WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.080
 Okay team, welcome.

00:00:22.920 --> 00:00:27.100
 We are inveterate storytellers.

00:00:27.100 --> 00:00:43.020
 We instinctively implot our lives, embed ourselves in some narrative which gives us a sense of identity and meaning and orients us and energizes our being, becoming, and believing in the world.

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 And we've spoken of how, as Christians, we seek to have the gospel narrative principally formative.

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 But in addition, we find our imaginaries under the influence, perhaps even under the thrall, of other stories we live within and out of.

00:01:04.819 --> 00:01:09.799
 Stories which color our lenses and animate our actions and our reactions.

00:01:09.799 --> 00:01:23.840
 And some of these stories, powerfully operative for believers and unbelievers alike, are those we tell and inhabit about who we are as a nation.

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 What was our beginning as a people and how that formative origin has a bearing, perhaps even a claim, on who and how we ought to be today.

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 So my ambition this morning is to take us back in history to examine some of the stories that have become some of the weight-bearing columns in the narrative edifices erected around our nation's founding.

00:01:53.340 --> 00:01:57.579
 Central pillars in the stories of how America came to be.

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 And so, in some enduring sense, who we are.

00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:10.219
 So, let's do so in relation to what we might think of as two foundings.

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 First, largely the Puritan settling of America in New England.

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 And second, the political founding of our nation and the nascence of its independence.

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 First, a disclosure.

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 This historical territory is heavily trodden by vast research and seasoned judgment.

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 And my boots are not nearly as well trodden as such experts.

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 So, if some present can provide thicker ice for my thin, always likely at a place like this.

00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:51.379
 I see history PhDs, even as I glance out here.

00:02:51.580 --> 00:02:51.740
 Okay.

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 Then I thank you in advance.

00:02:55.760 --> 00:02:59.319
 Well, with that, let's turn to the first founding.

00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:08.159
 The vision of the first settlers of New England is well captured from the pen of one of its principal architects,

00:03:08.439 --> 00:03:15.719
 John Winthrop, aboard the Arbella, conveying these zealous old England intrepids to their new home.

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 This new plantation, Winthrop urged them, was to be a city on a hill.

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 A shining display of a society or commonwealth, as they called it,

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 ordered in all things according to the will of God.

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 And the controlling framework for understanding this errand in the wilderness was that of covenant.

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 As Winthrop had explained to his fellow immigrant seafarers,

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 God hath entered into covenant with us,

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 and we with him, giving us a special commission.

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 And, quote, we,

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 and when God gives a special commission, Winthrop warned,

00:04:03.159 --> 00:04:08.219
 he looks to have it strictly observed in every article.

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 He continues,

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 The eyes of all people are upon us,

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 so that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken,

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 and so cause him to withdraw his present help from us,

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 we shall be made a story and a byword through the world.

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 We shall open the mouths of enemies to speak evil of the ways of God,

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 and all professors for God's sake.

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 We shall shame the faces of many of God's worthy servants,

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 and cause their prayers to be turned into curses upon us,

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 till we be consumed out of the good land whither we are going.

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 So, who were these hopeful covenanters,

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 so zealous to render God a heartfelt, comprehensive obedience?

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 Surely, if they were partied in such a covenant, they were saints.

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 Those in whose souls God's spirit had miraculously wrought his gracious,

00:05:05.080 --> 00:05:06.520
 saving, regenerative work?

00:05:07.300 --> 00:05:10.280
 Well, not entirely.

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 Not at least by their own reckoning.

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 They made a distinction and considered it vital

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 between visible saints,

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 the manifestly regenerate,

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 and those perhaps hopeful of regeneration,

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 but not yet subject to the spirit-saving work.

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 Only visible saints could comprise the church

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 and be its members.

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 All others could and must consistently attend

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 all the means of grace,

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 the preaching and all,

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 but not as communicant members.

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 So, the first order of business for the collective commonwealth,

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 the covenanters,

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 was to constitute or gather, as they called it,

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 from among themselves a church.

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 From the newly arrived,

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 I mean, fresh off the boat,

00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:06.740
 seven were chosen,

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 whose regeneration was undoubted to all,

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 had to be a unanimous vote.

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 And that core of seven sifted, in their terms,

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 sifted all the rest.

