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"Faith to Self-Govern" Project Background
Once formally organized under the Constitution, the United States government initiated a revolutionary relationship with faith by eschewing a state religion or even a state faith (i.e. Christianity), as described in James Madison’s Memorial and Remonstrance and borne out in Article VI and the 1st Amendment of the Constitution. Nonetheless, George Washington concluded that religion and morality were "indispensable supports" for the republic.
Faith and religion have flourished now for 225 years. Today America stands virtually alone among the developed nations with a robust, thriving, and generally peaceful religious culture. For example, various polls have between 80% and 90% of Americans believing in God and some surveys indicate over half of Americans pray daily. This project believes that American history has borne out President Washington's position. Our places of faith, despite their weaknesses and mistakes, have acted, and do so still today, as a bulwark to a free, happy and enduring America, by instilling virtue in the lives of believers.
At the same time, one cannot help but observe some inconsistencies between virtuous behaviors traditionally flowing from faith, and current collective behaviors, growing to significant volume. For example:
- Americans as a whole are experiencing great difficulty with entering into and keeping marriage vows, historically and traditionally a religious rite.
- It would be difficult to argue that the religious majority "remember[s] the sabbath day, to keep it holy".
- Reports of domestic abuse, a contradiction of all forms of the Golden Rule, continue to grow.
- McMansions, reflective of materialism, anathema to almost all religious creeds, are not considered extravagant by most Americans.
We also continue to see the growth of secularism, materialism, and now a more confident, muscular and evangelical atheism; each of these, in their own way, diminish American faith.
Because of this, America's Quilt of Faith has concluded that it is critical to initiate a national conversation about what virtues are taught at our churches, temples, mosques, and synagogues; how they contribute to our nation's progress; how persuasive these places of faith are in doing so; and the extent of their influence.
Copyright 2008 - 2012, America's Quilt of Faith
"Faith to Self-Govern" Project Background
Once formally organized under the Constitution, the United States government initiated a revolutionary relationship with faith by eschewing a state religion or even a state faith (i.e. Christianity), as described in James Madison’s Memorial and Remonstrance and borne out in Article VI and the 1st Amendment of the Constitution. Nonetheless, George Washington concluded that religion and morality were "indispensable supports" for the republic.
Faith and religion have flourished now for 225 years. Today America stands virtually alone among the developed nations with a robust, thriving, and generally peaceful religious culture. For example, various polls have between 80% and 90% of Americans believing in God and some surveys indicate over half of Americans pray daily. This project believes that American history has borne out President Washington's position. Our places of faith, despite their weaknesses and mistakes, have acted, and do so still today, as a bulwark to a free, happy and enduring America, by instilling virtue in the lives of believers.
At the same time, one cannot help but observe some inconsistencies between virtuous behaviors traditionally flowing from faith, and current collective behaviors, growing to significant volume. For example:
- Americans as a whole are experiencing great difficulty with entering into and keeping marriage vows, historically and traditionally a religious rite.
- It would be difficult to argue that the religious majority "remember[s] the sabbath day, to keep it holy".
- Reports of domestic abuse, a contradiction of all forms of the Golden Rule, continue to grow.
- McMansions, reflective of materialism, anathema to almost all religious creeds, are not considered extravagant by most Americans.
We also continue to see the growth of secularism, materialism, and now a more confident, muscular and evangelical atheism; each of these, in their own way, diminish American faith.
Because of this, America's Quilt of Faith has concluded that it is critical to initiate a national conversation about what virtues are taught at our churches, temples, mosques, and synagogues; how they contribute to our nation's progress; how persuasive these places of faith are in doing so; and the extent of their influence.
Copyright 2008 - 2012, America's Quilt of Faith