I've been working on a piece that touches on the secular nature of the Constitution, and ended up doing more research than I probably had to-- but it was too interesting to stop.
First of all, the Constitution is clearly secular. It only mentions religion twice (prior to amendment): In the use of the phrase "year of our Lord," and in the provision which bars any religious requirement for holding office. There really isn't much to grab onto if you want to find Christianity there-- at least on the face of the document.
Second, the men who wrote that document were wildly diverse in their religious beliefs at that time. Some were devout; some rejected religious convention in fascinating ways. A few were seemingly disinterested.
Third, the Constitution was written in a "trough" in religious fervor in North America, between the first and second great awakenings. At that time, fewer than 20% of adults were church members.
Fourth, our primary markers that we look to relating to Christian influence on our government draw primarily when two eras when Americans were reacting to the excesses of Europe. The second great awakening, for example, was driven in part by the horrors of the French Revolution, and the ideas that propelled it. The second era, the 1950's (which was when "one nation, under God" was added to the pledge of allegiance) was marked by American rejection of Communism. In both eras, defining ourselves as believers also served to define what we were not.
Finally, all that said, it must be recognized that while the United States may not define itself as a "Christian Nation" in our key documents, we are a "Nation of Christians," in that there has always been a Christian majority in this country. Even the most Deist of the framers was profoundly influenced by the ideas of Christianity and were familiar with the Bible and its key stories. While there were no explicit Christian themes on the face of the Constitution, many lay beneath the document like the foundation of a house. Restraint, a wariness of power, and, of course, my favorite: Mercy.
I love that the Constitution contains that most Christian of virtues, in the Pardon Clause. Hamilton called that unilateral power what it was and is-- the exercise of mercy.
One can, and should, recognize that the Constitution is not a religious document. One should also avoid wrongly describing the framers as Christian activists, because the story is more complex than that. However, none of that countermands the presence of Christian virtue in the document, or the fact that the framers would have recognized it as such. Mercy is so central to Christianity, expressly in the form of pardon, that even Christ himself granted it (in John 8), and was denied it (by Pilate) himself before granting it to all (on the cross).
Clemency is not morally neutral; in ignoring it we bury from view our own best selves.
This is very good and measured. Secular government and a Christian culture. How secular the government and how Christian the culture is a story that changes over time (as you indicate)--but the basic framework is steady. In terms of metaphors, not a brick and mortar wall of separation but a porous screen that allows culture to wash back and forth through government depending on the tide.
ReplyDeleteOne more thing that I think adds to this thesis. It is standard to say that the Constitution only mentions religion in the "no religious test clause" and connected to that the ability to affirm rather than swear an oath of office (a nod to the Quakers).
You mention also the "year of our Lord." I would also add that the pocket veto is an almost always ignored but, nevertheless, very telling example of your bigger thesis.
Article I; Section 7
"If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a Law, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a Law."
This basic nuts and bolts provision implicitly assumes that a President will want to celebrate the Christian sabbath. It is not intentionally Christian but it takes into account the landscape of Christian culture. Secular government built on top of Christian culture.
I wonder if the fact that almost all framers of the Constitution were Freemasons bears any significance.
ReplyDeleteBeing taught the Constitution provides the framework for our form of government and confers specific authority to the branches of government and to the states, while providing certain protections of civil rights that no majority can abridge or abrogate - why is interpretation and desired amendment (by those “most” Christian and viewed through the “most” righteous eyes) often intent on marginalizing and excluding?
ReplyDeleteCries and symbols of “Don’t Tread on ME!” seem at odds with state constitutional amendments focused on defining marriage, personhood, pro-life and voter identification, to mention a few – Founded upon Christian ideals? Soon a new best seller, "Fifty States (Shades) of Rightness"?
Considering our nation’s proud history and those drawn to its shores and the tapestry of religious beliefs brought with, or left behind, the zeal of “rightness” professed by those who march behind pocket copies of the constitution amazes. Are we on the verge of a modern day inquisition as shameful as my Catholic faith began in the late 12th century – many seem intent on expunging their versions of sin and “wrong” belief from our world? Their Christian values for all?
Paul preached it in Romans 5:12–21 and Corinthians 15:22 and it began to be developed by the 2nd-century Bishop of Lyon, Irenaeus (some 150 years after Jesus) in his controversy with the dualist Gnostics – The stain of Original Sin. Early Christian “…missionaries contend(ed), because all are born with an innate and uncontrollable lust for sin, man can do nothing to merit his own salvation. In essence, man is totally depraved, and true free will is far beyond his grasp” – Rabbi Singer (The doctrine is not found in Judaism, Islam or many other beliefs). Are Civil Rights, with limitations, not intended to encourage free will, expression and discourse? Are we exchanging the wisdom and grace of the “Two Great Commandments” and the “Golden Rule” with righteous rhetoric mouthed by the loudest of voice – intent upon Constitutional rulings and amendments to serve “their” majority?
To the “Framers” and Jesus, where are your voices of reason while we contemplate transgression, atonement, mercy, clemency, pardon and… the rights of others?
Secular and Faith underpinnings do “…lay beneath the document like the foundation of a house. Restraint, Christian restraint – for another day?
Waco Farmer: brilliant.
ReplyDeleteNew Christine: thought-provoking, as always.
The words that are written here are such a blessing, every day. You all are bright lights that illumine my path--I know in that I am not alone.
Tonight I was reading Wendell Berry; he wrote of "love, care, sympathy, mercy, forebearance, respect, reverence." Mercy and forbearance! Now I see they are enshrined in our Constitution, undergirded by faith.
The most important thing about the Constitution to me is that it was a series of compromises. No one got exactly what they wanted.
ReplyDeleteSadly, politicians today seem to have forgotten that.