Author's Note: I (Matt) didn't know about the new breakthrough in embryonic stem cell research allowing creation of fetal stem cells without embryo cloning or destruction. Please remember this when you get to the "life issues" section.
Abstract:
The purpose of this paper is to explore several key
subjects of political argument and explore the likely reaction to
these subjects that the framers of the Constitution and founders of
our country would have had. If the learned individuals who set up
our government were around today, these early Americans would be
grappling with the issues regarding life and abortion, as well as
education arguments, the all-important “wall of separation”
between church and state, and many other modern-day political topics.
With a focus on several of the more influential founders and
analysis of their own religious and political values, coupled with
the study and analysis of historical documents, and the Bible on
which many of the founders believed, the goal is to determine the
original intent for America. Furthermore, the aim is to discover
likely solutions to many modern political issues by gaining insight
into the founders' thought processes and values, and applying them to
modern issues to find a resolution.
Assumptions One Must Make
To proceed, one must make several assumptions from historical evidence. The first and most important assumption to make is that the majority, if not all of the founders, had belief in a higher power of some form. By most respects, the majority of these men can be assumed to be Christians in one way or another, thanks to historical evidence and various records. Several of them were possibly Deists; the possibility that many may have been Deists is a popular argument used today by those who want to discount the influence of Christ's teachings on the founder's original intent; but the fact still remains that nearly all had belief in a higher power of some kind. A second assumption one must make from historical evidence is that these men had specific views due to their faiths. These views greatly contributed to the framework, laws, and ideas that they fused into forming the United States of America.
Religious Views of the Founders
Of the two-hundred and four men who are considered to be instrumental to the founding of the government of the United States, about fifty percent* were Episcopalian or Anglican. Expanding upon that same trend of thinking, many of the other founders considered themselves to be either Presbyterian or Congregationalist in denomination. Lesser known, less prominent denominations were represented also, but the majority are included in one of the three aforementioned primary groups. It should also be noted that some scholars believe that several of the Episcopalian founders were possibly Deists.1 While the founding fathers were not all of the same specific faith, it is well documented that they all believed in a higher power of some kind.
George Washington
The first President of the United States, George Washington, was somewhat an enigma in his religious views in his own time and his views are still hotly debated today. He did attend an Anglican church, but he avoided confirmation and communion, which some today believe indicates that he may have been a Deist who attended an Anglican church at the time. Assuming that President Washington was a Deist, one can assume that he may or may not have believed in Jesus, or the Jewish version of God. He was known to regularly use a great deal of Deistic language in his speeches, using the term “Great Spirit,” instead of the Judeo-Christian term “God.” At the same time, Washington did see the connection between national morality and religious principle. He was quoted to have requested to “...with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”2 It is probably safest to make the assumption that at minimum, Washington was a Christian with Deistic tendencies or influences, or a Deist with Christian tendencies.3 Whatever the case, George Washington's writings and public pronouncements indicated that he definitely did have a belief in some form of a higher power, meaning he probably respected and considered this higher power in all he did, including his public policy decisions and contributions to the foundations of the United States.
John Adams
John Adams was a Unitarian, believing in only one God, without a Holy Trinity. Adams was strongly opposed to the Anglican church, and disapproved of the various ceremonial practices, as was typical of those who particularly distrusted English state religion. Adams actually took issue with established religion in general and the persecution that he believed that it tended to cause in the early days of the American colonies. At the same time, Adams realized that while the organizations behind denominations and religions often had negative consequences in his opinion, he saw personal religion in general as being beneficial for individuals.4 Adams did, on the other hand write in a letter to Zabdiel Adams the following: “Statesmen, my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for Liberty, but it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand.” Thus Adams saw the importance of religion and morality and their effects upon the government, and the governed.5
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was a spiritual enigma, and saw himself as being “of a sect by himself.” While Jefferson was reluctant to publicly reveal his true feelings on religion, he did tend to indicate that he believed in a Supreme Being; but he did not necessarily subscribe to the belief that this was the divine deity of Judeo-Christian heritage. Jefferson did not believe in a trinity or in the divinity of Jesus, but he did see Jesus as a man with the greatest influences and ideas on morality in history.6 Furthermore, Jefferson recognized God's judgement, as he once said “I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.”7 Jefferson did indeed recognize and respect a supreme being, even if he did not belong to a particular religious sect. Many today who seek to trivialize the influence of Christianity on the founding fathers like to use Jefferson's creation of his own Bible and some of his writings that go against the grain of traditional evangelical theology.
