America's Christian roots

Last night, we went out to dinner and saw some friends we'd not seen in a while. They talked excitedly about their involvement the Humanist group in Worcester. The conversation spun off to a historical eddy. Our early presidents were anything but conventional Christians (witness Jefferson's cut-and-paste edition of the Christian scripture).
During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the fledgling American nation fought a series of battles with pirates in the Mediterranean, engagement known as the Barbary Wars.
One early treaty attempted to end the war, albeit not for long. The treaty, however, holds some illustrative commentary on religion in America and its regard for religions elewhere in the world.
From Article 11 of US Treaty with Tripoli, 1796-1797:

As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

The treaty was approved unanimously by the Senate and signed by John Adams.

Historian and scholar Chuck Norris contends otherwise, that Article 11 was simply an politically expedient statement intended to distance America from The Crusades. Yep, that sounds like the action of a nation deeply rooted in their Christianity - disavowing their faith so that they could placate some pirates.