Debating Michael Knowles: Is America a Christian Nation?

- VIDEO NOTES

Michael Knowles is an American conservative Catholic political commentator and media host. He has worked for the Daily Wire since 2016.

- TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction
02:37 In What Way is America a Christian Nation?
08:46 Intentions of the Declaration of Independence
17:43 The Legal Separations Between Church & State
21:44 Michael’s Response to the Treaty of Tripoli
30:40 The American Motto of ‘In God We Trust’
33:00 Why Would a Secular Nation Have Blasphemy Laws?
38:29 America Wasn’t Founded to Separate Church & State
48:54 The Influence of Gouverneur Morris
55:29 Constant Fluctuations of Religiosity
1:05:52 The Hand of Providence in Early America
1:07:56 Do Americans Overstate George Washington’s Faith?
1:11:17 Was the Abolitionist Movement Really a Christian One?
1:23:48 Conclusion

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[Radioposting]

I hear this all the time... "Based on the principles of Christianity." What *_exactly_* does that even mean? Ask ten Christians, and you'll get ten different answers.

[uninformedinformation]

How many times will Michael find a way to mention the liberals in this debate about Christianity…

[rickr]

A nation of Christians, not a Christian nation. This is such an important distinction that many wishful thinkers don't seem to appreciate.

[TheAngryDoughnut]

I remember back when you were just starting. Great to see how much you've grown.

[deeks]

Freedom of. No establishment. It's in the Bill of Rights. Americans are primarily Christian. But our government is a secular government, period. And rightfully so. Freedom of religion is fantastic. So is the establishment clause.

[angusatkins-trimnell]

I think it's significant not only that they left the Christian god out of the Constitution, but also that it is written in the Declaration of Independence as "...by their creator..." rather than "by God" or "by the creator". It personalizes the belief system rather than institutionalizing it.

[russelld]

I'm so impressed with the arc of your career. Changing your channel name was a wise move.

[carsonianthegreat]

I think Alex is underselling the significance of the Declaration of Independence to America’s legal tradition. It is regular cited in judicial decisions.

[JohnDoe-lcyj]

Benjamin Franklin — ‘Lighthouses are more useful than churches.’.

[JMcKey]

Knowles using Adams as an example for how we are founded on Christian ideals is odd since he literally wrote in the treaty of Tripoli, " United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion". EDIT-- You brought this point up. Good on you!

[loodlebop]

I was so amused by Michael having several cameras set up and a crew changing angles for him 😂

[mikemcd]

Thank you, Alex. Thank you, Michael. This is why I go to the internet for my information. An honest representation of two opposing views stated in good faith. Perfect 👌

[HammerFitness]

One thing about Michael Knowles is his studio looks comfy as

[mimirmagnvs]

O'Connor just gets bigger and bigger Jesus Christ

[JohnDoe-lcyj]

Man once surrendering his reason, has no remaining guard against absurdities the most monstrous, and like a ship without rudder, is the sport of every wind. With such persons, gullibility, which they call faith, takes the helm from the hand of reason, and the mind becomes a wreck.

Thomas Jefferson

[katrynhanson]

Thank you Alex for hosting such a wonderful episode! And thanks to both participants for treating one another respectfully and doing their research. This was enjoyable.

[entp_adventures]

Cool too see Alex becoming a real celebrity after finding him as some awkward teenager with a camera with like 50 followers. Now he's climbing the publicity ranks to Ben Shapiro and Michael Knowles and Richard Dawkins and co and it's super cool to see

[thomasowen]

Absolutely wonderful content. Very insightful. I'm a history student at an American university and this idea that we pick "arbitrary dates" to study the beginning of American history is so true

[drewspencerpenrose]

I don't get what he's after bringing up states establishing religion prior to the Civil War. States also inhibited free speech before the Civil War, and it's not because there wasn't a Constitutional right to free speech, but because states were not bound by constitutional rights (other than their state constitutions) until the Civil War amendments were interpreted to apply federal constitutional rights to people against their state governments. This is taught to every American law student in their first year.
(I'm leaving this comment having only watched half of the video so far, so I apologize if this is addressed later).

[livmilesparanormalromanceb]

Amazing discussion! Thank you so much 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