Merry Christmas…
…from Yaacov Ben Moshe at Breath of the Beast:
It was those fiercely independent Protestants who set the tone for the nation in which we now live. Their adamant spiritual presumption of the liberty of the human soul is, still today, the great central mast that lifts the canopy of democracy and holds it above us as a sanctuary from the extremes of despotism and effete decay that afflict most of the rest of the world.
Well done Yaacov ben Moshe for a wonderful essay about the true spirit of Christmas and thanks to Neo for linking to it. It is not ironic that a Jew would be able to write such a penetrating article about our Protestant founders since Protestantism itself in its purest form is primarily about returning to the Jewish roots of Christianity found in the New Testament. It is easy to forget that the New Testament is Jewish literature written for the most part by Jews from a Jewish perspective in order to bless the World by sharing God’s love.
Assimilation. Integration. Reconciliation.
Christianity has three components: faith, religion (i.e. moral philosophy), and tradition. It incorporates both the new and old testaments, superceding the old where it is in conflict or obsolete. Jews have a similar faith to Christians. We have the same religion as Christians. There is little if any cause to not share in their traditions. Our secular perspective: classical liberalism (i.e. favors individual dignity), tempered by religion (i.e. favors intrinsic value), is also compatible. We have overlapping and convergent interests that assure comfortable, if not always tranquil, relations.
Merry Christmas!
Neo,
Thanks for the link!
Illuminati,
Thanks for the kind words. I am reminded that one of my mentors, Austin Olney, a guy who was as generous with his time with young and minor writers as he was famous for editing some of the most popular writers of the last century, once told me that in his mind the colonial farmer and the Jew of the “Old Testament” were almost identical in their relationship to God…
Yaacov ben Moshe, I linked to your article on my FB page for my (predominately Christian Evangelical) friends. In the past I have thought about how ancient Israel seemed to have at various times a militia system, where the farmers, and others, would drop their work to be citizen soldiers when called upon. I have also noticed how the Mosaic code was basically tempered capitalism with a safety net, such as the prohibition of harvesting the corner of fields so that poor persons could harvest the corners for food. Of course I also remember the warnings that Israel was given when they cried out for a human king-basically the Biblical warning about concentrating power in the hands of one person.
Mazel Tov a tous vrai americains pour leurs benedictions!
Joyeux Noel!
Great article! I’d add that many of the people who are adamant about separation of church and state (not in the constitution) are just hoping to have a monopoly on the conversation about morals. These are the same people who do not tolerate alternative views in press or schools. Their goal is to impose a state-sponsored secular religion of environmentalism, collectivism and PC values.
I’ve come to appreciate these Protestant founders more as the years go on and understand that certainly, their Protestantism informed the constitution and the founding of this country in both great and subtle ways. They are clearly reviled on the left, and more as time goes on – but that’s because the left hates liberty and of course, God.
Wow, that is an outstanding post.
Happy Hanukkah, Yaacov ben Moshe!