The belief that a newly form United States of America would succeed based on the principles of
morality, knowledge and religion can be traced to the idea that an honorable and informed
society, controlled by ethical and religious values, would contribute to the establishment and
success of a hopeful republic. During the founding era, morality was often linked to the concept
of virtue. The Founders believed that a successful republic required virtuous citizens who would
prioritize the common good over self-interests. They drew on classical and enlightenment ideas
of civic virtue and personal responsibility.
According to the Founders, “knowledge meant a Biblical world view and was consistently
emphasized as one of the indispensable foundations or supports of our system of government.”
Mark A. Beliles & Douglas S. Anderson, Contending for the Constitution, 60 (2005). It was
firmly held that enlightenment principles profoundly shaped the Founding Fathers, accentuating
logic, education, and the pursuit of knowledge. They believed that an informed people was
fundamental for the success of a democratic nation. Education was valued as a means to
encourage critical thinking and civic obligation.
Religion, specifically Christianity, was considered a cornerstone of public and private life. The
belief in the Chrisitan God was integral to the personal and collective lives of the people. The
laws and governance were heavily influenced by religious principles and the Founding Fathers
believed that divine providence played a role in the success and guidance of the nation and “in
addition to God’s direct rewarding or punishing individuals and nations, the Founders believed
that faith promotes virtuous behavior, which in turn leads to happiness.” Mark D. Hall,
America’s Founders, Religious Liberty, and the Common Good, 645, (2019). While the Founders
were influenced by diverse religious perspectives, they recognized the role of religion in
promoting moral values and social order and many expressed the view that a moral and religious
society would be more likely to produce responsible citizens. “John Adams expanded on the
need for a religious and moral foundation in 1798, when he said, Our Constitution was made
only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government for any other.
While Thomas Jefferson said that religion is deemed in other countries incompatible with good
government and yet proved by our experience to be its support.” Mark A. Beliles & Douglas S.
Anderson, Contending for the Constitution, 60 (2005).
Regarding whether these same beliefs can still be the basis for success in today’s religiously
diverse America is very controversial. Some argue that the foundational principles of morality,
knowledge and religious values remain important for fostering a sense of community, ethical
behavior, and social cohesion. Others argue that a more secular approach, emphasizing the
importance of inclusive civic values can accommodate the diversity of religious and non-
religious perspectives. With a diverse pluralistic society, the challenge to find common ground
that respects individual freedoms and diverse beliefs, while promoting shared values that
contribute to the well-being of the nation makes it complicated to base the nation’s success on a
uniform set of religious beliefs. This is simply because the moral perspectives present in modern
society were not as pronounced in the more religiously consistent or comparable founding era.
References:
1. Mark A. Beliles and Douglas S. Anderson, Contending for the Constitution: Recalling the
Christian Influence on the Writing of the Constitution and the Biblical Basis of American
Law and Liberty. (2005) Providence Foundation.
https://libertyonline.vitalsource.com/books/9781887456197
2. Mark D. Hall, America’s Founders, Religious Liberty, and the Common Good, 15 U. ST.
Thomas L.J. 642 (2019).
https://ir.stthomas.edu/ustlj/vol15/iss3/6
Good evening Professor McCarrick,
I wanted to take this time to say thank you so very much for all the grace, mercy and
understanding that you have extended to me throughout the course. I sincerely appreciate all you
have done to accommodate me so that I may be able to finish my assignments due to my military
absences.
I am truly grateful for God’s favor that I received through your compassion and understanding,
and I am thankful for the opportunity to try be successful in the course.
Respectfully
Totjauna King
Good morning Professor Saunders,
As suggested, I have worked on as many assignments as I possibly could by completing all the
quizzes at least once for grading. Short of an extra day or two, I am unable to submit any of the
other written assignments for your consideration since it took me the whole day to complete the
quizzes.
Again, I am sincerely appreciative of your understanding, flexibility, and willingness to
accommodate my situation the best way you could have. I am forever grateful.
Respectfully
Totjauna King
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
