with the environment…. and the truth is not in him. I stand by my stance that I have never seen anything Christian in him.

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