America's Success Depends on Its Biblical Christian Foundations
Source: Jim DeMint. "You Don't Get America Without Christianity." March 19, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
DeMint argues that America became great because it was built on Biblical Christian values, starting with the Ten Commandments and boosted by the Protestant Reformation. He claims that removing these religious foundations from public life threatens America's success and freedom.
Conclusion
Western civilization, especially America, owes its success and way of life to Biblical foundations, and removing these foundations threatens our freedoms and prosperity
Premises
- Israel was the first nation governed by laws from God (the Ten Commandments), which became the foundation for Western Civilization
- The Bible establishes crucial values like love, compassion, marriage, honesty, work, enterprise, and respect for human life that free countries depend on
- The Protestant Reformation, sparked by Martin Luther in 1517, created an explosion of freedom by emphasizing individual relationship with God
- American colonies were established by people seeking religious freedom following Protestant Reformation principles
- Modern removal of Biblical principles from public life (schools, government) undermines the very foundations that made America successful
- Europe's current problems (socialism, godlessness) demonstrate what happens when societies abandon their Biblical heritage
Assumptions
- Historical success of Western civilization can be causally attributed to religious foundations rather than other factors
- Biblical principles are necessary (not just helpful) for maintaining freedom and prosperity
- There is a direct causal relationship between removing Biblical principles from public life and societal decline
- The Ten Commandments and Biblical values are objectively superior to other moral systems
- America's founders intended the nation to be based on Biblical principles