James Madison
James Madison was known to attend an Episcopalian church, and like several of the other founders, some scholars suggest he may have been a Deist.8 Regardless, Madison appeared to be a very knowledgeable and astute Biblical scholar, as he derived the idea of a three branch co-equal government from the Bible. The Biblical foundation for the idea came from Isaiah 33:22, which states “For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; He will save us.” Interestingly, from that verse came the ideas for the judicial, legislative, and executive branches of American government.9 Another quote from Madison states that “...we cannot deny equal freedom to those whose minds have not yet yielded to the evidence which has convinced us [speaking of faith]. If this freedom be abused, it is an offense against God, not against man: To God, therefore, not to man, must an account of it be rendered.”10 This statement not only proves Madison's belief in a higher power, but it also sheds some light upon his position on religious freedom, and argues that it is actually an offense against God to infringe upon the religious freedom of any person.While many people argue that Madison was not very religious, if religious at all, there is considerable evidence to suggest otherwise.
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin was raised as an Episcopalian, but eventually became a Deist as an adult. In spite of this, Franklin was the first to suggest bringing in a clergyman to pray for the deliberations of congress. While Franklin questioned Jesus' divinity, he did respect Jesus' “religion and system of morals. ” Franklin is commonly seen as a man who never belittled the beliefs of those who opposed his religious views.11 Franklin once wrote “I believe there is one Supreme most perfect being,” which confirms his belief in some form of a god.12 Like Thomas Jefferson, Franklin's apparent Deism is often used today by naysayers in their loud attacks on any Christian influences on the Founding Fathers of America.
Samuel Adams
Samuel Adams was, according to most accounts, a Congregationalist.13 Adams was then considered a Protestant Christian in that respect, and thus would have been a believer in the Trinity, as well as in the divinity of Jesus Christ. Although many consider him to be a failed man in many ways due to his problems with business failures and family failures, Samuel Adams still had a large and impressive role in impacting the origin of the United States. As most of the forefathers believed, Adams saw the gift of all freedom, including religious freedom to be “...the gift of God Almighty,” and he argued that “...it is not in the power of man to alienate this gift and voluntarily become a slave.”14 Adams, like most of the other founders, wanted freedom to live one's life as they choose to be inalienable. Evidence suggests that Adams' religious views must have contributed a great deal to the framework that provides the freedom that Americans enjoy today.
Religious Men As A Whole
From such a small sampling of the more prominent historical figures, one should be able to get a good grasp as to the religious climate in the life and times of the men who founded the country. Despite the fact that they all had diverse backgrounds and and diverse personal beliefs, the fact remains that whether Christian or Deist, these men were all religious in their own unique ways. In nearly every case, not just these men, but most people in general respected a Being that they believed was surely greater than themselves. Through this respect, and through their various beliefs, they conceived and constructed the United States into the nation it basically still is today.
Separation of Church and State
Did this group of obviously religious men really intend there to be what is today variously referred to as a separation between church and state? The first amendment to the Constitution states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...”15 Does that imply that religious functions of any type must be totally separate from all government affairs? This has been a hotly debated question, particularly since the late twentieth century. The answer to that question depends upon how one approaches it. The first clause would seem to imply that the government can not create a state-sponsored religion. The second clause states that the free exercise of religion can not be prohibited by the government, either. The Treaty of Tripoli first stated that the nation was not founded on Christianity, by stating that “. . . the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion...”16 In 1802, Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association that was meant to explain to them that there will be no “Church of the United States,” or any governmental actions that would in any way infringe upon their worship. In this letter, the “wall of separation” analogy is first used.17 Since then, it has been taken to the extreme by activist judges promoting their own personal agendas.
History of the Wall of Separation
Following The Treaty of Tripoli, and the letter to the Danbury Baptists, the proverbial wall was built up over time through various court rulings, and the general temperament of the public and society as they changed. This so-called wall does have a weakness that is seemingly unintentional. The weakness and problem is that the restriction of religious practices from government in every possible way, shape, and form, is that as an unintended consequence, a sponsored state religion is accidentally created. Atheism, or the belief in no god comes about as a result of believing in no higher power. Atheism is currently a common religion in the United States. The founders did not necessarily anticipate this unintended consequence, but it has certainly occurred over time.
