Evangelicals and the First Amendment

Unlike the origins of most nations, America’s origins are not obscured in the mists of time. Not myths but objective chronicles and pure primary sources record our beginnings: writings meant to be understood in the same way by all, composed without deliberate obscurity or hidden motives. Yet our wisest men still debate the meaning of the American founding. Perhaps public-spiritedness renders some disputants reluctant to reject openly the principles the Founders followed. Perhaps others recognize the rhetorical advantage of credibly claiming: “The Fathers believed as we.” Or perhaps all parties mean what they say and say what they mean.

In any case, the differences go deep. Some contend that the Founders built on a foundation of atheism, hedonism, and materialism. Others argue that our Fathers fabricated from more theistic, moralistic, and idealistic materials of classical, mostly Aristotelian, origin. But almost always, at bottom, seems to be this question: Are America’s founding principles irreligious? Given the actual and rhetorical importance of the First Amendment as a defining aspect of our political tradition, much of the argument over that question is carried on under the guise of an argument over the purposes of the separation of church and state. If the First Amendment were generally regarded as a brake upon the power of religion, rather than as a protection for religion, that would go far toward persuading most people to view the Founders’ handiwork as the product of anti-religious minds. The origins of the First Amendment, then, are a key piece of evidence in the debate over the purposes of the Fathers.

JC

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Jerry H. Combee

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Unlike the origins of most nations, America’s origins are not obscured in the mists of time. Not myths but objective chronicles and pure primary sources record our beginnings: writings meant to be understood in the same way by all, composed without deliberate obscurity or hidden motives. Yet our wisest men still debate the meaning of the American founding. Perhaps public-spiritedness renders some disputants reluctant to reject openly the principles the Founders followed. Perhaps others recognize the rhetorical advantage of credibly claiming: “The Fathers believed as we.” Or perhaps all parties mean what they say and say what they mean.

In any case, the differences go deep. Some contend that the Founders built on a foundation of atheism, hedonism, and materialism. Others argue that our Fathers fabricated from more theistic, moralistic, and idealistic materials of classical, mostly Aristotelian, origin. But almost always, at bottom, seems to be this question: Are America’s founding principles irreligious? Given the actual and rhetorical importance of the First Amendment as a defining aspect of our political tradition, much of the argument over that question is carried on under the guise of an argument over the purposes of the separation of church and state. If the First Amendment were generally regarded as a brake upon the power of religion, rather than as a protection for religion, that would go far toward persuading most people to view the Founders’ handiwork as the product of anti-religious minds. The origins of the First Amendment, then, are a key piece of evidence in the debate over the purposes of the Fathers.