America's True History of Religious Tolerance

[AsahinaKimi]

The idea that the United States has always been a bastion of religious freedom is reassuring—and utterly at odds with the historical record
By Kenneth C. Davis
Smithsonian magazine, October 2010

Wading into the controversy surrounding an Islamic center planned for a site near New York City’s Ground Zero memorial this past August, President Obama declared: “This is America. And our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakeable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country and that they will not be treated differently by their government is essential to who we are.” In doing so, he paid homage to a vision that politicians and preachers have extolled for more than two centuries—that America historically has been a place of religious tolerance. It was a sentiment George Washington voiced shortly after taking the oath of office just a few blocks from Ground Zero.

But is it so?

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Americas-True-History-of-Religious-Tolerance.html

[XemaSab]

1. George Washington was inaugurated near Ground Zero?

Sheesh, talk about political grandstanding. :P

[NoPasaran]

3. You win the thread

Well done!

[onager]

2. More on the Bible Wars...

When Philadelphia's board of education voted in 1843 to allow Catholic children to be excused from religious exercises and Bible readings, Protestants rioted. Catholic churches and the homes of Catholic families were burned. Thirteen people were mercilessly killed.

This was the worst incident, although smaller incidents broke out across the country as the years progressed. In 1854, a missionary priest in Maine was tarred and feathered for daring to urge a parishioner to fight a local school board regulation forcing all students to read the King James Bible. Eventually, the violence in communities all over the country was a principle cause behind the creation of the Catholic school system.

Because they could not achieve equality in government-funded schools, they were forced to create their own.

It is amazing that contemporary conservative Catholics have forgotten their own history and are today calling for a return of prayers, bible reading and other forms of religious observance to America's public schools. Have they bothered to think about this for even a moment?

http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/christian/blfaq_viol_biblewars.htm

[Nikki Stone1]

4. The abortion issue has brought conservative Catholics and Protestants together

All conservative Christians can agree on misogyny.