The Unconstitutional Nature of the Wall
The “wall of separation”, in the context in which it is though of today, is technically unconstitutional as it stands, due to state sponsored Atheism. The current separation of church and state could use some modification to keep these Atheistic non-beliefs from being state sponsored. In the modern world, the founders would likely be involved in changing the unconstitutional nature of this wall, and either tear it down, or modify it with new legislation. A possible solution is to tear down this wall, and allow everyone to freely practice religion according to each person's conscience. Simply uphold the first amendment in its original form, and allow the people of the United States to worship (or not) freely. As long as no public officials force or impose their religion onto any other person, the Constitution is upheld.
Religion in Public Schools
The wall of separation issue is only part of the problem in relation to religion and the public school systems across the country. In the nation's beginnings, children in community run schools were lead in the Pledge of Allegiance, a Bible reading, and the morning prayer. Through several cases, such as the case of Engel versus Vitale in 1962, which is the basis for many school prayer rulings, various state and federal courts have ruled Bible reading and prayer in public schools to be unconstitutional.18 The court's problem with the practice of religious ritual in the public school systems was that the practices were lead by government employees, the teachers. The majority of the founders would likely wish that the practices could continue, excepting the few Deists, but would concede and agree that compulsory prayer and Bible reading in public schools is state sponsored religion, through the forcing of students to take part in Judeo-Christian practices at the hands of government employees.
Prayers at School Sponsored Events
To further add to the mixture of school issues, it is currently a topic of dispute as to whether or not schools can have prayers before sporting and other events, or at graduations. The school usually goes through a common loophole, and has a student lead in prayer, since student lead religious practice is not considered to be state sponsored. While many Atheists and people of other “religions” may look down in scorn upon such loopholes, the free practice of religion can not be infringed, even for minors. The founders would agree with the practice of student sponsored prayer as opposed to faculty lead prayer. In such a situation, the faculty would still be able to freely practice their respective religions, they would simply need to refrain from initiating prayer or religious practices. With rules to set such a framework, the founders would likely be satisfied, as the right to freely practice religious rituals is upheld for both teachers and students alike.
Life Issues
Another heavily debated set of issues involves abortion and somatic stem cell research, which are considered to be the two most controversial life issues discussed and argued over today. The specifics are a bit deeper, with two forms of stem cell research. One field works with stem cells from adult donors, and the other involves cloning and removing the cells from a developing fetus. Abortion has different methods and procedures, with them all leading to the death of an innocent, developing child. The deciding fact to be decided upon involving abortion is whether or not life occurs at conception. If not, when does a human life begin? Through a historically accurate set of generalized values from the founders, one can find answers to these life related questions that trouble many Americans in today's modern time. With such questions answered, the conflict over abortion and stem cells would be over, provided a consensus could be had.
Abortion
Abortion is the practice of killing a developing fetus or embryo. Currently, abortion options are available in various methods, in various states of development. These methods include saline poisoning, partial birth, and surgical removal of the developing fetus. Laws and regulations vary from state to state, and the supreme court of the United States currently maintains that abortion is legal, and that partial birth abortion is legal in special cases, such as when the mother's life is threatened.19 Is a fertilized egg a child? Is a “fetus” killed the day before birth a person? If not, when does it become a child? Age one, two, or three? The line has to be drawn somewhere.
Stem Cell Research
The other half of the life issues debate involves stem cell research, which is often grouped as one area of study. This is an erroneous assumption perpetrated by public ignorance, and corporate masterminds seeking to use public ignorance to make money off of government subsidies. While the goal of stem cell research is to cure various sicknesses and other health problems, it has ethical issues within itself.
Embryonic Stem Cell Research
The field most people equate stem cell research is to that of embryonic or fetal stem cell research. Sometimes known as somatic cell nuclear transfer, this process involves fertilizing an egg with a sperm, allowing it to develop to a certain point, and killing it. To kill the embryo, the researcher removes the embryo's genetic material, and adds donor genetic material from another source. Were the embryo allowed to develop, it would form a baby. Were the “new” embryo injected with donor material allowed to develop an embryonic clone of the donor, as well.20 Through this process, it can be argued by some that this is the murder of two innocent human lives. Whether or not one is a Christian, many people disagree upon this topic, with some believing life does not start at conception, while others believe the opposite.
