The philosophical underpinnings of the comments in this thread (Stack?) are much like blind folks describing an elephant after feeling one with their hands and listening to it’s trumpeting and movement. None of the descriptions are “right,” but none of them are “wrong” either. They are merely observations of the same animal from one person’s perspective. Yet, each comment writer will defend his personal “elephant” observation, or belief, as “more correct” than the others. But none of the commenters take a position that describes the entire elephant.
The Founders and authors of the Constitution and Bill of Rights were faced with a dilemma when the documents were actually written. Their collective challenge was the absolute requirement to describe the “elephant” as a summary of the many diverse opinions, beliefs and observations of everyone in the “room” (and of the 13 original states). Otherwise, none or only a few of the participants (and states) would agree to sign it and be bound by its terms and conditions.
Further, their intentional designs were to have lives beyond any of the Founder and Signers. Thus, the included prohibitions against tyrannical and religious control or domination. At the same time, however, the intentional designs relied on the decisions and actions of later generations of people which could result in unintended consequences like the ones with Speaker Mike Johnson and the MAGA tyrant TFG.
With religion, the consensus was not to favor one but to protect the rights of each person and all persons living in America under the auspices of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, as amended from time to time, to pursue a religion, or any, or not, of that persons own choosing.
For tyrants and tyrannical factions, the implicit belief was that the People’s will and the independence of the judiciary would be self correcting and remove those threats.
But, as we now know, the sheer size of the anti-Constitutional religious and tyrannical factions bolstered by the relatively recent corporate personage and their political bribery schemes, along with the State’s gerrymandering actions to restrain voting rights for the specific purpose of electing a Christian infected GOP, are gelding the Constitution and Bill of Rights and excluding an effective voice of The People.
Had that consensus building effort not happened, my opinion is that the Constitution and Bill of Rights would look more like the Taliban’s version of religion than not. The versions proposed by Speaker Johnson, the TFG/MAGA faction, and corporate America are accomplishing the same thing.
Most people don't know the real history behind the Enlightenment's secular influence on the American Revolution, which was very radical at the time (and in many parts of the world even today). Thank you for this fantastic article!
"When we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and torturous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness, with which more than half the Bible is filled, it would be more consistent that we called it the word of a demon, than the word of God." (Thomas Paine, Age of Reason Part I, 1794)
Oh, yeah! Thomas Paine did not mince words!!! He spent almost a year in Paris with the Madisons, even living in their house at one point, in 1795, I think. There is a marvelous letter at the National Archives written by Paine that is a delight. It's here: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/01-16-02-0053
Its interesting that the SCOTUS Christian majority is working to create a highly autocratic presidency. CS Lewis argues that democracy is the best form of governance. As we are all fallen and imperfect, democracy provides checks and balances against bad motives. How is creating an autocratic presidency and putting a malicious narcissist in the office going to result in a Christian culture?
The sad part is the particular strain of Catholicism that we see in the Supreme Court is NOT the only one. It is the intolerant strain that hates Pope Francis because he’s too nice. So many Catholics don’t know about or remember Liberation Theology and its emphasis on lifting up the poor and bringing about social justice. The Jesuits (including him) do… That’s why so many Catholics turned mean when Francis was selected (even though the churches teaching is that the Holy Spirit is moving within the whole process of selection). Kind of like how so many people turned mean when Obama won the presidency. It’s one thing to preach love and tolerance. It’s an entirely different thing when leadership openly advocates it 🙃
And then there’s some of us who got here in the 1600s … driven by money, war, slavery, prison, indentured servitude… We still keep the family history and smack around some of our inbred cousins who are straight up lying. Christianity my ass.
"Merciful Providence" and "Divine Good" sound like Academic terms, and reflect a Roman take on divination and statecraft would have been popular with an Academic like Cicero, who wrote the world's first constitution (which would not be discovered until the 19th century because St. Augustine wrote his City of God over it - once again Christians obscuring Deist legacies).
Unlike popular Greek and Roman religions, during the Golden Age of Greece they also discovered Reason. In Rome, being in government was considered a sacred duty, meant be the rule of the wise or "provident," imbued with the ability to divine God's will (statecraft, the art and science of government).
As universal ideals, it's not surprising to see future generations rediscover them after such dark ages. It is sad to see them abandon them. Thank you for shedding light with your beautiful essay.
People not religion or government are to blame. Really Don, did you really say that. You mean that Religion is not part of the problem, are you speaking from biblical teachings, the Bible lets say.
And I stand with you.
Thank you!!
The philosophical underpinnings of the comments in this thread (Stack?) are much like blind folks describing an elephant after feeling one with their hands and listening to it’s trumpeting and movement. None of the descriptions are “right,” but none of them are “wrong” either. They are merely observations of the same animal from one person’s perspective. Yet, each comment writer will defend his personal “elephant” observation, or belief, as “more correct” than the others. But none of the commenters take a position that describes the entire elephant.
