Christ is there such a problem with wanting a little bit of independence from him? Currently the US is in a age of Intellectualism NOT Spiritualism dispite what times appear. Now more than ever the scientific truth is promoted over christianity, though I agree the trends to remove christianity from everything is beyond extreme and our forefathers are probably turning over in their grave because of us now. However, no religion is seen as bad, and there will always be haters for just about everything you can think of ... take it with a grain of salt, they are only making themselves look like fools; if they hurt you then do what is popular ... sue them. But in simple reality no one is trying to kill christianity, no one can, religion is a living existence fluid upon the times; just look at all the types of protestants now. Understanding is perhaps the best christian belief I've ever learned, christians survive and are bettered by religion, faith aids the faithful don't worry that the others believe in a different god(s). Intellectualism can co-exist with christianity, its going to have to because neither is going to just disappear. However, rather than saying we are all christians now we must say we are all americans ... its one culture that the US has in my opinion both sadly and happily lost. (there are pluses and minuses to everything) If everyone christian, pegan, buddhist and all manage to get along here in the US then we have proven the "Great Experiment" a success if not then it is a failure to doom all our children. The key to the US is equality, understanding, and freedom ... removing of christian items from public places is just the attempt to make unbiased society, not war on christianity. Culture belongs to groups and individuals not the government so let the symbols preside there proudly. Equality and Understanding is a lot to ask, but they are a must if we are to survive as ONE NATION INDIVISIBLE

Whether it was intentional or not, our forefathers created, theoretically, at least, a hell of a government. Yes, I suppose doing so was a bit selfish, and in the best interest of the wealthy, but the lower classes were not forgotten.

Perhaps the opinion that they are good intentioned is based on personal theory, from what I've read the wealthy of america started the american revolution, a minority movement not majority, and their goal was to gain freedom to own land in the Ohio River Vally ... for farm lands RICH farm lands, in a agrarian society land means money, to limit it is to invoke a revolution from the influential down (opposite of the French Revolution(s)).

Although I agree with you on several points, I don't think this is the "Age of Intellectualism" mostly because I don't think that will ever exist.

The trends you speak of, of removing Christianity, are not so focussed on Christianity itself as religion on a whole. Nor are the trend to completely remove religion, but get it out of government.

I think (if we must speculate on this) our forefathers would be more offended by the degree of corruptivity in our government than the removal of (a) God. Corporate scandal, government scandal, power issues, these are the true problems.

I don't believe America could ever say "We are all Christians" because there has always been the agnostic/atheist belief. And why would we want to say that anyway? To me, it just states "We are religiously undiverse" which isn't exactly ideal.

This all goes into other areas besides religion, into race, and orientation, gender, and so much more.

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The key to the US is equality, understanding and freedom...

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I agree that those three things are things that need to be worked on. Interestingly enough, if you substitute "life" for "US" (I am not suggesting in anyway that life is equal to the US or being American, or anything of that sort) you make it all-inclusive.

**An excellent post, Azhreii, I'm quite impressed**