Why Josh Hawley’s ahistorical ‘Christian nation’ nonsense matters

The United States is based on a secular Constitution, which in turn created a secular government. Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1802 that our First Amendment built "a wall of separation between church and state." In 1797, John Adams agreed: "The government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion." 

Americans unsure what to believe have a straightforward choice: They can listen to Hawley, or they can read the Constitution and honor the declarations of actual Founding Fathers. This doesn't seem like an especially tough call. 

Just as outrageous is the sentiment behind the rhetoric: Those who espouse the idea that the United States is a "Christian nation" appear eager to tell everyone else, "You'll be tolerated, but you're still The Other, relegated to second-class status."…

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/josh-hawleys-ahistorical-christian-nation-nonsense-matters-rcna161078