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 Every candidate for membership

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 had to give an account

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 of God's gracious, saving work in their life

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 and show how their subsequent life

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 exhibited conclusively its effects.

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 If they were able to give a credible account

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 in the judgment of charity,

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 they passed the test

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 and were permitted then to subscribe

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 to the church covenant.

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 So, this is a different one.

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 The church covenant,

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 by which they promised to join the other members

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 in worship, holy living,

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 and mutual watchfulness.

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 And this was the pattern and practice

00:06:57.260 --> 00:07:00.360
 across the first plantations of New England.

00:07:00.360 --> 00:07:03.080
 It was so in New Haven Colony,

00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:03.860
 our very own.

00:07:05.040 --> 00:07:08.240
 1638, when the first settlers got off the boat,

00:07:08.500 --> 00:07:10.040
 they immediately gathered a church.

00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:12.860
 By unanimous selection,

00:07:13.040 --> 00:07:15.420
 the first core of visible saints were chosen,

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 who then sifted all the aspirants.

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 Many were called to the trial,

00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:23.879
 but fewer were chosen to the church covenant.

00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:28.480
 But all were part of the common covenant

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 of plantation, as they called it,

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 to render a full obedience to God's will

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 outlined for his people in the scriptures.

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 Nothing shall be attended unto

00:07:40.060 --> 00:07:42.259
 in the ordering of this plantation,

00:07:42.759 --> 00:07:44.879
 wrote the first foundation document,

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 except the word of God.

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 We're not going to pay attention to anything else,

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 just the word of God.

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 Now, one may wonder

00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:54.680
 how those commonwealth covenants felt

00:07:54.680 --> 00:07:58.740
 who failed the trial of the church membership.

00:08:00.060 --> 00:08:00.860
 The majority.

00:08:02.139 --> 00:08:03.439
 And it's difficult to say.

00:08:03.900 --> 00:08:05.900
 I mean, doubtless there were some hardened sinners

00:08:05.900 --> 00:08:08.060
 who cared more for their tankard of ale

00:08:08.060 --> 00:08:11.160
 than who were bothered about their exclusion

00:08:11.160 --> 00:08:12.460
 from the communion cup.

00:08:12.459 --> 00:08:19.339
 As one cleric put it,

00:08:19.599 --> 00:08:25.680
 the people be like the blacksmith's dog.

00:08:26.099 --> 00:08:29.399
 So you've got to imagine the image here,

00:08:29.719 --> 00:08:31.819
 sleeping soundly next to the anvil,

00:08:32.179 --> 00:08:33.720
 though the preacher clang,

00:08:33.840 --> 00:08:36.579
 with the hammer blows and be preaching,

00:08:36.899 --> 00:08:38.259
 ever so loudly upon it,

00:08:38.340 --> 00:08:40.419
 they're unstirred, asleep like the dog.

00:08:40.600 --> 00:08:41.240
 So yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:08:41.240 --> 00:08:43.440
 There were people like that in Puritan New England.

00:08:43.799 --> 00:08:45.299
 Okay, at least the preachers say so.

00:08:45.980 --> 00:08:47.960
 But it seems a great majority

00:08:47.960 --> 00:08:50.500
 of these non-visibly elect

00:08:50.500 --> 00:08:53.100
 were conscientious Puritans

00:08:53.100 --> 00:08:55.480
 who diligently attended upon the means of grace

00:08:55.480 --> 00:08:57.200
 and prayed that those means

00:08:57.200 --> 00:09:00.740
 might be effectual in their operation upon them,

00:09:01.159 --> 00:09:05.639
 but did not want admission to the church without that.

00:09:06.419 --> 00:09:08.360
 They were serious about that.

00:09:08.360 --> 00:09:11.879
 And it was these neighbors,

00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:14.539
 they called them neighbors of the saints,

00:09:14.899 --> 00:09:16.680
 fellow members of the commonwealth,

00:09:17.080 --> 00:09:19.680
 who unanimously voted, unanimously,

00:09:20.220 --> 00:09:23.100
 to restrict the civil vote

00:09:23.100 --> 00:09:26.019
 to the visible saints,

00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:27.960
 excluding themselves.

00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:30.500
 For, as they expressed it,

00:09:30.700 --> 00:09:32.320
 they preferred that civil government

00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:34.060
 be in the hands of the saints.

