It's more like people use the foundation of freedom to oppress people into their version of religion. This goes both ways. You shouldn't be able to force a shop to serve a couple that is breaking a rule that the show owner holds to. At the same time, you shouldn't keep gay marriage illegal just because you're against it. It in no way effects you, and you've probably broken some rules more explicitly outlined in the bible.
The Puritans left England because they couldn't make everyone else follow their religious rules. They weren't happy about sharing churches and stuff with Christian denominations that weren't as strict as them. So it's more so they left to find a place where they could control everyone...
@lucy: that is right, but the puritans did not actually found the united states but quickly became a minority. The actual founding fathers were deists in majority, meaning they believed in a superiour being but definitely NOT in any existing religion.
That "Founders were Deists" statement is revisionist. Many of the founders attended or taught at Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc. Those were founded as training colleges for Christian ministers! Look it up. Also check out Washington's farewell address. He referes, not to some undefined "higher power," but specifically to Jesus as God. Except for Payne and Franklin, the Founding Fathers were strong Christians.
No it wasn't