Promised
If nothing more, David Gelernter’s Commentary column is provocative and challenging. While its titled Americanism -- and Its Enemies, the column serves primarily as a means to present a theory of Americanism as the continuation of Puritanism. The questionable contention is that Americanism is a religion, as is anti-Americanism. It is powerful stuff, as Gelernter states, and no less than G. K. Chesterton said that America is "the nation with the soul of a church." Is this enough?
Clearly not, yet Gelernter moves on as if for no other reason that his stating it, it should be enough. While this may be that no other evidence exists, unlikely, it is more likely that Gelernter recognizes that those who share his view of America, and her place in the world, are likely to share his creedo for Americanism. We may share it, many will, yet we do not all achieve the same understanding from the same basis, as he notes in admitting that those from outside the Judeo-Christian religions are capable of sharing in the beliefs of Americanism, although he states it is harder than most recognize. The reason - Americanism, as he defines it can be found in a creed built upon "one fundamental fact [that] creates two premises that create three conclusions."
The fundamental fact: the Bible is God’s word. Two premises: first, every member of the American community has his own individual dignity, insofar as he deals individually with God; second, the community has a divine mission to all mankind. Three conclusions: every human being everywhere is entitled to freedom, equality, and democracy.Had Gelernter described Americanism as a value system, a moral belief system, or an ethos, anything short of a religion, much of the challenge would have been alleviated. We would consider how Puritans evolved into the mainstream of America just as did the many other peoples making up the melting pot, and more importantly, we could seek to find the influence of Puritan thought on the fundamental makeup of Americanism. Yet, as a religion, moreover, the religious continuation of Puritanism, Americanism is somehow defunct and unacceptable to many. Perhaps this is because many of those who are advocates of Americanism, even as defined above, are incapable of considering the notion as a religion. To share the conclusions of Gelernter’s Americanism creed, it is not a necessity that we share faith in God, only that we share the belief that in the conclusions and the moral value of Life and Liberty. This is quite different than religious teachings whereby the believer is expected to believe not only the conclusions, but to believe in, if not understand, the genesis of the faith or the source, God.
It was with that clarity, that the founders made the statement in the Declaration of Independence:
That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.As this statement shows our allegiance to the truths that preceded it, rather than to the government that we are both subject to and participants in.
It would have been grand had Gelernter chosen to examine Americanism and anti-Americanism based on the communicated and un-communicated values associated with both. In lieu of that discussion, we are discussing Americanism as an evolutionary extension of Puritanism. Of course, it is possible that had the column not focused on the religiosity of Americanism; little would have been made of it. As for this blogger, a discussion of our moral foundations, and that of our enemies, is always welcome; as is Americanism, by any definition.
It is arguable that we are hated for the values we hold. The ideals we accept, and in many ways seek to extend to others are foreign and dangerous to many, and in as much so are likely to generate hatred and rivalry on par with religious bigotry. While we did experience the now politically incorrect notion of Manifest Destiny, we are now, even more so, advocates of our ideals beyond our borders. It isn’t that men, Afghan or Zimbabwean, are more entitled to freedom today than in previous generations; it is that we recognize that our continued success as a nation requires that we foster a system of beliefs similar to our own throughout the world. The reason lies in the defense of our ability to live free. As nineteen islamo-fascist have shown us, our world is no longer made safe by distance or lack of armament; our enemies from so far away, and with so little in the form of weaponry are able to inflict immeasurable damage and for this reason, Americanism, religion or not, is spread by word and deed, to all people that they too may see life and liberty as virtues above all others.
Again I would recommend that you visit the Evangelical Outpost and the many fine entries.
