The Religious Roots

Although before his translation into Chief Executive of the United States General Eisenhower generally went golfing on the seventh day, he nevertheless maintained on the hustings that “the Almighty takes a definite and direct interest day by day in the progress of the nation.” A more reflective and articulate observer of the American scene, Alexis de Tocqueville, had noted more than a century before that “Religion in America takes no direct part in the government of society, but it must be regarded as the first of [Americans’] political institutions.” It is Russell Kirk’s well-considered conclusion that “All aspects of any civilization arise out of a people’s religion. . . . All order . . . [grows] out of general belief in truths that are perceived by the moral imagination.” It is thus our religious heritage, bequeathed us in its primal form by the ancient Hebrews, that is the taproot of American order.

An inspiring thesis. All across this broad land sales representatives from the publishing houses are desperately pushing their history titles on college professors, while the latter flog bored and cranky students with the dates of birth of saints and revolutions. A college traveler for my own publishing house recently informed me of a poll which says that today’s undergraduate finds Adolf Hitler and Jesus Christ, in that order, the most fascinating of men. If Mr. Kirk’s dissertation, and others like it, should catch fire, perhaps the link between Western history and the relevance the “kids” seek is ready to be forged.

CW

About the Author

Chilton Williamson Jr.

Although before his translation into Chief Executive of the United States General Eisenhower generally went golfing on the seventh day, he nevertheless maintained on the hustings that “the Almighty takes a definite and direct interest day by day in the progress of the nation.” A more reflective and articulate observer of the American scene, Alexis de Tocqueville, had noted more than a century before that “Religion in America takes no direct part in the government of society, but it must be regarded as the first of [Americans’] political institutions.” It is Russell Kirk’s well-considered conclusion that “All aspects of any civilization arise out of a people’s religion. . . . All order . . . [grows] out of general belief in truths that are perceived by the moral imagination.” It is thus our religious heritage, bequeathed us in its primal form by the ancient Hebrews, that is the taproot of American order.

An inspiring thesis. All across this broad land sales representatives from the publishing houses are desperately pushing their history titles on college professors, while the latter flog bored and cranky students with the dates of birth of saints and revolutions. A college traveler for my own publishing house recently informed me of a poll which says that today’s undergraduate finds Adolf Hitler and Jesus Christ, in that order, the most fascinating of men. If Mr. Kirk’s dissertation, and others like it, should catch fire, perhaps the link between Western history and the relevance the “kids” seek is ready to be forged.