In God We Trust

In God We In God We TrustTrustReligion and the Founding Fathers

Kevin P. Dincherwww.kevindincher.com

CSU-East Bay

In God We TrustIn God We TrustColonial Experience

◦ History versus Mythology

◦ “Old” versus “New” ◦ Messy

Founding Philosophies◦ Calvinism

God’s Sovereignty Total Depravity Restrain

◦ Enlightenment/Deism Natural Equality Rights of the Individual Liberty

Thomas Jefferson◦ Enlightenment

Philosophy◦ Personal Journey

Reason-based faith◦ Key religious values

Equality and Liberty

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Jefferson and Political Jefferson and Political PartiesParties"In every free and deliberating

society, there must, from the nature of man, be opposite parties, and violent dissensions and discords; and one of these, for the most part, must prevail over the other for a longer or shorter time."

-Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 1798

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Jefferson and Political Jefferson and Political PartiesParties"I never submitted the whole system of

my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever, in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else, where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent. If I could not go to heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all."

-Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 1789.

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Jefferson and Political Jefferson and Political PartiesParties"Men by their constitutions are naturally

divided into two parties: 1. Those who fear and distrust the people, and

wish to draw all powers from them into the hands of the higher classes.

2. Those who identify themselves with the people, have confidence in them, cherish and consider them as the most honest and safe, although not the most wise depositary of the public interests.

In every country these two parties exist, and in every one where they are free to think, speak, and write, they will declare themselves."

-Thomas Jefferson to Henry Lee, 1824

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Jeffersonian Republicans

Federalists

Thomas JeffersonJames Madison,James Monroe

Alexander Hamilton,George Washington,John Adams

Constitution Strict interpretation Loose interpretationFederal Government

Weak Strong

States’ Rights Primary What states’ rights?Economic Fiscally “weak” Fiscally “strong”Military No standing army Strong military (army/navy)Foreign Policy Pro-France Pro-EnglandAppeal “Yoeman Farmer”

(common man, grass roots)

Well-educated elite (merchants, bankers, lawyers)

1800-1820 – dominant party

1792-1800 – dominant party

War of 1812: split over issues of national defense

1820: no longer a national party

1824: Democratic Party (Andrew Jackson) and Why Party (John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay)

Jefferson and ReligionJefferson and ReligionThomas Jefferson

◦Religion Reason-based Non-traditional Christian Moral foundation for democratic government

◦Separation of Church and State Madison:

Threat government posed to freedom of religion Jefferson:

Threat religion posed to democratic government8

““Separation of Church and Separation of Church and State”State”

◦I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercises thereof, thus building a wall of separation between church and state.

January 1, 1802: Danbury Baptist

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““Separation of Church and Separation of Church and State”State”Jefferson

◦1802: Danbury Baptist

Madison: “total separation of the church from the state”

1811: letter to a Baptist church 1819: letter to American diplomat, Robert Walsh

US Supreme Court◦“Separation of church and state”: 25 times

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Church and StateChurch and StateChurch and State

◦No state religion◦No financial

support ◦No one compelled

to join a particular church

◦No prohibition on the free exercise of religion

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Faith and PoliticsFaith and PoliticsChurch and State need to be separate

◦Enmeshing government and a specific church has not place in American political system

Faith and Politics:◦One’s personal

beliefs/philosophies/morality are part of the political dialogue. Beliefs about what it means to be human,

about human relationships and about human behavior to dialogue Not “impose” or “tolerate”

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Benjamin Franklin (1706 – Benjamin Franklin (1706 – 1790)1790)

“Public Religion”◦Unity◦First “American”

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Jean Jacques Rousseau Jean Jacques Rousseau (1717 – 1778)(1717 – 1778)

Geneva

◦Calvinist

◦Catholic

◦Calvinist

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Jean Jacques Rousseau Jean Jacques Rousseau (1717 – 1778)(1717 – 1778)1762: Of The Social Contract, Or

Principles of Political Right (Du contrat social ou Principes du droit politique)

Civil Religion

◦ Moral and spiritual foundation essential for any modern society.

