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Reply to "The Continental Confederation Congress, Religion, And 20,000 Bibles!"

Originally Posted by CrustyMac:
<Omitted in order to conserve space and to address the specific question>

 

Question for you, why do you believe the Continental Congress sought to acquire bibles? And are we a Christian Nation, or a nation that supports freedom of all religions?

I will go about this backwards, first question answered last.

 

I'll repeat a quote attributed to Patrick Henry.  I do not have the reference at this time though:

 

“It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.”


I think that was worded as well as it could be.  Quite probably if the nation had been founded by Muslims then it would have been Korans, we, and congress would pray five times a day bowed toward Mecca but this country wasn't.  It was founded by Christians and for anyone Christian or not to enjoy the freedoms that were patterned after Christian Freedom in Christ.


As to the first part of your question the beginning of the request started when a Committee was formed by Congress, July 7, 1777:  Journal of Congress pg. 536

 A petition from the Rev. F[rancis] Allison, J[ohn] Ewing, and W[illiam] Marshall, was read:2

Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Daniel] Roberdeau, Mr. J[ohn] Adams, and Mr. J[onathan] B[ayard] Smith.
[Note 2: 2 This memorial is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, I, folio 35.]

The request was to study the shortage of Bibles account of the War with England and what to do about it.  The Committee reported back to Congress with it's findings on September 11, 1777:

pg 733 September 1777 Journal of Congress
"The committee appointed to consider he memorial of the Rev. Dr. Allison and others report, "That they have conferred fully with the printers, &c. in this city, and are of opinion that the proper types for printing the Bible are ot to be had in this country …

It was from this that the "authorization" to import 20,000 Bibles and once imported from Europe to be distributed from various Ports in various States.   As you and has been brought out here those were never imported due to cost and conditions brought about due to the ongoing war with England.


I believe they sought to acquire the Bibles due to the report of a shortage account of the war and they considered the Bibles essential to happiness and because they considered the Bible with high regard and as the Word of God, the Christian God with the teachings of Jesus Christ.


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