00:09:34.059 --> 00:09:39.239
 For, so shall the power be less likely abused.

00:09:39.879 --> 00:09:40.319
 Interesting.

00:09:40.519 --> 00:09:41.339
 Not a power grab.

00:09:41.459 --> 00:09:41.819
 Interesting.

00:09:42.019 --> 00:09:42.799
 Here, you take it.

00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:43.279
 Please.

00:09:43.439 --> 00:09:44.279
 We trust you more.

00:09:45.619 --> 00:09:46.699
 And if there were those

00:09:46.699 --> 00:09:47.819
 who thought themselves abused

00:09:47.819 --> 00:09:49.699
 by this arrangement of godly rule,

00:09:50.099 --> 00:09:53.199
 there are surprisingly few complaints on record.

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 And it's worth realizing

00:09:56.040 --> 00:10:00.080
 that allowing all the church members to vote

00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:04.300
 significantly extended the franchise

00:10:04.300 --> 00:10:07.180
 compared to their mother England.

00:10:08.540 --> 00:10:10.120
 Hardly anybody was going to have

00:10:10.120 --> 00:10:11.980
 any sort of access to political activity,

00:10:12.100 --> 00:10:13.280
 you know, in old England.

00:10:14.700 --> 00:10:15.960
 Also worth noting,

00:10:16.940 --> 00:10:19.520
 one group excluded from holding office

00:10:19.520 --> 00:10:21.460
 in civil government was the clergy.

00:10:21.460 --> 00:10:24.040
 So if we think of,

00:10:24.139 --> 00:10:25.320
 or refer to,

00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:27.500
 Puritan New England as a theocracy,

00:10:28.100 --> 00:10:31.960
 let's be careful of what we mean by that.

00:10:32.759 --> 00:10:35.300
 Yes, the entire commonwealth

00:10:35.300 --> 00:10:37.860
 was in covenant to obey God

00:10:37.860 --> 00:10:39.500
 in all particulars of life.

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 The Bible was the blueprint for society.

00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:45.900
 There was not much of a written code of laws,

00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:49.680
 as the laws were just simply adopted

00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:50.839
 from the Bible.

00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:51.919
 In New Haven,

00:10:52.039 --> 00:10:52.599
 they just said,

00:10:52.779 --> 00:10:53.299
 they called it,

00:10:53.599 --> 00:10:53.939
 Moses,

00:10:54.359 --> 00:10:55.359
 his judicials.

00:10:56.219 --> 00:10:57.539
 Just brought them over.

00:10:58.039 --> 00:10:58.299
 Okay?

00:10:58.919 --> 00:10:59.579
 By the way,

00:10:59.699 --> 00:10:59.839
 people,

00:10:59.959 --> 00:11:00.059
 you know,

00:11:00.099 --> 00:11:01.299
 sometimes I'll talk about this

00:11:01.299 --> 00:11:01.639
 and people,

00:11:01.799 --> 00:11:01.939
 you know,

00:11:02.039 --> 00:11:02.859
 to secularists,

00:11:02.939 --> 00:11:03.039
 they'll,

00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:03.519
 oh,

00:11:03.899 --> 00:11:04.799
 how barbaric.

00:11:05.459 --> 00:11:05.620
 You know,

00:11:05.699 --> 00:11:06.299
 they're only,

00:11:06.579 --> 00:11:06.779
 you know,

00:11:07.419 --> 00:11:07.659
 they're,

00:11:08.219 --> 00:11:08.599
 in,

00:11:08.599 --> 00:11:09.000
 in,

00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:09.399
 in,

00:11:09.739 --> 00:11:10.099
 uh,

00:11:10.199 --> 00:11:11.339
 common law in,

00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:11.819
 in England,

00:11:11.939 --> 00:11:12.159
 you know,

00:11:12.219 --> 00:11:16.019
 there were over like 300 capital offenses.

00:11:17.019 --> 00:11:18.599
 The Old Testament only has 11.

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 You know,

00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:19.659
 I mean,

00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:21.980
 so this is really the height of legal progressivism,

00:11:22.080 --> 00:11:22.240
 you know,

00:11:22.259 --> 00:11:22.980
 if you think about this.

00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:23.759
 But in any case,

00:11:23.800 --> 00:11:24.080
 that's an,

00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:24.680
 that's an aside.

