Sam Weaver
A long-overdue clarification
By Sam Weaver
I thank God (and the dedicated, hard-working editor of RenewAmerica.com) for the opportunity to express my thoughts and opinions on this venue. I realize that this honor requires a great deal of responsibility on my part. Not only must every item stated as fact be honest and accurate, but every thought that is widely misconstrued by my readers must be clarified.
I have received more feedback — both pro and con (mostly con) — from my columns than I ever thought possible. This is a very good thing! I have learned so much via input from all sides. The two articles that have drawn the most response by far are: "What is an evangelical Christian?" and "Separation of Church and State." I plan to specifically address the former in my next article. In the responses to both of these articles, I noticed a common misunderstanding of my philosophy among some of my critics. Because the same misconception has come up in a few responses to my latest column, I believe that a formal clarification is long overdue.
I am NOT a theocrat!
A very common theme among those critical of my articles goes something like this: "You and your 'fundie' buddies on the 'religious right' want to impose a theocracy upon the United States of America. The Taliban in Afghanistan was a theocracy. Iran is a theocracy. Fundamentalists of any religion cannot and must not be allowed to impose their will in a free society."
I want to make it 100% clear that I desire absolutely no part of any establishment of religion or any theocracy! I cannot — nor would I ever claim to — speak for the entire "religious right." [Contrary to conventional wisdom, members of the "religious right" do not all march in lock-step to one human drummer. I know a whole bunch of folks who consider themselves conservative Christians. The diversity of thought among just those that I know is astounding. Those on the "Left" who consider all "fundies" theocrats are committing two of the very sins that they deem most egregious — judgmentalism and stereotyping.] However, I have great confidence that both Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson would whole-heartedly agree with the following statements.
A conservative is one who seeks to maintain and preserve the basic institutions, principles and ideas upon which his nation was founded. While slavery has been called an "institution," it was certainly never a fundamental American institution because it was an abhorrent violation of certain founding principles as stated in the Declaration of Independence. Slavery notwithstanding, human liberty was the primary goal of America's Founders and Framers. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." was a means toward this end. No true modern American conservative wants any part of any national establishment of religion!
Dogma and Principle
Dogma: any tenet or belief that is derived from human reason, speculation or interpretation of Scripture; esp. one peculiar to a certain denomination, sect or cult.
Principle: a fundamental truth that is held as such generally by a people, crossing many religions, denominations and/or sects.
Countless dogmas imposed upon the people by fiat in the Old World via establishments of religion and by kings with their "Divine Right" were unacceptable to the American Founders and to their constituents. When the Framers railed against organized religion (and many did just that), they were denouncing the restrictions on liberty and progress — not to mention countless atrocities committed in the name of religion — that state-supported dogmas and doctrines had always precipitated in the past.
On the other hand, certain generally held Judeo-Christian principles were vital to American government and society. The first and foremost principle of American liberty is found in the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence. Man's Creator (God) endowed him with certain rights, and government's duty is to secure those rights; not to grant them or to arbitrarily take them away. Thus: the Rule of Law and, for example, the right to private property. William Blackstone's "Commentaries on the Laws of England" was highly influential in the philosophy of many of the Framers. In his Commentaries, Blackstone describes in detail how the ideas of the Rule of Law and the right to private property come directly from the Holy Bible and are essential to human liberty. Liberty itself is a Biblical principle or idea. (See, for example, II Corinthians 3:17 and John 8:32.)
Other important principles include the fallen (basically corrupt or selfish) nature of man and the free will of man. Hence: the separation of powers, the system of checks and balances, limited government with enumerated powers; and government by and with the consent of the governed.
Yet another significant idea or principle is the Protestant Work Ethic. (See Genesis 3:17-19 and II Thessalonians 3:10-12.)
I have argued (See Judgment vs. Mercy) that the very idea of American federalism was based upon a profound understanding of the Judeo-Christian principle of judgment vs. mercy.
These and many other uniquely Judeo-Christian principles — fundamental to the American experiment (i.e., American liberty, government, jurisprudence and culture) — were once generally held as truth by great majorities of the electorate. Not anymore.
Relativism and the demise of principle
Relativism has become the ethic that is taught in public schools and imbued through secular media and popular culture. The vital differences between the meanings of the terms "dogma" and "principle" have become confounded. In today's multi-cultural, "politically correct" world, there are no longer any deeply held, virtually universal principles. Confusion, disunity and polarization abound.
Multiculturalism does nothing but subvert original American culture and American unity. E pluribus unum means "out of many, one." It does not mean "out of one, many"! Under the PC definition (dogma) of "religious tolerance," the principles and ideas of the majority religion (Judeo-Christianity) must not be dominant. (Some would go so far as to say that they should not even be tolerated!) Therefore, the principles and ideas that made America America for the first 200 years of her history should be cast aside. If this false and evil dogma becomes engrained in the hearts and minds of a majority of Americans, then soon there will no longer be an America.
Relativism, in all of its vile, anti-religious and anti-American forms, is undermining American society by supplanting the essential principles that made the United States of America both unique and unrivaled among the nations of the earth.
I do not wish to impose my religion on anyone — especially not through force of government! I do, however, want my fellow Americans to recognize those principles and ideas that have traditionally made America great. If I can do my part to make those principles and ideas known to this current generation, then perhaps some will voluntarily choose to accept and revere them. If enough moral, educated and informed Americans do their part, then American liberty, culture and excellence will be safe and secure for at least another generation.
