Liberty's Secrets by Joshua Charles

Author:Joshua Charles
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: WND Books
Published: 2015-03-11T04:00:00+00:00

CONCLUSION

“Such are the opinions of Americans,” Tocqueville noted of their religious beliefs and the way they had been seamlessly incorporated into their society. “But,” he observed sarcastically, “their error is obvious, because every day some learned [European] commentator proves to me that everything in America is fine except this religious spirit which I admire.”199 According to these commentators, American society had too much faith. Take it away, replace it with their atheistic and materialistic philosophy, and it would be perfect. “The only reply I can give to that,” Tocqueville responded, “is that those who talk like that have not been to America and have no more seen a religious nation than a free one.”200

He summed up the case for religion’s role in a free society in a way that would have made the Founders proud:

When these men attack religious beliefs, they are following their emotions not their interests. Tyranny may be able to do without faith, but freedom cannot. Religion is much more vital in the republic which they advocate than in the monarchy which they are attacking and in democratic republics most of all. How could society avoid destruction if, when political ties are relaxed, moral ties are not tightened? And what can be done with a nation in control of itself if it is not subject to God? … They would say that religious zeal had to burn itself out as freedom and education increased. How vexing that the facts are in conflict with this theory. There are certain European populations whose unbelief is matched only by their brutishness and ignorance, whereas in America you see one of the most free and enlightened nations in the world fulfilling all their public religious duties with enthusiasm.201

Among the Founders, atheism was nonexistent, deism was rare (if it existed at all), Christianity was venerated and at the very least respected, and the separation of church and state was the product of religious, not secular or humanistic, convictions. While properly dividing power between church and state, they enthusiastically encouraged the interaction between religion and society, and constantly asserted its role in maintaining the morality they believed was essential to maintaining the liberty of our nation.

Tocqueville was quite right when he drew the following conclusion about the American system begun with the religious Puritans and secured by the Founders: “In America, religion leads to wisdom; the observance of divine laws guides men to freedom.”202

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