Adult Stem Cell Research
Adult stem cell research, on the other hand, does not involve embryos or reproductive processes in any way. This research is carried out by harvesting stem cells from sources such as umbilical cord blood, and other sources within a living person's body. This field of research, unlike embryonics, has made significant progress in curing various diseases and conditions.21
Founders Viewpoints on Life Issues
The founders in general would likely oppose embryonic stem cell research, as well as all forms of abortion. The majority of the founders were Christians by faith, despite having several with somewhat different beliefs, the Bible-believing Christians were a majority within the founding fathers. Going by the Bible verse where God states that “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.”22 Thomas Jefferson and the other members of the committee who worked upon the Declaration of Independence exhibit a glimpse of where they might be on the issue of life with the focal point of the document stating the individual's right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...” The founders could come to their own personal conclusions that would collectively represent a Christian perspective on the issues. On the other side of these issues, adult stem cell research would be allowed to continue, as it infringes upon no person's constitutional right to life, which would include unborn children in the Christian founders' eyes.
Environmental Issues
Being that many people today are interested in living “green” and taking care of the earth's environment and natural resources, the perspective of the founders would be an interesting insight into the solutions for this topic. Organizations like the National Association of Evangelicals want Christians to be good stewards of what God has given the people of the worlds. What would the founders say? In keeping with the capitalistic nature and economic freedoms of America, coupled with concern for the environment, it is likely that the founders would support being good stewards of what God has provided, but at the same time they would still take advantage of the natural resources that God's providence has obviously created. Conserving fuels of various types would be acceptable, as would researching new ways to power cars and other machines. Again, the founders would follow God's rules, and be good stewards, but being a good steward involves making good use of God's providence. The founders would likely support drilling in Alaska, as there are vast amounts of natural gas and oil there that could be used to help the country become somewhat energy independent. This oil would again be seen as a sign of God's providence for America, so the founders would have no problem making use of such a blessing. It is doubtless that an America that was energy independent would be of prime concern, particularly to scientifically interested founders such as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin.
Taxation
In the original Constitution, prior to any amendments, income taxation was illegal in light of various English abuses. With the passing of the sixteenth amendment in 1913, the income tax was created. This amendment stated that “The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes...”23 Our forefathers originally outlawed such a tax. Why was it instituted? It is obvious that the government needs operating money, but the current tax code is ridiculous. Since government operations require such a large amount of money, there has to be some source for the funds. Doing away with the income tax entirely would be a bad idea, but reforming the system is a better alternative.
The Founders on Taxation
While the original founders would disagree in the first place with a federal income tax, but they would attempt to do the best they could with what they had to work with. A reformed version of the income tax would likely be instituted by the founders, such as a flat tax or the “Fair Tax,” as the current system is unfair for everyone who pays in. The flat tax would establish one flat rate that everyone pays from their income. While still being controversial due to the tax from income, the system would still be more fair than what is currently instituted. The Fair Tax, on the other hand, would only take tax dollars from sales tax. In the Fair Tax, the income tax is abolished, and sales tax is increased. Food goods are exempt, and a check for the taxes from food sales would be sent out monthly.24 Either system would be apt to produce a booming economy, and the founders would be more interested in one of those solutions for funding the federal government than the current income tax system, as they all suffered such abuses in their former lives when they were not Americans.
Conclusion
Through the eyes of the founders, the issues of today are easily solvable, if the original intent behind the Constitution and it's laws are upheld. While many people disagree and go after each other with their own personal agendas, the founders always found common ground. Despite political and ideological differences, these men would find a resolution to every situation by putting aside their own differences and quarrels, getting down to brass tacks, and drawing the line. If such tactics were taken today, the common issues that are constantly argued over could be finally solved. The wall of separation issues, the school prayer and Bible reading issues, the life issues, the environmental issues, and the taxation issues all would finally be solved. Due to the beliefs of the founding fathers, based upon their religious and political ideology, the conclusion to draw is that most issues would be solved according to Christian ideals, while still upholding Constitutional law. While the “wall of separation” camp may disagree, the decisions would remain valid as long as they did not violate the first amendment. For every American political issue, the founders views are extremely valuable, and can be successfully applied to the most argued political topics of today.
Sources:
2007. Patchwork
Life - The FairTax Works for You and Me. Patchwork Life, November
18. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Patchworklife/429383/ (accessed
November 19, 2007).
Adams, John.
John Adams - Wikiquote. Wikiquote.
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Adams (accessed November 19, 2007).
Adams, Samuel.
1772. The Rights of the Colonists. Hanover
History Department,
November 20. http://history.hanover.edu/texts/adamss.html (accessed
November 19, 2007).
Adherents.com.
2005. Religion of the Founding Fathers of America. July 12.
http://www.adherents.com/gov/Founding_Fathers_Religion.html (accessed
November 19, 2007).
Adherents.com.