◦ “Social cement,”

◦ Help to unify the state by providing it with sacred authority. 15

Jean Jacques Rousseau Jean Jacques Rousseau (1717 – 1778)(1717 – 1778)Characteristics of Civil Religion

◦Belief in a Deity

◦Afterlife

◦Reward/punishment

◦Religious tolerance16

Civil Religion: Sacred Civil Religion: Sacred AuthorityAuthority The invocation of God in

political speeches and public monuments

The quotation of religious texts on public occasions by political leaders

The veneration of past political leaders

The use of the lives of these leaders to teach moral ideal

The veneration of veterans and casualties of a nation's wars

Religious gatherings called by political leaders

The use of religious symbols on public buildings

The use of public buildings for worship

Founding myths and other national myths

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Acts of “Public Religion”Acts of “Public Religion” Singing the national anthem

at public gatherings

Parades or display of the national flag on certain patriotic holidays

Oaths of allegiance

Ceremonies for the inauguration of a president or the coronation of a king

Retelling exaggerated, one-sided, and simplified mythologized tales of Founding Fathers and other great leaders or great events from the past

Monuments commemorating great leaders of the past or historic events

Monuments to dead soldiers or annual ceremonies to remember them

Expressions of reverence for the country or the Constitution or the King

Public display of the coffin of a recently deceased political leader

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Born in 1706

◦Boston Puritan theocracy Bastion of conservatism

◦Unconventional family

◦Fairly conventional upbringing Adolescent: atheist

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1723◦New York◦Philadelphia◦London

1726◦Philadelphia

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1728◦ Articles of Belief and Acts of

Religion (1728)

I believe there is one Supreme most perfect Being

Supremely perfect

Human nature

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Creed: First Principles

◦ I believe there is one Supreme most perfect Being

Supremely perfect

Human nature

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Creed: First Principles

◦ I believe there is one Supreme most perfect Being

◦Supreme Being: Author and Father of the Gods themselves Inferior to Supreme Being Superior to humans Possess some human passions

Benjamin Franklin (1706 – Benjamin Franklin (1706 – 1790)1790)Personal Faith

◦Moral foundation◦Encouraged moral behavior

Public Religion◦Unity

Common experience◦Encouraged “virtuous life”

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Benjamin Franklin (1706 – Benjamin Franklin (1706 – 1790)1790)Virtuous Life

◦Aristotle Virtue/Vice = Habit Moral excellence Individual's ideas of pleasure and pain

◦Franklin Survival of the republic required virtuous

people who would avoid corruption

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Benjamin Franklin (1706 – Benjamin Franklin (1706 – 1790)1790)Poor Richard’s Almanack

1732 – 1758 Richard Saunders 10,000 copies/year

◦ Calendar◦ Weather◦ Poems◦ Astronomical/

Astrological info◦ Mathematical Exercise◦ Demographics (1750)◦ Aphorism/Proverbs

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13 Virtues13 VirtuesTemperance

SilenceOrder

Resolution

Frugality

Industry

Sincerity

Justice

Moderation

Cleanliness

Tranquility

Chastity

Humility

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Franklin and ReligionFranklin and Religion

Religious Dogma Moral Foundation I think opinions should

be judge by their influence and effects; and if a man holds none that tend to make him less virtuous or more vicious, it may be concluded that he holds none that are dangerous, which I hope is the case with me.

If Men are so wicked as we now see them with Religion what would they be if without it?

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30McKinley Morganfield (April 4, 1913 – April 30, 1983)

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Muddy Waters!Colonies • Calvinist Majority

• 9 with established religions• 4 with religions freedom/tolerance

Jefferson • Personal Faith: “Christian” (redefined)• Reason-based faith

• Religion: necessary moral foundation• Equality/Liberty

• Organized religion opposed to equality/liberty• Separation of Church and State

Franklin • Personal Faith: Deist/Polytheist• Reason-based faith

• Say “no” to Dogma• Religion: moral foundation – virtue and good behavior• “Public Religion”: Unity + virtue and good behavior

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Depiction of a fetish in South Africa by the London Missionary Society, circa 1900.

