Friday, February 3, 2023

Rubin on George Washington's Approach To the "Christian Nation" Question

Writing at the Washington Post, Jennifer Rubin has an article entitled, "Think America Is A ‘Christian Nation’? George Washington Didn’t." 

I saw this from Dean Paul Caron's site. Quoting Rubin from Caron's site: 

The Jewish community in the United States is as old as its democracy. In August 1790, George Washington sent a letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, R.I., thanking them for their well wishes.

He wrote: “The Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy — a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship.” He added, “It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for, happily, the Government of the United States, which 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.”

To a people long denied citizenship in the Old World, kept as a people apart from Christian neighbors, Washington was explaining something quite revolutionary: The United States does not simply forbear Jews; Jews are part of the United States. As the Touro Synagogue in Newport explains on its website: “The letter reassured those who had fled religious tyranny that life in the new nation would be different, that religious ‘toleration’ would give way to religious liberty, and that the government would not interfere with individuals in matters of conscience and belief.” ...

Those who view the United States as a “White Christian nation” would do well to ponder Washington’s letter. Its closing passage, which speaks in terms familiar to the people of the Torah, stands as an eloquent rebuke to that notion: “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.”

The Founding Fathers are often criticized (or excused) on matters of race and gender as men trapped in the blinkered vision of the past. But in this case, the most esteemed American of his time plainly saw beyond the common prejudices of his era. For that reason, he earned a special place in the hearts of American Jews. ... We Jews will remain part of the American experience so long as Americans of whatever faith or no faith heed Washington’s admonition.

Let me add, that some may claim, okay let's use "Judeo-Christian" instead of "Christian." But I have evidence that Washington viewed Islam as a legitimate monotheistic, non-Christian religion along with Judaism.

One thing is for sure, George Washington was "pro-religion" in a general sense. And he meant some kind of generic monotheism that transcended Christianity or even Judaism and Christianity.
(Washington himself was nominally Anglican and believed in a warm Providence. Plenty of terms have been used attempting to capture his personal creed, which seems a bit mysterious. But "warm deist," "Christian-Deist," and even more modern terms like "morally therapeutic deist" and "theistic rationalist" all seem applicable.)
To Washington, when he lauded "religion," he did not necessarily mean someone's "pet" version of "Christianity," which is the error that many Christian Nationalists make when they quote him.
If I were to describe Washington's creed in a way that was unique to him and him only it would be as some kind of noble pagan, a revived modern for the late 18th Century Roman Stoic like Cincinnatus or Cato, like here.

9 comments:

Tom Van Dyke said...

The Founding era knew little of the specifics of Islam, especially as practiced and understood by its adherents. The "Jefferson Quran" had these words from St. Augustine [in Latin] on it cover page:

“There is no false doctrine that does not contain some truth.”

https://americancreation.blogspot.com/2019/01/on-jeffersons-quran.html


As for

"One thing is for sure, George Washington was "pro-religion" in a general sense. And he meant some kind of generic monotheism that transcended Christianity or even Judaism and Christianity."

Washington recommended Christianity specifically to the Native Americans:

"You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are.

Congress will do everything they can to assist you in this wise intention; and to tie the knot of friendship and union so fast, that nothing shall ever be able to loose it..."


There was an abstract appreciation and tolerance of the other Abrahamic religions but in no way were they considered equal.

Jonathan Rowe said...

-----------------------

"You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are.

Congress will do everything they can to assist you in this wise intention; and to tie the knot of friendship and union so fast, that nothing shall ever be able to loose it..."

------------------------

More an affirmation than a recommendation. Those Indians had already decided to convert and ask for the $.

GW nodded his head.

Tom Van Dyke said...

Nowhere does Washington recommend other religions--or God[s]. The Jews, of course, are sui generis.

"the same wonder-working Deity, who long since delivering the Hebrews from their Egyptian Oppressors planted them in the promised land—whose providential agency has lately been conspicuous in establishing these United States as an independent nation"

This is Jehovah, not the god of a "noble pagan."

As for Washington's personal beliefs, they are secondary to his acknowledgment that America was de facto a Christian nation

"With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion, manners, habits, and political principles." Tolerance of other beliefs had become an American principle, but Washington swore his first presidential oath on a Bible; Congress immediately thereafter went over to St. Paul's Chapel for prayer.

That America WAS a Christian nation did not require that it remain one, but Washington found such a theo-cultural unity salutary.

"You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are...to tie the knot of friendship and union so fast, that nothing shall ever be able to loose it...""

Jonathan Rowe said...

GW did support the Natives converting to assimilate into into America culture.

But keep in mind, this was what was written to him. This is what his aide who wrote GW's address, what you quoted above, was responding to (it was given in GW's hand so I think it's fair to credit the words to him).

"That the said Delaware Nation have establish’d a town where Numbers of them have embraced Christianity under the Instruction of the Reverend & Worthy Mr David Ziesberger whose honest zealous Labours & good Examples have induced many of them to listen to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which has been a Means of introducing considerable Order, Regularity & Love of Peace into the Minds of the whole Nation—They therefore hope Congress will countenance & promote the Mission of this Gentleman, so far as they may deem expedient, & they may rely that the Delaware Nation will afford every Encouragement thereto in their Power."

Tom Van Dyke said...

This is simply not factual.

"And he meant some kind of generic monotheism that transcended Christianity or even Judaism and Christianity."

Washington was tolerant of all but spoke specifically of Christianity and not of other religions.


"...that Charity, Humility, and Pacific temper of mind which were the Characteristicks of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a Happy Nation."

https://washingtonpapers.org/documents/george-washington-to-john-hancock-circular-11-june-1783/

Jonathan Rowe said...

That's one quotation (not written by GW but given under his hand). There is also one quotation (co-written with Jefferson) where he says he "adores" the Muslim God. And two quotations referring to God as "The Great Spirit" when speaking to Indians.

That's why I'm sticking with the claim.

Tom Van Dyke said...

Two stray quotes with no context is not an argument or a thesis. Christianity was the reality on the ground; Washington swore his oath of office on a Christian Bible.

They knew far too little of Islam to intelligently discuss it. It was an abstraction for non-Christian theism.

Jonathan Rowe said...

"Two stray quotes with no context is not an argument or a thesis."

Yes TWO STRAY QUOTES are the ONLY TIMES GW ever mentioned the NAME or the PERSON of Jesus Christ. In GW's recorded words JC and "The Great Spirit" are even.

It's interesting, Peter Lillback wrote his book before he was familiar with Frazer's thesis. Peter Henriques made Lillback familiar with it during their debate (if you don't remember the story, I was almost a participant until Ray Soller and I suggested someone more distinguished, i.e., Henriques).

But when Lillback address "The Great Spirit" he notes it as an outlier and Lillback quotes the Bible along the lines of "be all things to all people."

Frazer's thesis notes that kind of vibe (a God who is "all things to all people") is central to "theistic rationalism."

Tom Van Dyke said...

Frazer's thesis notes that kind of vibe (a God who is "all things to all people") is central to "theistic rationalism."

That is reasoning backwards. Paul the Apostle does the same thing on Mars Hill in the Bible. [Acts 17:22-31]

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2017%3A22-31&version=NASB