As surprising as it may seem, a poll conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research Inc. for the PBS news program Religion & Ethics Newsweekly and the United Nations Foundation found that 61% percent agree that America is a nation specially blessed by God, and 59% believe the United States should be a model Christian nation to the world.

The Christian Post is reporting on these findings today.

These findings may be startling to some, given the decades-long propaganda campaign waged by the Left to erase America's Christian heritage and to convince Americans that there is some sort of imaginary "separation of church and state" which is intended to sanitize all Christian influence from government or public policy.

Though there is no doubt that the campaign of deceit has worked to a great degree, this poll would seem to indicate that it still has a long way to go before a majority of Americans buy into the secularist agenda.

While the United States government was set up to not have an official state church or religion, the recognition of the role of God in America and America's government has been evident since the earliest days of our republic.

After all, our founding document, the Declaration of Independence, acknowledged certain "self-evident" truths, among them:

That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights

The Declaration also appeals "to the Supreme Judge of the world" and declares "a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence." 

Even Benjamin Franklin, one of the least religious of the founders, recognized how important this "reliance on the protection of Divine Providence" was to the successful birth of the new nation:

In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible to danger, we had daily prayers in this room for Divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard and they were graciously answered...

In fact, almost all of the founders recognized God's role in the establishment of this nation, and the importance that the people rely on God to maintain the health, stability and justice of the nation.

President George Washington said in his inaugural address:

...it would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official act my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States a Government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes...No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than those of the United States...the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained

Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story, appointed to the court by President James Madison, addressed the fallacious "separation of church and state" propaganda that has become common today:

We are not to attribute this [First Amendment] prohibition of a national religious establishment to an indifference to religion in general, and especially to Christianity (which none could hold in more reverence, than the framers of the Constitution)

Judge Story further clarified the intent of the First Amendment prohibition of a national religion when he said

"The real object of the [First A]mendment was not to countenance, much less to advance, Mahometanism, or Judaism, or infidelity, by prostrating Christianity; but to exclude all rivalry among Christian sects."

Secularists who claim most of the founders were not Christians, and that they intended no religious values to be brought into the public square, must ignore a mountain of evidence to the contrary. 

Our first two presidents made it clear that religion and morality are of vital necessity to maintain our freedom and our republic.

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness. - George Washington's Presidential Farewell Address

And President John Adams:

"It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. Religion and virtue are the only foundations...of republicanism and of all free governments.

Allow no one to sell you the lie that America was not founded by Christians on Christian principles.

Thankfully, this poll seems to indicate that a majority of Americans still refuse to buy the lie.