Alexander Hamilton died on this day in 1804. Over the years, I've done a great deal of investigation on the "Christian Nation" controversy. The answer to the question is "much of this depends on how you look at it."
There's a tradition of orthodox Christian scholars (as opposed to the "secular" ones) who conclude America was NOT founded as a "Christian Nation." Drs. Mark Noll, Nathan Hatch and George Marsden come to mind with their book "The Search For Christian America." And currently Dr. Warren Throckmorton has a book out entitled "The Christian Past That Wasn't: Debunking the Christian Nationalist Myths That Hijack History."
But this issue -- how to view "dueling" and "Christianity" -- is a good microcosm on the controversy. America's founders believed and did things that may (or not) have been consistent with the historical practice of Christianity. For instance, dueling.
While he always believed in God, most historians conclude Hamilton didn't become an orthodox Christian until the very end of his life, after his son died in a duel. On his deathbed, Hamilton sought communion from two orthodox churches. BOTH of the ministers in those churches initially refused to give him communion in large part because they believed dueling was a profoundly UN-Christian act.
Now, I'm sure other theologians can make the case as to why what Hamilton did wasn't UN-Christian. But that's part of how the narrative behind the controversy operates.
I wrote this piece at Ordinary Times on the matter in 2015.
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