On Sundays I intend to post something with a Christian theme and possibly a regular post later in the day.

Excerpt from: 

Christianity As An Influence On The Founding Fathers

by
John A. Sterling
James Madison is often referred to as "the Father of the Constitution  because, from the very beginning of the Constitutional Convention, he was a guiding influence and a strong voice of principled reason. In his political career, which spanned more than fifty years, Madison was a stalwart defender of religious liberties. He frequently wrote that the Christian faith was solid enough doctrinally, theologically, morally, and intellectually that it did not need the support of civil government. In fact, he wrote in Memorial and Remonstrance that if civil government were necessary to prop up Christianity, then it would prove that the Christian Faith could not stand on its own merits. Because Christianity thrives in the absence of civil control and government intervention in religious affairs always served, historically, to weaken it, it should be kept separate from the institution of civil government. Incredibly, this "separation" is often misinterpreted as "anti-Christianity" when it should be more properly read as "anti-government".
Some historical background would be helpful at this point. Madison had a dispute with Patrick Henry over Henry's proposal to levy a tax to support teachers of the Christian Religion. In 1785 Madison wrote Memorial and Remonstrance in which he makes the case for keeping Christianity free from entanglement with the state. He saw very clearly that religious "liberty" would be compromised if placed under the dominion of the state. "It was because Madison exalted religion that he favored religious liberty. Since he revered the Christian religion above all others, he wanted it to flourish in its purity, free from the corruption that inevitably came with state support." 5.
Madison's Christian influence is understandable in light of his upbringing and education. He was raised in a strong Episcopalian home where both parents were active in the church. He went to the College of New Jersey (now Princeton) which was then a very orthodox, conservative Christian school. The president of the college was the Rev. John Witherspoon (one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence) who recognized in Madison a bright and attentive pupil. We know a great deal of Witherspoon's beliefs-- the influence that he had during this time was tremendous. "Witherspoon was president of the College of New Jersey from 1768 to 1794. In those twenty six years 478 young men graduated--about eighteen students per year. Of those 478 graduates, 114 became ministers; 13 were state governors; 3 were Supreme Court judges; 20 were United States Senators; 33 were U.S. Congressmen; Aaron Burr Jr. became Vice President; and James Madison became President."