Nothing unites Americans more than complaining about how divided we are. “Polarization” has become so pervasive in public debate and academic analysis that it now functions almost as the dominant narrative of our time, used to understand everything from political divisions to social divisions. It consistently appears in news headlines, policy debates, and academic research as the default framework for . Media dynamics and family relationships.
Is this bad news also good news? It’s like a heart attack where survival is the premise and it makes you stronger. yes. At least it’s close.
First, the big road that led us to where we are now. Religion is in the middle. Next, we’ll talk about an unknown American hero who serves as a model for our time.
For most of history, religion was inseparable from culture. God and humans were deeply connected, and religious practice was completely public. “Religion” means “to unite” and reflects the role of religion in uniting communities and forming a common identity. It took on a more humane character during the Renaissance, became increasingly urbanized and industrialized by the 19th century, and finally globalized by the 20th century. In the digital age, religious expression has moved into personalized spiritual networks, bridging online communities and some expressions of organized religion that honor traditional values, rituals, and a sense of mystery. I am.
Of particular note is the growing interest in Eastern Orthodoxy. The Orthodox vision of grace in close connection with nature resonates with modern seekers who reject secular materialism and supernatural dualism, and the sacred permeates everyday reality without dissolving into mere pantheism. We provide a unified vision to
Although modern pluralistic societies may no longer share a single religious foundation, democracies must maintain a strong commitment to common values and local communities to maintain freedom and prevent democratic decline. The broader principle of dependence on participation remains. Regardless of the ultimate source of these values, local deliberation and cooperation are essential to preserving healthy democracies and the virtues of character that religion can uniquely contribute to a democratic culture. is. Tocqueville called this “the very basis of democracy.”
America’s pioneers of freedom will recognize that democracy is always a work in progress, a pressing problem, never a problem-solver, a work in progress rather than a settled fact. . Rhode Island’s founder, Roger Williams, embodied this vision with his radical defense of religious freedom, a principle enshrined in the First Amendment. More broadly, Williams stands as the father of American pluralism, or rather principled pluralism, a vision in which unity emerges from confronting difference and honest diversity.
Those who claim America as an officially Christian nation and who oppose the separation of church and state to combat what they see as moral decadence are paradoxically isolating themselves. By forming exclusive enclaves of mostly white “true believers,” these groups have effectively become separatists themselves, undermining their own goals of broader cultural influence. are.
Ironically, America’s stalwart “segregationist” Roger Williams deplored separatism. In his book A bloody tenant of persecution for conscience, Williams declared that “it is the will and command of God to give permission to every man in every land and nation to the most pagan or anti-Christian forms of conscience and worship.” In matters of the soul, the only sword that can conquer them is the word of the Spirit of God. In this paper, Williams welcomed Native Americans and “atheists, pagans, Muslims, and Jews.” They had the right to practice whatever their religious beliefs were. The only way for them to become Christians was to “voluntarily accept the word of God.”
No scholar has done more to secure Roger Williams’ place in the pantheon of American heroes than Teresa Beejan, professor of political science at the University of Oxford. In her recent book, just a civilianYes, Bejan rescues “civility” from the drawing rooms of elite tolerance and civility, effectively placing Williams at the forefront of discussions of contemporary conflict and culture.
Exiled from Massachusetts for his overzealousness, Roger Williams turned the tables on civility he had once used to silence him and became the most tolerant and inclusive man the world had ever seen. built one of the best societies. The Puritans envisioned their place in the New World as a “city on a hill.” In Rhode Island, Roger Williams founded the Crossroads of Conscience.
As Bejan puts it, Williams sought “bonds of civility,” not mutual respect but a minimum level of civility. They were civil enough to maintain dialogue despite deep differences and build resilience against perceived disrespect. He lived through this in the state he founded, welcoming even those he believed were in danger of destruction. True faith requires an uncoerced conscience and the freedom to choose one’s own path. Williams believed so strongly in his faith that he felt he had to defend his right to disagree.
Williams’ idealism was realistic, emotionally honest, and very down-to-earth. Mere politeness, like dealing with a hostile ex-spouse or political opponent, stems more from antipathy than sympathy. Persistent dialogue and attentive listening, rather than simply waiting for an adversary to speak, or walking away as a last resort and slamming the door, even when the adversary is irrational or clearly wrong. is required. According to this standard, Donald Trump’s primary violation was not insults or even lies, but his use of power to silence his critics. The discussion is becoming criminal, except as an explanation of his point of view. Ironically, supporters who faced their own silencing are now questioning the right of opponents to speak freely.
Roger Williams, an outspoken “separatist” expelled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his dogmatic zeal, was the father of pluralism With thick skin, diversity with backbone.
There is no better religious and political model for us today. Such strict civility is essential to the defense of both the nation and the faith. Today’s separatists and their critics could serve as a good example.
Thick skin. Aggressive blessing. amazing grace— never more so than when we accept it.
notes and reading
“We’re not all in the same position. We’re all in the same storm.” – in a novel by Damien Barr It’s safe here (2019). Barr is a Scottish author and broadcaster who organizes numerous literary events.
alexis de tocqueville – american democracy, Volume 2 (revised 1862; 2000), Part 1, especially “What inclines the heart of a democratic people to pantheism,” “On the principal sources of the beliefs of a democratic people,” and “Why American writers and orators “Does it often become a big word?” – This could have been written yesterday.
The right to bloody persecution in the cause of conscience to be discussed at the Truth and Peace Conference (1644) – Project Gutenberg e-book. and roger williams – Edwin S. Gaustad (2005). Gaustad was a professor of history and religious studies at the University of California, Riverside.
Mere Politeness: Dissent and the Limits of Tolerance – Teresa M. Bijan (2017). Professor of Political Theory at Oxford University, UK, Fellow of Oriel College. Bejan is a rising star in political theory, and his groundbreaking research has already received international acclaim.
Don’t Label Me: Great Conversations for Divided Times – Irshad Manji (2019). “If I’m asking for too much, it’s worse because I’m asking for too much.” – Irshad and her dog Lili show different ways of thinking about identity and diversity. Manji is its founder Moral Courage UniversitySenior Research Fellow at the Oxford Initiative for Global Ethics and Human Rights, Los Angeles, UK. Manji is also the author of: Allah, Freedom and Love: The Courage to Reconcile Faith and Freedom (2011).
Snitch #169 – Night Vision
Approximately 2 + 2 = 5: https://williamgreen.substack.com/about
Source: 2 + 2 = 5 – williamgreen.substack.com
