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Thank you, brianna.
I don't think it can be claimed that christianity was a motivation for the development of america. At least not in the "america was made by and for jesus" kind of way. Clearly, genocide and the amorality of the old west was far from what one might assume christ would want. I don't think a case could be made by anyone (except maybe someone in the christian identity movement)that slavery was something christ would have endorsed.
Manifest destiny and slavery are both hugely important factors to consider when you think about how our country was formed. Where do these things fit in with the "Judeo-Christian influence in our founding, laws, and moral constructs"?
If i were in the process of studying america's history and somebody told me that the formation of america was largely influenced by christianity what would i be able to infer about christianity based on solely that info?
Judeo chrisitan values are, among other things: genocide, slavery, war, class division, xenophobia and racism violent resisitance to any form of labor or civil rights, subjugation of women etc. (I'm leaving out all the positive things people usually think of to make a point. I'm not trying to claim that america is unredeemable.)
I'm not saying christianity hasn't played a role. Just that anyone who claims that america is founded on christian values isn't telling you the whole truth, and is probably selling something.
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