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Muddy Waters!Colonies • Calvinist Majority

• 9 with established religions• 4 with religions freedom/tolerance

Jefferson • Personal Faith: “Christian” (redefined)• Reason-based faith

• Religion: necessary moral foundation• Equality/Liberty

• Organized religion opposed to equality/liberty• Separation of Church and State

Franklin • Personal Faith: Deist/Polytheist• Reason-based faith

• Say “no” to Dogma• Religion: moral foundation – virtue and good behavior• “Public Religion”: Unity + virtue and good behavior

Revolution • Rapproachment between Calvinist majority and Deistic founders

• Biblical/Millennial language of the “Great Awakening”

George Washington (1732 – George Washington (1732 – 1799) 1799)

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Personal Beliefs?◦Baptized Anglican but never confirmed

Vestryman◦1753: Freemason◦1758: House of Burgesses

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Nelly Custis-Lewis Nelly Custis-Lewis (adopted daughter)(adopted daughter)

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Franklin Stein The Religious Beliefs of our Presidents

One of the most liberal of freethinkers

Tim LeHaye The Faith of our Fathers Bible-believing branch of evangelical Christianity

Mason Locke Weems

A History of the Life and Death, Virtues and Exploits of General George Washington

Cherry TreeKneeling in the snow in prayer at Valley Forge

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Deism?◦ Surrounded by Deism/Deists

◦ Freemasonry

◦ God “Blessings of Heaven” “Providence” “Great Architect of the Universe”

◦ Jesus/Christianity Avoided

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Prayer?Deists

◦ Prayer is generally a waste of time

◦ Some thought prayer had value as a conduit of divine inspiration

Washington: “Warm Deist?

Governing laws of nature Architect did sometimes

intervene

Books of Prayers by Washington

Youth: rejected by the Smithsonian

Adult: highly edited

National Thanksgiving Proclamation

October 3, 1789

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Religion Freedom/ToleranceTouro Synagoge (1790), Newport, Rhode Island

◦ “May the children of the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants—while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid.”

◦ “For happily the Government of the United States gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.”

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Farewell Address (1796)Farewell Address (1796)Necessity and importance of national union

Value of the Constitution and the rule of law

Warns about foreign influence in domestic affairs and against meddling in European affairs

Evils of political parties

Importance of religion

Civic duty and proper virtues of a republican people

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Farewell Address (1796)Farewell Address (1796)Importance of Religion

◦Rejected: no morality without religion (Hamilton)

◦Included: Morality: “a necessary spring of popular

government” Nation could not be moral without “religious

principle” National morality is necessary for good government Politicians should cherish religion’s support of

national morality

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Farewell Address (1796)Farewell Address (1796)Proper virtues of a

republican people

◦Politics of Aristotle Focused less on rights,

more on political duties Citizens: put private

interests aside and serve state in accordance with duties defines by law

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Farewell Address (1796)Farewell Address (1796)Proper virtues of a

republican people

◦ Renaissance (14th – 17th Centuries) Reinstate ideals of civic

duty Civic Conversation Civilized Behavior Work

◦ Enlightenment

45Frederick William MacMonnies statue "Civic Virtue" outside Manhattan's City Hall circa 1922

Farewell Address (1796)Farewell Address (1796)1825

◦ Thomas Jefferson and James Madison

◦ Recommended the use of Washington's Farewell Address at the University of Virginia

◦ One of the best guides to the principles of American government.

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February 22, 1862:

◦ Abraham Lincoln

◦ Proclamation calling on Americans to mark the birthday of "the Father of his Country," with public readings of "his immortal Farewell Address."

In God We Trust

Documents

threat religion

party of men

total separation

wall of separation

free exercises

party john quincy adams

john taylor

threat government