Paganism and influences in the building of America.

Following my last blog... So often we hear "America is a Christian Nation". How ever how often are we told of the influence Paganism had on the building of this great land? It seems so often certain facts get left out to adhere to the masses, but why? Isn't the truth worth so much more then adhering and making the majority agree with what you say? I say YES so I am going to shed some light on the influences these interesting groups had on our country.

I would first like to address the six Nations. They were also known by the French
term, Iroquois Confederacy, they called themselves the Hau de no sau nee (ho dee noe sho nee) meaning People Building a Long House. They were located in
the northeastern region of North America, originally the Six Nations was five and included the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas. The sixth nation, the Tuscaroras, migrated into Iroquois country in the early eighteenth century. They comprised  the oldest living democracy. Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson drew much inspiration from this Confederacy.
Truth is they had a lot to due with how our government was set into action.

The birth of Democracy. Democracy was first establidhed in Athens in 490B.C. when the people rebelled and  drove the spartan Government Cleisthenes instituted a limited democracy which kept the majority od the power in the
aristocracy, but allowed participation of the middle class in some legislative and judicial functions. This system then slowly evolved fifty years later to allow all male citizens to participate in decision making. 

Our calender is founded by paganism. Are also based on this veneration of the Sun and His yearly cycle, entwined with the ancient agricultural cycles of planting and harvest. The Zarathushtrian Gahanbars (Thanksgiving Festivals) are based on these Solar and agricultural cycles of the year. They are: Nowruz (Novruz), New Year, literally the New Day or First Day (Spring Equinox); Maidyozarem, Mid-Spring (May 1st); Maidyoshahem, Mid-Summer (very near the Summer Solstice); Paitishahem, Harvest (very near the Autumnal Equinox); Ayathrem, No-Travel/the End of caravan season (mid October); and Maidyarem, Mid-Year (very near the Winter Solstice). Or January which came from Janus Roman god of doors and gateways, and March which came from Mars the Roman god of war.

The declaration of independence itself has a pagan back round. The idea that
that all men are created equal. echoes John Locke's idea [1] that in the "state of nature," all human beings lived free and equal (Locke would remain a hero of Jefferson throughout his life). [Mapp] The idea that "all men are created equal" goes against Biblical doctrine. The Bible supports inequality from a top down hierarchy: God-man-woman-beast (Catholic dogma adds the church and their priests between God and man). Moreover the word "Creator" describes a Deistic term in the 1700s.

The constitution of the United has a metion that can be said to refer to
paganism. Within Amendment XX, you will find the word "January" which comes from the Latin Janus which refers to our God Janus, the Roman god of doors and gateways. Sunday (mentioned in Article 1, Sec.7) comes from the word Sunne which refers to the Saxon Sun god. March (see Amendment XII), comes from the Latin, Martius, and refers to our Pagan God Mars. As well it uses terms such as,
"Senate," "Justice," "Liberty" which describe Greek and Roman concepts, all of them Pagan to the very core.

The founding fathers even have pagan grave sites.

Benjamin Franklin's Tomb
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) Statesman, inventor, and the greatest American scientist of the period.
Although his tomb sits on the property of the Christ Church burial ground in Philadelphia, his modest tomb had no references to Christianity. This shouldn't surprise anyone considering that the deist Franklin criticized Christianity.
Note the pennies thrown on the grave for good luck (a Pagan practice that persists to this day).

Thomas Paine's Pagan monument
Thomas Paine (1737-1809). Political Philosopher and Advocate of freethought and free expression. Perhaps the single most important person to influence Americans toward independence. He authored Common Sense, The American Crisis, Rights of Man, The Age of Reason, Agrarian Justice, Dissertation on First Principles of Government, and much more.
Because of his attacks against Christianity, Christians accused him of atheism and denied him burial on "consecrated" grounds. They buried Paine at New Rochelle on 10 June 1809. In 1819, William Cobbett dishumed Paine's bones and took them to Liverpool where they remained until Cobbett's death in 1836 as part of the property of his son, who became bankrupt. The bones were last heard of in possession of a Mr. Tilly in 1844. A monument erected at New Rochelle in 1839 [photo at left] cites Paine's own words.
" ~ my country is the world, and my religion is to do good ~ "
Rights of Man, part 2, 1792
As a Deist and freethinker, clearly Paine's life and death reflects a legacy of freethought Paganism.


George Washington's vault
George Washington (1732-1799), American General of the Revolutionary war and 1st President of the United States.
George Washington gave his own instructions to build a modest brick grave site on his own land, Mount Vernon. The grave marker reads: "Within this Enclosure Rest the remains of Gen. George Washington." Nothing about the grave resembles a Christian burial site; no crosses, no appeals to God or heaven. Inside the brick building sits a modest vault (Egyptian style).
Note the two Pagan Egyptian obelisks. The obelisk on the left went to the memory of Bushrod Washington, Associate Supreme Court Justice appointed by John Adams, nephew of George Washington. The obelisk on the right went to the memory of John Augustine Washington, nephew of Bushrod Washington.
You can veiw things like this on more than just the founding fathers grave sites. You see examples in our government buildings, which are replicas of the Parthenon, and the Patheon. The U.S capitol
Building has Twelve stars surround the headdress of the Statue of Freedom which represents the Zodiac, an ancient Pagan astrological concept.

The original American currancy:
First American Coin
The first coin minted in America did not use the motto "In God We Trust." Instead we find Benjamin Franklin's motto, "Mind Your Business." Even the Pagan references appear hidden. However the sundial, invented by the ancient Egyptians suggests its Pagan origins.

The list of findings for pagan foundation goes on and on...

The bottom line is this. Yes we can trace some things of the founding of America back to Christianity, however more things are and can be traced back to paganism. The difference is the pagans in America wish to retained religious freedom, and founding to be share and not claimed by one religion or another. Unfortunately many many Christians wish to claim it as a Christian Nation. Well facts show that this nation was built more with a replica of paganism then any other religion. So in reality based of foundation this would be a Pagan Nation, who may just have an occupancy of mainly Christians. However it also may not. That discovery is for a future blogs. So a suggestion to those who wish to claim the Nation as theirs is to Chill, because the outcome may become more unsettling to you then you wish it be. 




The six nation:
http://www.ratical.org/many_worlds/6Nations/
Forgotten Founders, Benjamin Franklin, the Iroquois
and the Rationale for the American Revolution, complete 1982 book
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2738983

Birth of democracy:
http://www.realmagick.com/articles/13/13.html