2005. The religion of Benjamin Franklin, founding father. August 30.
http://www.adherents.com/people/pf/Benjamin_Franklin.html (accessed
November 19, 2007).
Adherents.com.
2005. The religion of James Madison Jr., 4th U.S. President. August
30. http://www.adherents.com/people/pm/James_Madison.html (accessed
November 19, 2007).
Adherents.com.
2005. Samuel Adams, Signer of Declaration of Independence. August 30.
http://www.adherents.com/people/pa/Samuel_Adams.html (accessed
November 19, 2007).
Adherents.com.
2005. The religion of John Adams, second U.S. President. November 30.
http://www.adherents.com/people/pa/John_Adams.html (accessed November
19, 2007).
American
History.
2007. One Nation Under God? April 2007.
Barlow, Joel. 1797. US Treaty with Tripoli, 1796-1797.
May 7. http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/treaty_tripoli.html
(accessed November 19, 2007).
Bowman,
Rebecca. 1997. Monticello Report: Jefferson's Religious Beliefs.
Thomas
Jefferson's Monticello,
August. http://www.monticello.org/reports/interests/religion.html
(accessed November 19, 2007).
Brunn, Erik,
and Jay Crosby. 1999. Living
History - America.
Tess Press.
Choice 101 -
Your Online, Abortion Rights Education Course.
2000. Our Founding Fathers and Religious Freedom.
http://www.choice101.com/82-cs.html (accessed November 19, 2007).
Constitution of the United States of America. 1787.
http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution_transcript.html.
EADs Home
Ministries.
2005. James Madison : Quotes from a Christian.
http://www.eadshome.com/JamesMadison.htm (accessed November 19,
2007).
FindLaw.
U.S. Constitution: Sixteenth Amendment.
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/amendment16/#annotations
(accessed November 19, 2007).
Franklin,
Benjamin. 1726. The Writings of Benjamin Franklin, Volume II:
Philadelphia, 1726 - 1757 -- Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion.
Articles
of Belief and Acts of Religion,
1757. http://www.historycarper.com/resources/twobf2/articles.htm
(accessed November 19, 2007).
Jefferson, Thomas. 1802. Jefferson's Letter to the
Danbury Baptists (June 1998) - Library of Congress Information
Bulletin. January 1. http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danpre.html
(accessed November 19, 2007).
Kugler, Mary.
ABCs of SCNT (Cloning). About.com:
Rare Diseases.
http://rarediseases.about.com/library/weekly/aa030203a.htm (accessed
November 19, 2007).
Madison, James.
Quotes on Religion - James Madison. Quotes
on Religion - James Madison.
http://atheism.about.com/library/quotes/bl_q_JMadison.htm (accessed
November 19, 2007).
NARA | The National Archives Experience.
http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution_founding_fathers.html
(accessed November 19, 2007).
National
Center for Public Policy Research.
1963. SCHOOL PRAYER: Abington v. Schempp (1963). June 17.
http://www.nationalcenter.org/scot63.htm (accessed November 19,
2007).
Oyez.
1962. Oyez: Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962), U.S. Supreme Court
Case Summary & Oral Argument. June 25.
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1960-1969/1961/1961_468/ (accessed November
19, 2007).
Pennsylvanians
for Human Life.
PHL: Legality of Abortion.
http://www.pennlife.org/docs/abort_laws.html (accessed November 19,
2007).
Peterson, Jim.
2007. Religion and the Founding Fathers. Early
American History.net.
http://earlyamericanhistory.net/founding_fathers.htm (accessed
November 19, 2007).
Robinson, B.A.
2006. THE FIRST AMEMDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
Religious
Tolerance.org,
March 2. http://www.religioustolerance.org/amend_1.htm (accessed
November 19, 2007).
University
of Chicago.
1987. Founders' Constitution: Table of Contents.
http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/tocs/toc.html (accessed
November 19, 2007).
Walker, Jim.
1999. Little-Known U.S. Document Proclaims America's Government is
Secular - The Early America Review, Summer 1997. The
Early America Review.
http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/summer97/secular.html (accessed
November 19, 2007).
Washington, George. George Washington Quotes.
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/g/georgewash146829.html
(accessed November 19, 2007).
Wikiquote.
Thomas Jefferson - Wikiquote.
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson (accessed November 19,
2007).
WorldNetDaily.
2005. Paraplegic breakthrough using adult stem cells. September 28.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46546
(accessed November 19, 2007).
Yahweh. N.d.
Bible
(NIV)
|