The Founders and authors of the Constitution and Bill of Rights were faced with a dilemma when the documents were actually written. Their collective challenge was the absolute requirement to describe the “elephant” as a summary of the many diverse opinions, beliefs and observations of everyone in the “room” (and of the 13 original states). Otherwise, none or only a few of the participants (and states) would agree to sign it and be bound by its terms and conditions.
Further, their intentional designs were to have lives beyond any of the Founder and Signers. Thus, the included prohibitions against tyrannical and religious control or domination. At the same time, however, the intentional designs relied on the decisions and actions of later generations of people which could result in unintended consequences like the ones with Speaker Mike Johnson and the MAGA tyrant TFG.
With religion, the consensus was not to favor one but to protect the rights of each person and all persons living in America under the auspices of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, as amended from time to time, to pursue a religion, or any, or not, of that persons own choosing.
For tyrants and tyrannical factions, the implicit belief was that the People’s will and the independence of the judiciary would be self correcting and remove those threats.
But, as we now know, the sheer size of the anti-Constitutional religious and tyrannical factions bolstered by the relatively recent corporate personage and their political bribery schemes, along with the State’s gerrymandering actions to restrain voting rights for the specific purpose of electing a Christian infected GOP, are gelding the Constitution and Bill of Rights and excluding an effective voice of The People.
Had that consensus building effort not happened, my opinion is that the Constitution and Bill of Rights would look more like the Taliban’s version of religion than not. The versions proposed by Speaker Johnson, the TFG/MAGA faction, and corporate America are accomplishing the same thing.
The separation of church and state. I guess the new speaker is unfamiliar with that term. 🙄
Most people don't know the real history behind the Enlightenment's secular influence on the American Revolution, which was very radical at the time (and in many parts of the world even today). Thank you for this fantastic article!
"When we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and torturous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness, with which more than half the Bible is filled, it would be more consistent that we called it the word of a demon, than the word of God." (Thomas Paine, Age of Reason Part I, 1794)
Oh, yeah! Thomas Paine did not mince words!!! He spent almost a year in Paris with the Madisons, even living in their house at one point, in 1795, I think. There is a marvelous letter at the National Archives written by Paine that is a delight. It's here: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/01-16-02-0053
Do stick around. [s]
Baloney
Great piece!
I completely agree with you
There you are again, my friend! We do share ideas with others of a similar nature! 🕊️
Yay! Because I think you’re a good human being 💙
Its interesting that the SCOTUS Christian majority is working to create a highly autocratic presidency. CS Lewis argues that democracy is the best form of governance. As we are all fallen and imperfect, democracy provides checks and balances against bad motives. How is creating an autocratic presidency and putting a malicious narcissist in the office going to result in a Christian culture?
The sad part is the particular strain of Catholicism that we see in the Supreme Court is NOT the only one. It is the intolerant strain that hates Pope Francis because he’s too nice. So many Catholics don’t know about or remember Liberation Theology and its emphasis on lifting up the poor and bringing about social justice. The Jesuits (including him) do… That’s why so many Catholics turned mean when Francis was selected (even though the churches teaching is that the Holy Spirit is moving within the whole process of selection). Kind of like how so many people turned mean when Obama won the presidency. It’s one thing to preach love and tolerance. It’s an entirely different thing when leadership openly advocates it 🙃
Brilliant in content and timing. So glad I signed up.
Interesting political based viewpoint, but there is so much evidence contrary to this perspective; do your own due diligence.
And then there’s some of us who got here in the 1600s … driven by money, war, slavery, prison, indentured servitude… We still keep the family history and smack around some of our inbred cousins who are straight up lying. Christianity my ass.
Brilliant piece. 100%💙🇺🇸💙
This is great, plus gives great clarity.
“Crusades 2025”
"Merciful Providence" and "Divine Good" sound like Academic terms, and reflect a Roman take on divination and statecraft would have been popular with an Academic like Cicero, who wrote the world's first constitution (which would not be discovered until the 19th century because St. Augustine wrote his City of God over it - once again Christians obscuring Deist legacies).
Unlike popular Greek and Roman religions, during the Golden Age of Greece they also discovered Reason. In Rome, being in government was considered a sacred duty, meant be the rule of the wise or "provident," imbued with the ability to divine God's will (statecraft, the art and science of government).
As universal ideals, it's not surprising to see future generations rediscover them after such dark ages. It is sad to see them abandon them. Thank you for shedding light with your beautiful essay.
People not religion or government are to blame. Really Don, did you really say that. You mean that Religion is not part of the problem, are you speaking from biblical teachings, the Bible lets say.
Please clarify your statement.
Together we stand ...