Hey my ol’ friend, I hope you’re sippin’ on somethin’ cool and enjoyin’ the sunshine wherever you are! Let me pull up a chair on this virtual back porch again. Appreciate you throwin’ another log on the fire of this conversation. You’re makin’ me think, which ain’t always comfortable but usually leads to somethin’ good.
First off, I reckon we both want the same thing: an America that’s strong, united, and grounded in solid principles. I hear you loud and clear about the nation being founded by folks fleeing religious persecution, and that spirit of freedom—especially religious freedom—is a precious part of our heritage. It’s crucial and I don’t dispute that for a second.
Freedom of religion, not freedom from religion
Now, on to this history lesson we’re apparently havin’. You mentioned folks fleeing religious persecution – absolutely true, and a vital part of the story. Freedom of religion, not freedom from religion imposed by the government, was the goal. And you’re right, many concepts like natural rights have deep roots predating Christianity.
But, I gotta dip my toe in on your point about a “good percentage” of the Founding Fathers being atheists. That’s a claim I’ve seen floated now and then, but, friend, the records tell a different story. Most of the framers were men of faith—mostly Christian—though of many flavors and beliefs. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and others spoke openly about Providence or a Creator guiding their cause. Jefferson might have fiddled with his own interpretations, and Madison was a champion of liberty, but atheism as we define it today wasn’t the banner they marched under. What they sought was a government that protected freedom of conscience, not one that was devoid of any spiritual acknowledgment. The real aim was ensuring no state-sponsored church could dictate terms, which is a far cry from stripping God entirely from public life. Their language and writings are shot through with references that indicate a belief in a higher power and a moral order derived from it. Look, I ain’t sayin’ they were all Bible-thumpers, not by a long shot! But calling a “good percentage” of them atheists just doesn’t square with the historical record as most serious scholars understand it.
Made in God’s Image
And this ties back to what I meant about Biblical principles influencing the framework. It wasn’t about mandating Sunday School in public life. It was about concepts like human dignity (made in God’s image), inherent rights (endowed by a Creator, not government), and limited government (authority granted by God, not absolute rulers). These ideas, deeply woven into the Western philosophical tradition and certainly amplified through Judeo-Christian thought, were the ingredients they used to bake the cake of American liberty. Understandin’ that ain’t teachin’ religion; it’s teachin’ the intellectual history of the nation’s founding concepts.
Now, about schools teaching that “people rode dinosaurs” or that “two people are genetically responsible for our entire world,” I have to ask: where exactly is that happening in our taxpayer-funded public schools? I’ve been around Georgia’s schools plenty, and I tell ya, creationism isn’t part of the official curriculum in public education that I know of. We base the teaching of science on well-established research—DNA, evolution, geology, and all that good stuff that helps our young folks navigate the world with critical thinking and facts. Private schools, of course, might teach differently as they see fit, but they’re off public funding, remember? If some pockets want to teach folks about Noah’s Ark or Adam and Eve in the way their faith understands it, that’s their right—just not with my tax dollars tied to the lesson plan. This country has been and still is a leader in science, innovation, and critical thinking in countless fields. And many brilliant scientists throughout history and today hold religious faith! The two aren’t mutually exclusive.
We’re on a Comeback Trail
You’re right, though, that America has faced some credibility setbacks in recent years. It’s no secret that we faced some rough patches—with divisions, policies, and global perceptions leavin’ us lookin’ a tad wobbly. We’ve been through some choppy waters, no doubt about it. But calling us the “laughing stock” and blaming “religion” entirely for hindering science? That feels like paintin’ with an awful broad brush. Between 2020 and 2024, we sure took some hits—politics, pandemic response, and the like. But here’s a hopeful note I find worth raisin’: by Mid-March 2025, we’re seeing more than $3 trillion locked in investments and trade commitments that our leaders have brought home. That means the world’s eyes aren’t just watching—they’re re-investing their trust in American ingenuity and leadership. We’re on a comeback trail, my friend, and I’m mighty proud of that.
Give Them a Foundation of Critical Thinking Wrapped in Facts
We both want our kids to have an education that’s true, honest, and prepares them to compete on the global stage. I’m fully on board with teaching history in its full context—include the Biblical influences where relevant, but always with respect to diverse beliefs. Let’s ensure we give them a foundation of critical thinking wrapped in facts, with space for moral understanding drawn from our shared cultural roots. We got challenges, sure as a hog has bristles. But I still believe in the core strength and principles of this nation – principles that drew folks here for centuries, principles that were, yes, influenced by deeply held beliefs about liberty and human value, including those from the Bible. Folks still come here riskin’ everything because of the promise those principles represent, not because we’re a joke.
So, while we might see the historical influences differently, and maybe have different views on what’s actually bein’ taught where, I still come back to the idea that institutions taking public money have a different burden of responsibility and accountability than those that choose to go it alone. That seems like simple common sense, rooted in fairness to the taxpayer.
Appreciate you keepin’ this conversation goin’. It’s good to “hash” things out, even when we ain’t in full agreement. Keeps the mind sharp and reminds us we can still talk like neighbors.
Best from Georgia — and as always, grateful for the banter,
On-On!
Dean Burnette
