Dear Editor,
Reading Will Haun and David Grossman's respective pieces in The Eagle last week typified the problem that exists in American politics: This tendency to go to the extremes.ÿ While Mr. Haun may have overstated the case for the religious founding of our nation, Mr. Grossman appeared to overstate the case for a secular founding of our nation, the truth lies somewhere in the middle.ÿ
There are a few issues that need clarification:ÿ "Jesuit" refers to a VERY specific Order of the Roman Catholic Church, the Society of Jesus founded in September of 1540.ÿ While the Jesuits have had a lasting influence on our country, setting up the first churches in the new world, preaching the gospel to the Mohawk Indians, even forming a small college called Georgetown down the road.ÿ ÿ So the use by both parties of "Jesuit Christianity" presents a problem in diction, if nothing else.
Haun is correct in saying that the Connecticut Constitution was a document leading up to the Federal Constitution.ÿ James Madison in some detail outlines how he looked through documents and studied the history of governments for the Federal Convention of 1787. (See his notes on the topic.) ÿ Grossman is correct in that Locke and Montesquieu also heavily influenced our founding. ÿ Neither is mutually exclusive.ÿ
There is also a blurring of the issue of the founding of the American Nation or the Founding of our Federal Government.ÿ John Winthrop's Model of Christian Charity has been largely ignored for much of the history of the Republic until it was resurrected by President Reagan for his inaugural address in 1981.ÿ However, the sentiments of Winthrop where used throughout much of the history of the American Nation.ÿ While none of the colonialists were walking around with "WWJWD?" bracelets (What would John Winthrop Do?")ÿ the puritanical values where there.ÿ
Haun should have made a better interpretation of a Federal Religiosity test.ÿ Many states had religious tests within their state compacts before the Federalist era, and certainly after it.ÿ In many cases public officials had to swear to uphold the "protestant religion" in some colonies, while others just required that public office holders believe in a supreme being.ÿ This was a de-facto religious test, which in some states disenfranchised Catholics and Jews alike.ÿ
Haun should have also demonstrated where and how religion has influenced some of our current practices.ÿ For example, the abolitionist and civil rights movement were heavily rooted in religion.ÿ The fact that Sundays are not workdays for Americans is a direct relationship with religion.ÿ Has anyone bothered to ask why murder is a crime?ÿ Haun should have examined more of these concepts.ÿ
Will Haun is correct; Values associated with Christianity do dominate the United States.ÿ Faith, hope, charity, love of your fellow people, tolerance, understanding, and most especially forgiveness are wonderful virtues.ÿ However, these values are also associated with other groups, including Judaism, Mormonism, Islam, Hinduism.ÿ They are also found in civic groups like the Elks, Kiwanis, and Rotary.ÿ Most of these groups have some rooting in religion.
P. William Brusoe Graduate student, SPA
