Mark David Hall Flashcards
What is “the problem” that Hall is trying to address?
The widespread belief that the founding fathers desired to separate church and state and that the foundations of America were built on Godless beliefs.
Why, According to Hall, do the Founder’s views matter? Why did Obama cite them?
Hall believes that since we already use a bunch of their beliefs on liberty to defend our present political circumstance, it is important to know what they really stood for. In the case of Obama, He quoted the Constitution to defend the belief in religious freedom, but he did not always adhere to the founder’s original vision.
What, in Hall’s opinion is the most reasonable way to approach the question of whether or not America had a Christian Founding?
Arguments based on laws letters and debates as well as any other primary source documents.
What is the central argument of the book according to Hall?
“America’s founders drew from their Christian convictions to create a constitutional order that benefits all Americans, not just Christians”
Opening Quotes: What did Gordon Wood and Matthew Stewart say about the American Founders?
Is there evidence that some Founders were “deists”?
Gordon Wood said they were at most deists believing in the clocksmith God that created the world and then stepped back. Matthew Stewart believed the founders were philosophical radicals.
Is there evidence that some Founders were “deists”?
There is virtually none. according to Hall.
(p. 10) What does Hall have to say about the claim that “most” Founders were deists?
In the case of “most” founders, he states “it is remarkable how little evidence there is that more than a handful of founders merit this distinction”
What does famed scholar Sydney Ahlstrom say about the religious heritage of most Americans in 1776?
Ahlstrom states that the reformed tradition was 3/4 of the American people’s heritage in 1776.
Are there “good reasons” according to Hall that many Founders were orthodox Christians? What does he say about Ethan Allen?
Hall believes there are good reasons to believe the founders were Orthodox Christian and there’s no evidence to suggest that a lot of them were deists. He recognizes Ethan Allen as the only Civic leader in the founding era who was definitively a deist.
What did research by political scientist Donald Lutz show?
The Bible was referenced far more than the works of Locke
Summarize the “logic” found at the top of page 36.
The argument is whether or not religion is necessary for morality, making religion and morality a requirement of a republican government. It comes from the argument of respecting one another, which is essential to a republic government. But to respect others, you would have to rely on religion and the moral code it creates.
Provide a summary of Hall’s arguments on p. 53-54
Hall believes that individuals arguing that the Constitution is a “godless” one base their belief entirely on the lack of “God” via an explicit mention. He believes this is not enough to support the claim. And furthermore, most of the ideas they argue in favor of in the Constitution are supported by a Christian worldview. Their perspective of rights and liberty are dependent on Christian morality, and it is harmful to ignore their ideals.
According to Hall what led to the Founders embrace of religious liberty?
Hall proposes that the Enlightenment led the founders to embrace religious liberty.
What does the wood carving on page 125 illustrate?
It depicts the skyline of New York City. Of the 20 buildings visible, the majority are houses of worship, of a variety of denominations. The Wood carving illustrates the diversity in religious beliefs at that time.
What did Founders like William Penn have to say about religious persecution?
They advocated for religious liberty for reasons including the conviction that persecution is fruitless, liberty of conscious causes true religion to flourish, and the Bible requires religious freedom.
What did Yale rector Elisha Williams argue about Religious liberty? (p. 128)
Williams argued that every Christian has a right to judge what he is to believe and practice, according to the scriptures. The argument includes multiple components of the Protestant Reformation, such as sola Scriptura.
What does the example of Barronelle Stutzman reveal about religious liberty according to Hall? (p. 131)
It shows that politicians, jurists, and academics have turned their backs on the founder’s commitment to protect the sacred right of conscience. In modern America, legislators can craft exemptions to natural laws and still meet important policy goals.
What does Hall have to say about Stutzman and accommodation? (p. 144)
He suggests the state should accommodate Stutzman by permitting her to decline to participate in the ceremony based on the freedom of religion. The accommodation would not extend to people who simply don’t like homosexuals, nor would it extend to Medicare and police protection.