© Sam Weaver
I thank God (and the dedicated, hard-working editor of RenewAmerica.com) for the opportunity to express my thoughts and opinions on this venue. I realize that this honor requires a great deal of responsibility on my part. Not only must every item stated as fact be honest and accurate, but every thought that is widely misconstrued by my readers must be clarified.
I have received more feedback — both pro and con (mostly con) — from my columns than I ever thought possible. This is a very good thing! I have learned so much via input from all sides. The two articles that have drawn the most response by far are: "What is an evangelical Christian?" and "Separation of Church and State." I plan to specifically address the former in my next article. In the responses to both of these articles, I noticed a common misunderstanding of my philosophy among some of my critics. Because the same misconception has come up in a few responses to my latest column, I believe that a formal clarification is long overdue.
I am NOT a theocrat!
A very common theme among those critical of my articles goes something like this: "You and your 'fundie' buddies on the 'religious right' want to impose a theocracy upon the United States of America. The Taliban in Afghanistan was a theocracy. Iran is a theocracy. Fundamentalists of any religion cannot and must not be allowed to impose their will in a free society."
I want to make it 100% clear that I desire absolutely no part of any establishment of religion or any theocracy! I cannot — nor would I ever claim to — speak for the entire "religious right." [Contrary to conventional wisdom, members of the "religious right" do not all march in lock-step to one human drummer. I know a whole bunch of folks who consider themselves conservative Christians. The diversity of thought among just those that I know is astounding. Those on the "Left" who consider all "fundies" theocrats are committing two of the very sins that they deem most egregious — judgmentalism and stereotyping.] However, I have great confidence that both Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson would whole-heartedly agree with the following statements.
A conservative is one who seeks to maintain and preserve the basic institutions, principles and ideas upon which his nation was founded. While slavery has been called an "institution," it was certainly never a fundamental American institution because it was an abhorrent violation of certain founding principles as stated in the Declaration of Independence. Slavery notwithstanding, human liberty was the primary goal of America's Founders and Framers. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." was a means toward this end. No true modern American conservative wants any part of any national establishment of religion!
Dogma and Principle
Dogma: any tenet or belief that is derived from human reason, speculation or interpretation of Scripture; esp. one peculiar to a certain denomination, sect or cult.
Principle: a fundamental truth that is held as such generally by a people, crossing many religions, denominations and/or sects.
Countless dogmas imposed upon the people by fiat in the Old World via establishments of religion and by kings with their "Divine Right" were unacceptable to the American Founders and to their constituents. When the Framers railed against organized religion (and many did just that), they were denouncing the restrictions on liberty and progress — not to mention countless atrocities committed in the name of religion — that state-supported dogmas and doctrines had always precipitated in the past.
On the other hand, certain generally held Judeo-Christian principles were vital to American government and society. The first and foremost principle of American liberty is found in the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence. Man's Creator (God) endowed him with certain rights, and government's duty is to secure those rights; not to grant them or to arbitrarily take them away. Thus: the Rule of Law and, for example, the right to private property. William Blackstone's "Commentaries on the Laws of England" was highly influential in the philosophy of many of the Framers. In his Commentaries, Blackstone describes in detail how the ideas of the Rule of Law and the right to private property come directly from the Holy Bible and are essential to human liberty. Liberty itself is a Biblical principle or idea. (See, for example, II Corinthians 3:17 and John 8:32.)
Other important principles include the fallen (basically corrupt or selfish) nature of man and the free will of man. Hence: the separation of powers, the system of checks and balances, limited government with enumerated powers; and government by and with the consent of the governed.
Yet another significant idea or principle is the Protestant Work Ethic. (See Genesis 3:17-19 and II Thessalonians 3:10-12.)
I have argued (See Judgment vs. Mercy) that the very idea of American federalism was based upon a profound understanding of the Judeo-Christian principle of judgment vs. mercy.
These and many other uniquely Judeo-Christian principles — fundamental to the American experiment (i.e., American liberty, government, jurisprudence and culture) — were once generally held as truth by great majorities of the electorate. Not anymore.
Relativism and the demise of principle
Relativism has become the ethic that is taught in public schools and imbued through secular media and popular culture. The vital differences between the meanings of the terms "dogma" and "principle" have become confounded. In today's multi-cultural, "politically correct" world, there are no longer any deeply held, virtually universal principles. Confusion, disunity and polarization abound.
Multiculturalism does nothing but subvert original American culture and American unity. E pluribus unum means "out of many, one." It does not mean "out of one, many"! Under the PC definition (dogma) of "religious tolerance," the principles and ideas of the majority religion (Judeo-Christianity) must not be dominant. (Some would go so far as to say that they should not even be tolerated!) Therefore, the principles and ideas that made America America for the first 200 years of her history should be cast aside. If this false and evil dogma becomes engrained in the hearts and minds of a majority of Americans, then soon there will no longer be an America.
Relativism, in all of its vile, anti-religious and anti-American forms, is undermining American society by supplanting the essential principles that made the United States of America both unique and unrivaled among the nations of the earth.
I do not wish to impose my religion on anyone — especially not through force of government! I do, however, want my fellow Americans to recognize those principles and ideas that have traditionally made America great. If I can do my part to make those principles and ideas known to this current generation, then perhaps some will voluntarily choose to accept and revere them. If enough moral, educated and informed Americans do their part, then American liberty, culture and excellence will be safe and secure for at least another generation.
© Sam Weaver
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