Christian Character of the American Revolution: John Witherspoon
It is an undeniable fact that to view America as a “Christian Country" or refer to a “Christian founding" will stir all manner of denouncements and frequently result in great scorn heaped upon the author. These critics often cite the First Amendment protections from the Congressional establishment of a State religion, or Thomas Jefferson's reference to a “separation of Church and State.” It is, however, equally undeniable that there was a Christian “character" to the American Revolution, and this, largely Protestant on the part of the Colonists. Yes, there were Catholic colonists and enclaves, and the French who assisted the rebellion undoubtedly had a large contingent of Catholics as well, but the Colonies themselves were largely Protestant and frequently voiced a distrust of those they considered “papists.” One of the preeminent ministers in America and President of the College of New-Jersey (modern day Princeton) at the outbreak of hostilities between the Crown an