Archive for Religion and the Founders
FFQF: America Was NOT Self-Made
If there is one thing America could use now, it’s an attitude of gratitude. Maybe a major factor in America’s straying is the thinking that we have entertained for several decades, is that we made ourselves great, and that therefore, America’s destiny and purpose was ours to carve. Contrary to what our humanist history books [...]
FFQF: What Was the American Revolution?
Today, John Adams will answer that question for us. His answer comes from a letter written to an early American historian by the name of Hezekiah Niles, dated February 13, 1818. Several of Niles’ invaluable texts on American history are available for reading and searching here.
But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do [...]
FFQF: Benjamin Rush, 'Christocrat'
Founding Father Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence and “father of American education” (until about 100 years ago) brings things in perspective.
I have been alternately called an aristocrat and a democrat. I am now neither. I am a Christocrat. I believe all power … will always fail of producing order and happiness in [...]
FFQF: The Bible in Schools
In a day and age when our society embraces moral relativism and religious relativism, in a day and age when these demented philosophies have produced more major problems than we seem to be able to grapple with, and in a day and age that refuses to turn to God in the midst of escalating licentiousness [...]
Religion and Morality: Indispensable Supports?
It’s confession time for Hercules Mulligan: I get more comments on this blog than from irregular readers, than on any of my other (many) blogs. Several of these comments, I have not yet responded to. I sincerely and profusely apologize to those who wrote them for not having given them the attention and concentration that [...]
FFQF: John Adams on Moral Authority
Today we will hear from an address which President John Adams gave to the officers of the First Brigade of the Third Division of the Massachusetts Militia, on October 11, 1798:
While our country remains untainted with the principles and manners which are now producing desolation in so many parts of the world; while she continues [...]
FFQF: Benjamin Rush on Moral Authority
Last week we discussed the necessity of religious principle in the people of the republic in order for it to remain free. To use the words from last week’s quote: “Does [morality] require the aid of a generally received and divinely authoritative religion?”
It is here that we run into a little dilemma, however. Our modern [...]
FFQF: John Adams on Virtue
Today’s selection on virtue comes from John Adams, who perhaps needs no introduction among the Founding Fathers, except for my prefatory remark that he was more essential to the Founding than several other Founders we seem to know more about and emulate these days (Jefferson and Franklin immediately come to mind — I’ll blog about [...]
FFQF: Alexander Hamilton on Liberty
Again, we take up the discussion of LIBERTY.
The following quotation comes from Alexander Hamilton’s powerful pamphlet, The Farmer Refuted (1775). It is one of his most fascinating pieces, and I have often called it an expanded form of the Declaration of Independence, written nearly a year before Jefferson started writing it. I highly recommend reading [...]
FFQF: John Jay
Today’s Favorite Founders’ Quote Friday is the third of the series (scroll down for the previous two). Today’s quote comes from John Jay of New York. Among the many distinguished positions he holds in American history, his role as one of the chief framers of New York State’s first constitution (1777), as one of the [...]
