Like James Madison, the fourth President of the United States and father of the U.S. Constitution who had misgivings about Chief Executives making religious pronouncements of any kind, I could dispense with annual Thanksgiving Proclamation from the White House. But still I enjoy the holiday and forgive Obama and most of his predecessors for engaging in a little liturgical theater each November.
Glancing at George Washington's declaration of the first Thanksgiving, in 1789, provides an interesting window into the Founder's faith. He prominently offers gratitude for the "religious liberty with which we have been blessed." He also prays for the " practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science," suggesting no incompatibility between the two but implying that greater understanding of nature's laws might be the best window into the mind of of the creator.
Washington actually acknowledged "Almighty God" in this document, which was a rarity in his other proclamations. More often, he referred to the deity with the kinds of circumlocutions that dot the rest of this Thanksgiving announcement: "Beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be ... Great Lord and Ruler of Nations ... Providence." Interestingly, Washington nowhere, in any of his journals or correspondence, ever uses Christological forumulas to refer to the divinity, e.g. "Savior, Redeemer," etc. In his own way, and in the context of his time, he was searching for what we'd now call inclusive religious language that went beyond Christian sectarianism to unite Americans of all religious persuasions in a bond of fellowship, civic cooperation and goodwill.
It was not a bad dream. And in today's polarized religious climate--when Mitt Romney's Mormonism is again a campaign issue and Muslims are profiled as potential terrorists--the Founders remain a sensible model of how faith might yet become a force that unites rather than divides us from each other. I imagine even atheists might thank God--with a wink--for the First Amendment. So let's celebrate and give thanks:
For a world in which there are many faiths,
For a nation in which there is freedom of worship,
And a land where people of all creeds, colors and backgrounds can sit together
At the table of mutual care and respect.
3 comments:
For a nation in which there is freedom of worship,
In the spirit of a unified commonwealth I'd just tweek this a little:
...
For a nation in which there is freedom of worship or to not worship depending on the dictates of one's own conscience,
For a nation in which, regardless of religious and spiritual affiliation we all are free to seek happiness; a nation in which we also commonly bear the burden of seeking and honing the virtues that underlie true happiness and the soundness of the republic built on certain self evident truths,
For a nation in which we can all strive together to advance the more perfect union,
...
Of course I realize that this will twist some knickers. I blame the founding fathers.
"Interestingly, Washington nowhere, in any of his journals or correspondence, ever uses Christological forumulas to refer to the divinity, e.g. "Savior, Redeemer," etc. In his own way, and in the context of his time, he was searching for what we'd now call inclusive religious language that went beyond Christian sectarianism to unite Americans of all religious persuasions in a bond of fellowship, civic cooperation and goodwill."
Spot on Gary.
"he was searching for what we'd now call inclusive religious language that went beyond Christian sectarianism to unite Americans of all religious persuasions in a bond of fellowship, civic cooperation and goodwill."
There was "God" as the basis for all that. Call Him what you will. Call Him "It" if you must, because God in the masculine is only human shorthand.
Jewish biblical scholar Dennis Prager explains why, very interesting:
http://articles.latimes.com/2005/jun/19/opinion/op-faith19
One. God. A "Great Spirit," perhaps, but not "Great Spirits" or "spirituality." The God of the Founders. If we're gonna play this Founding thing, on a blog about religion and the Founding, Gary, let's play it straight, OK?
Because although Jefferson said, "But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg," whenever the non-religious Jefferson wrote of God---and he did, often---it was about the One God.
Just so we understand each other, Rev. Kowalski, once and for all. You do not know me, but I get you just fine. I've been settling open business of late, I hope you don't mind. Getting older.
Richard John Neuhaus, 2001. He had your number, brother:
• The Burlington Free Press of Vermont reports that atheists there find religious—most prefer the term “spiritual”—fellowship at the First Unitarian Universalist Society. Minister Gary Kowalski (a stray Polish Catholic, it would seem) says, “Our congregation welcomes all beliefs.” In a survey of members' “religious orientation” (this orientation is apparently not in the genes), most identified themselves as humanists, while the second most popular choice was pagan. According to the report, “Becky Logan, fifty, of Monkton has been a devout Unitarian for fifteen years. She also is an atheist.” Devout? The word is from devovere, to swear by or avow allegiance. By whom and to whom? one might ask. In the Letter to the Hebrews we are told that God swears by Himself, there being no higher authority. I expect it is much the same when we make ourselves our gods."
http://www.firstthings.com/article/2009/02/bible-babel-27
Don't worry, Gary, I don't expect a reply. That's a laugh, you don't even read this blog. But I read you loud & clear and thanks for sharing. Richard John Neuhaus had your number a decade ago.
[Should you actually want to reply, Gary, pls do so privately by email and all correspondence will be held confidential. Perhaps you're actually trying to steer your flock towards the One God for their sake, certainly not His. Perhaps I misread you. Or perhaps you're a huckster like all the rest of them, scabbing a living off the donations of the lost and confused. I cannot know your heart.]
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