Yes, our rights come from God: A needed lesson on America’s faith-infused founding

A disturbing narrative has entered our national consciousness that Americans who hold religious beliefs are potentially dangerous extremists and that faith-inspired public engagement poses a threat to our democracy. It’s metastasizing.

These false and terrible concepts are not new, but they are clearly widespread. It also ensures an informed response.

In a now infamous MSNBC appearance, Politico reporter Heidi Przybyla (ironically) style yourself like someone else “The Quest for Democracy”) declared Anyone who believes in the concept of God-given rights is a “Christian nationalist,” a deliberately provocative term.she subsequent justification Her comment merely repeated her initial slur.

Meanwhile, a new documentary film by Rob Reiner (“god and country“) seeks to expose so-called “Christian nationalism,” and According to USA Today“Questions whether a new wave of believers will sweep away American democracy.”

In fact, the opposite is true. Divine inspiration does not undermine democracy; it underpins our entire republican project.

Przybyla’s misguided remarks, Reiner’s disturbing film, similar hyperventilation Many commentators all emphasize a deeper and more pervasive ignorance about America’s founding and history. This includes a central idea: “What are our rights?”Donation from [our] creator” was not given to us by any government.

This belief is not a byproduct of a new right-wing trend. Rather, it was the founding belief of our nation, championed by our founding fathers and embedded in our founding documents. It has proven essential to the autonomy, individual freedom, and flourishing civil society we have practiced for centuries.

Almost 200 years ago, Alexis de Tocqueville said that in America religious faith was “essential to the maintenance of republican institutions.” Misconceptions about the important role that faith and religious freedom played in America’s founding and history are sadly common today.

New findings from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation are surprising. revealed “The nation’s civic knowledge lags significantly.” More than 70 percent of Americans “lacking a basic understanding of government” and could not pass a test of basic civic literacy. On the other hand, the national evaluation of educational progress shows that found Public school students’ performance in civics and American history has been declining for years.

As we enter another presidential election season and America’s 250th anniversary just two years away, we must urgently refocus our efforts on understanding and defending the core principles of the American experiment.

For example, Americans should know and appreciate the vast differences between the French Revolution and the American Revolution. Although historians often describe these as similar rebellions against oppressive governments, they were diametrically opposed philosophical practices.French Revolution I didn’t The understanding of rights is based on natural law and instead declares “liberty, equality, and fraternity” to be independent of God. In contrast, a distinctive and unique feature of the American Revolution was its insistence that basic human rights come not from earthly institutions, governments, or rulers, but from God, the Creator.

This is why the Declaration of Independence, drawing on the influence of John Locke, states, “All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” james madison, Federalist No.43”, Samuel AdamsSettler’s rights” both also articulate a belief in rights that pre-exist in government institutions and are simply protected rather than granted by government.

in 1796 farewell address, George Washington declared that “of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are the essential supports.” Tocqueville agreed when he wrote in his Democracy in America that “it is religion that protects morality, which is the best security of the law and the surest pledge of liberty.” .

If we look to today, the decline of these important pillars is evident. As civic literacy rates plummet and religiosity wanes, hostility toward religious individuals and groups increases. 2023 alone will be amazing 436 Violence attack on the church was The reported number is more than double that of 2022.

These trends are symptoms of a society losing the respect and community bonds cultivated and fostered by Judeo-Christian traditions. Those who wish to completely wipe out that legacy must know that dismantling and abandoning America’s original philosophical fabric has adverse consequences for freedom.

We owe it to ourselves and to future generations to make our nation exceptional at its founding, to anchor our rights in a permanent source before all governments, and to We have a duty to remind our fellow citizens of the Judeo-Christian principles that continue to ensure the survival of our democracy. .

Timothy Head is executive director of the Faith and Freedom Coalition.