Letter fails to provide complete story

In response to Richard Saunders' letter 'United States is a Christian nation.' (Bee, June 17)

First, you tell of the 'Bible of the Revolution,' which is interesting. When you state that 'Congress approved the printing in 1782,' this is misleading. Congress as we know it now first met in March 1789, as required by the new Constitution, ratified in 1788. The Congress you refer to in 1782 is actually the Congress of the Confederation, operating under the Articles of Confederation.

Keep in mind this was before the First Amendment existed. It was ratified Dec. 15, 1791, almost 10 years later. So they were not yet under its restriction on establishment of a religion.

I suggest reading about the 'Aitken Bible' which is also called the Bible of the Revolution. Robert Aitken asked for its endorsement as 'accurate,' not approval to print it. An interesting story on this is found in the Wikipedia article 'Robert Aitken (publisher).' The Congress agreed to his request to endorse his Bible as accurate to help out the American printing industry, but denied his other requests that his Bible 'be published under the Authority of Congress' and in fact, his later attempt to have Congress buy his Bibles and give them to soldiers being discharged was rejected by the Congress.

Then you say the president swears with his hand on a Bible and says 'so help me God' at the end of his oath of office. The Constitution does not require either, and not every president has done this. The phrase is customarily added. Abraham Lincoln may have been one of the first to add these words. The Bible is not required either. Lyndon Johnson was sworn in using a Catholic Missal aboard Air Force One in Dallas, for example, and John Quincy Adams swore on a book of law.

JOHN BAGWELL

Sandpoint