Posted by
voice_of_reason on Wednesday, July 04, 2007 7:34:57 PM
On this, our 231st birthday, it is appropriate to consider the reasons for our success. In such discussions, one hears many people say that America is successful because it was based on Christian principles. Others say that we are successful because we function as a Democracy. Let's examine those positions:
Let me begin by saying that Judeo-Christian principles and Democracy provide a great starting point for any country. And, countries that don't have a good starting point usually don't get very far!
But there is nothing
axiomatic in Christianity that causes a Christian nation to be successful in economic terms. Sidebar: some may question whether economic metrics define 'success' -- but that is a subject worthy of a separate discussion!
Quoting from
"The United States of .. Consistency?""Many of our laws derived from Judeo-Christian principles - but does that make America a Christian country? If that were true, then we are conveniently forgetting that similar principles also exist in other religions - some of which are also prevalent in 'failed' states. And, yes, there are quite a few fervently Christian countries that fall in the category of 'failed' states.
As an example, consider the Christian countries in Europe that our Founding Fathers fled.
A mathematician could write that equation as:
Christianity + Feudal System = Failure "
Clearly, if Christianity was the
silver bullet that some believe it to be, it would've overcome the drag of the Feudal Systems and helped the countries of Old Europe succeed.
So, with a full appreciation of the virtues of Judeo-Christian principles, the question is: what are the next steps
after embracing those principles that give us a good starting point. Our Founding Fathers were smart enough to stand firm against contemporary religiosity while retaining and extrapolating the virtues and ethics in a mostly consistent manner. They accomplished this while keeping individual freedom consistently at the forefront. And, in areas that they were
not consistent (e.g. Slavery), America paid a price in later years.
Consider the following examples of the extraordinary foresight of our Founding Fathers:
* It would've been easier for them to have extrapolated Christian charity into some form of a benevolent state - but they didn't.
* as a Christian majority, it would have been quite acceptable and convenient for our Founding Fathers to have made Christianity a State religion - but they didn't.
With clarity and prescience, perhaps based on their examination of failed Christian countries, they took steps that ensured our success for centuries.
Incidentally, the same logic applies to Democracy (yes, I'm aware that we are a Republic). There is nothing inherent in a Democracy that leads to success. It is the next series of consistent steps that make-or-break a nation.
* Do they create institutions that
interfere with or abridge the rights of their citizens (usually in the name of some 'common good')?
* Is the Govt constrained to do
only that which it is allowed (by the consent of the governed)?
* Are the people free to do anything except that which is expressly forbidden (by the consent of the governed)?
The absence of interference, aka economic freedom, defines Capitalism, which we can thank for our success.
Note: We often miss the point that it is the lack of Govt interference that leads to Capitalism. Our Founding Fathers didn't
create Capitalism, they had the sense to 'step out of the way'. Capitalism is the natural order that ensues when free people trade with each other.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that Judeo-Christian concepts and Democracy provided great starting points at the birth of our nation. However, we should be eternally thankful that our Founding Fathers ensured that our country made the correct steps
beyond those starting points..