Page 4 - AHATA

putting Aruba’s

name on the world
Monday
February 19, 2024 stage

T: 582-7800
www.arubatoday.com
facebook.com/arubatoday
instagram.com/arubatoday

Page 8
A r u b a ’ s O N L Y E n g l i s h n e w s p a p e r
Aruba’s ONLY English newspaper
Christian-nation idea

fuels U.S. conservative

causes, but historians

say it misreads founders'

intent

By PETER SMITH the presidency.
Associated Press The idea of a Christian
The U.S. Constitution doesn't America means different
mention Christianity or any things to different people.
specific religion. The Dec- Pollsters have found a wide
laration of Independence circle of Americans who
famously proclaims that hold general God-and-
people's rights come from country sentiments.
a "Creator" and "Nature's But within that is a smaller,
God" — but doesn't specify hardcore group who also
who that is. check other boxes in sur- Former President Donald Trump speaks during the Faith & Freedom Coalition Policy Conference in
Yet large numbers of Amer- veys — such as that the U.S. Washington, Saturday, June 24, 2023.
icans believe the founders Constitution was inspired Associated Press
intended the U.S. to be a by God and that the fed-
Christian nation, and many eral government should unfavorable views to- movement widely called for an origin story, a belief
believe it should be one. declare the U.S. a Christian ward immigrants, dismiss Christian nationalism, that “we’ve come here
Such views are especially nation, advocate Christian or downplay the impact which fuses American and for something special, and
strong among Republicans values or stop enforcing of anti-Black discrimination Christian values, symbols that we’re here for God’s
and their white evangelical the separation of church and believe Trump was a and identity and seeks to work,” said Eric McDaniel,
base. Already such views and state. good or great president, privilege Christianity in pub- an associate professor of
are being voiced by sup- For those embracing that according to a 2021 Pew lic life. government at the Univer-
porters of Donald Trump package of beliefs, it’s Research Center survey. The idea of Christian nation- sity of Texas.
amid his bid to recapture more likely they’ll have This latter group reflects a hood fills Americans’ need Continued on page 3