tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post4678063601744557697..comments2024-03-28T10:44:30.518-06:00Comments on American Creation: Presbyterian "Tone" and the FoundingBrad Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17669677047039491864noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-61263459678896032842009-03-05T19:25:00.000-07:002009-03-05T19:25:00.000-07:00Anything come to mind about Reagan and "orthodox" ...Anything come to mind about Reagan and "orthodox" Christianity? I'm drawing a blank here, and don't know if your bifurcation of Reagan and Washington in this area is necessary.<BR/><BR/><I>I know a lot of people who state that Reagan was not a very religious man but used it for political purposes.<BR/></I><BR/><BR/>I know a lot of people who say nasty things about Reagan imputing cynical and base motives to him, none of them remotely provable. Unless you've got some proof of Reagan demagoguing religion. That just doesn't sound like him.Tom Van Dykehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07121072404143877596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-7966429096638724192009-03-05T17:50:00.000-07:002009-03-05T17:50:00.000-07:00As for the comparisons between Washington and Reag...As for the comparisons between Washington and Reagan, I think we could make an interesting connection. As far as I know (and I admit to not knowing a lot about Reagan) most of his religious comments were done in public and could have been for the benefit of his campaign. I know a lot of people who state that Reagan was not a very religious man but used it for political purposes.<BR/><BR/>As for Washington, I don't really see this. And although he mentions the divine in a number of presidential speeches, it was never a clearly Christian exprerssion of faith, as was the case on occasion with Reagan.Brad Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17669677047039491864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-59393762995794030072009-03-05T17:47:00.000-07:002009-03-05T17:47:00.000-07:00Ironically enough, I believe Reagan considered him...Ironically enough, I believe Reagan considered himself a Presbyterian for the majority of his life, though he was originally a member of the Disciples of Christ. He did also entertain (albeit very briefly) some of the rather different views held by his wife, Nancy.Brad Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17669677047039491864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-43496857796503948982009-03-05T17:23:00.000-07:002009-03-05T17:23:00.000-07:00And we might add Andrew Jackson, POTUS7, who, tho...And we might add Andrew Jackson, POTUS7, who, though apparently devout [especially later in life, when he built a chapel at the Hermitage!], was fully committed to American pluralism:<BR/><BR/>"I was brought up a rigid Presbeterian, to which I have always adhered. Our excellent constitution guarantees to every one freedom of religion, and charity tells us, and you know Charity is the reall basis of all true religion, and charity says judge the tree by its fruit. all who profess christianity, believe in a Saviour and that by and through him we must be saved. We ought therefor to consider all good christians, whose walk corresponds with their professions, be him Presbeterian, Episcopalian, Baptist, methodist or Roman catholic. let it be remembered by your Grandmother that no established religion can exist under our glorious constitution." -- letter to Ellen Hanson, 25 March 1835 <BR/><BR/><BR/>The funny thing is, I find many more arguments for pluralism in that era made from the religious side, that tyranny of the conscience is a crime against God, then ones similar to today's secular rights-based arguments.<BR/><BR/>Even if that's a function of those times, it indicates what the theologico-political landscape indeed was, arguing foremost the notion that rights come from God.Tom Van Dykehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07121072404143877596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-79991467737928178712009-03-05T16:58:00.000-07:002009-03-05T16:58:00.000-07:00TVD,You are right about questions on Reagan's orth...TVD,<BR/><BR/>You are right about questions on Reagan's orthodoxy; and there is still more to be explored there. I remember doing a little bit of brief research and finding he had connections to some orthodox Churches. But Jimmy Carter's orthodoxy was far more pronounced.<BR/><BR/>Though it could be that guys like Reagan and George "the Muslims worship the same God Jews and Christians do" W. Bush are just walking in the path of the civil religion that folks like GW and the following 4 or 5 Presidents carved out.Jonathan Rowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04079637406589278386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-33326712796746022012009-03-05T16:52:00.000-07:002009-03-05T16:52:00.000-07:00Yes, solidly factual, Jon.However, that era's curi...Yes, solidly factual, Jon.<BR/><BR/>However, that era's curiosity and concern about Washington's orthodoxy, and Washington's pointed silence about it tells us a lot about the era's overarching concern about religion.<BR/><BR/>By contrast, I think of the candidate of the Religious Right, Ronald Reagan, and nothing immediately comes to mind that indicates he was anymore orthodox than Washington was. In fact his epitaph states a belief in man being good, which is Rousseau, not the Bible.Tom Van Dykehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07121072404143877596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-80939902638835607032009-03-05T15:00:00.000-07:002009-03-05T15:00:00.000-07:00I don't believe we have...thanks for the suggestio...I don't believe we have...thanks for the suggestion and I am glad you enjoy the blog. <BR/><BR/>BTW, excellent post, Jon. I couldn't agree more. I read it over twice just to find something on which to disagree, but alas, I have nothing to say.Brad Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17669677047039491864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-9272093328536372642009-03-05T14:56:00.000-07:002009-03-05T14:56:00.000-07:00JUST FOUND YOUR BLOG THE OTHER DAY AND HAVE BEEN E...JUST FOUND YOUR BLOG THE OTHER DAY AND HAVE BEEN ENJOYING IT.. HAVE YOU DONE ANY POSTS ON THE "OXFORD GROUP"?<BR/>P.S. HAPPY ALAMO DAY TOMORROW MARCH 6THJoe Toddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07960458164425338569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-61834988502085985062009-03-05T10:27:00.000-07:002009-03-05T10:27:00.000-07:00Thomas Jefferson>His ignorance and arrogance is...Thomas Jefferson><BR/><BR/>His ignorance and arrogance is astounding, having known the crimes of Servetus, yet always ignorant of them. He was most likely ignorant of the penalty of blasphemy is his own country.<BR/><BR/>imposed a religious test><BR/><BR/>Presbyterians were against a religious test.Our Founding Truthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01072993191810565535noreply@blogger.com