Pinsky questions Rollins, Is America a Christian Nation?

By: Vernon Meigs

Posted: 4/24/09

Is America a Christian nation after all, as the Friday evening presentation by Mark Pinsky himself asks in the title of his program, "Is America a Christian Nation?" According to Pinsky himself, no, America is not. In the grand scheme of things, the majority of Americans do happen to be Christians (Pinsky does however note that this amount is steadily declining), the country was not founded upon Christianity.

Mark Pinsky gave a lecture on the evening of Thursday, April 16 in Bush Auditorium that provided an answer to the question that is still debated by many Americans today. Pinsky's lecture was driven by providing a chronology of Presidents of the United States and other significant politicians that had pointed out whether America was a Christian nation or not. Some were supportive of the coexistence of differing religions among the American people, some were determined to establish a Christian national identity, and some thought religion itself was pure hogwash, let alone Christianity. To begin the shakedown, Pinsky stated that the founding fathers of the United States consisted of deists and freethinkers who either thought that faith and God were a broader, freer concept, or that both faith and God were a useless phenomenon.

Dwight Eisenhower is an example of a president who expressed that American religion was about "faith in faith" or faith in the faithfulness of Americans whatever kind it may be. George W. Bush is another example of a president who promoted Christian values. Many former presidents were evangelists and found that they had to not dismiss faith and religion from their repertoire in order to get votes and public approval. The role of politicians promoting Christianity was documented and the Ten Commandments' solidified role in politics was not ignored. The presentation also highlighted President Barack Obama's emphasis on the United States being a nation of Christians, Muslims, Jews, etc. during his inaugural speech.

After the lecture, Mark Pinsky had a book signing session and a complimentary reception. Pinsky had previously been the author of books such as, A Jew Among the Evangelicals: A guide for the Perplexed, The Gospel According to Disney, and The Gospel According to the Simpsons.

140 people showed up for the presentation which was made possible after weeks of advertising and promotion by Rollins student John Watson. Watson had put posters on the Mills Building and Campus Center and gave out information in front of the Campus Center as well for a week before the event. Many outside of Rollins came to attend the presentation touching on the controversial, often-debated issue. One notable question arose when Pinsky was asked what he had to say about the helpful and charitable Christian-based organizations in the community. Pinsky replied that he never denied their credit and particularly appreciated them.

The lecture and presentation proved to be a new experience for those who did not previously take much notice into whether America was by definition a Christian nation or not. There were plenty of questions during the Q&A session. Those well-versed in Christian dogma would have found the presentation well-executed despite its lack of unprecedented ideas.

Before the book signing, a "unified prayer" was briefly held to pray for a tolerant, diverse and more livable future for the nation.