Carman, in his new book Raising the Standard, calls this nation

back to its Christian foundations. A good idea---or is it? After all,

are there any Christian foundations left" to go back to? Or, more

important, were there ever any?

Yes, America began upon Christian foundations, according to

many Founding Fathers, early Congresses and Supreme Courts:

~ The genera(principles on which the fathers

achieved independence were.., the general

principles of Christianity... Now I will avow that

I then believed, and now believe, that those

general principles of Christianity are as eternal

and immutable as the existence and attributes of

God. (JOHN ADAMS, U.S. PRESIDENT)

~ The rights essential to happiness.., we claim...

from the King of Kings, and Lord of all the earth.

(JOHN DICKINSON, SIGNER OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION)

~ Let us enter [the American Revolution] under the

idea that we are Christians on whom the eyes of

the world are now turned... Let us... humbly

and penitently implore the Aid of the Almighty

God, whom we profess to serve--let us earnestly

call and beseech him for Christ s sake to preside

in our councils. (ELIAS BOUDINOT, PRESIDENT OF

CONGRESS DURING THE AMERJCAN REVOLUTION)