00:11:25.159 --> 00:11:25.320
 Um,

00:11:25.759 --> 00:11:26.220
 uh,

00:11:26.220 --> 00:11:26.779
 so,

00:11:26.920 --> 00:11:27.180
 uh,

00:11:27.420 --> 00:11:27.620
 yeah,

00:11:27.720 --> 00:11:28.399
 so Moses,

00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:29.139
 his judicials,

00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:30.800
 that's what they call the law in New Haven.

00:11:30.800 --> 00:11:33.159
 And if some trouble arose on the New Haven green,

00:11:33.340 --> 00:11:33.480
 you know,

00:11:33.580 --> 00:11:36.560
 some offending perpetrator would be brought to the governor,

00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:37.600
 Theophilus Eaton,

00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:39.840
 who would open his Bible and,

00:11:39.899 --> 00:11:42.820
 and read the divine ordinance that,

00:11:42.940 --> 00:11:43.800
 that had been transgressed.

00:11:44.560 --> 00:11:44.720
 You know,

00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:46.879
 maybe he would read Romans 13,

00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:47.320
 13,

00:11:47.500 --> 00:11:49.139
 not in rioting or drunkenness,

00:11:49.259 --> 00:11:51.100
 not in chambering or wantonness.

00:11:51.439 --> 00:11:51.720
 All right.

00:11:51.939 --> 00:11:52.439
 And,

00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:52.559
 uh,

00:11:52.559 --> 00:11:54.080
 then depending upon the severity,

00:11:54.439 --> 00:11:55.480
 prescribe the discipline,

00:11:56.100 --> 00:11:57.820
 perhaps the stocks for,

00:11:57.899 --> 00:11:58.139
 for,

00:11:58.220 --> 00:11:58.460
 for,

00:11:58.559 --> 00:11:59.100
 for the night.

00:11:59.580 --> 00:11:59.799
 Um,

00:11:59.799 --> 00:12:04.079
 if Governor Eaton found a particular case really difficult,

00:12:04.399 --> 00:12:06.299
 he might call upon the minister,

00:12:06.719 --> 00:12:07.740
 John Davenport,

00:12:07.959 --> 00:12:12.059
 but not in any official capacity.

00:12:12.699 --> 00:12:13.199
 No,

00:12:13.259 --> 00:12:14.659
 no office to do that.

00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:18.439
 Only as a consultant expert in scripture,

00:12:19.139 --> 00:12:24.859
 the civil government was in the exclusive hands of lay church members,

00:12:25.240 --> 00:12:26.279
 lay church membership.

00:12:26.279 --> 00:12:27.360
 Uh,

00:12:27.799 --> 00:12:28.279
 uh,

00:12:28.659 --> 00:12:33.399
 one of the remarkable features of these New England commonwealths was their internal unity.

00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:35.059
 And indeed,

00:12:35.199 --> 00:12:39.980
 this was thought critical for God to bless their special commission.

00:12:40.139 --> 00:12:40.319
 Remember,

00:12:40.379 --> 00:12:40.959
 this is their term.

00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:43.579
 We have a special commission to be a city on a hill.

00:12:44.220 --> 00:12:44.620
 Now,

00:12:44.699 --> 00:12:45.120
 of course,

00:12:45.339 --> 00:12:49.279
 such unity was possible because there was so little diversity.

00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:49.839
 diversity,

00:12:50.319 --> 00:12:52.019
 or stated positively,

00:12:52.500 --> 00:12:52.699
 uh,

00:12:52.839 --> 00:12:56.959
 such a homogeneous society among the,

00:12:57.019 --> 00:12:57.279
 you know,

00:12:57.379 --> 00:12:58.319
 among the citizenry.

00:12:58.439 --> 00:12:59.279
 There was no Jew.

00:12:59.439 --> 00:13:00.259
 There was no Turk.

00:13:00.459 --> 00:13:06.279
 There was not even a Roman Catholic to find the commonwealth objectionable or athwart their religious convictions.

00:13:08.279 --> 00:13:08.839
 But,

00:13:09.740 --> 00:13:12.079
 and this is going to be one of the key themes here,

00:13:12.360 --> 00:13:16.279
 but eventually the mass migration of the 1630s,

00:13:16.279 --> 00:13:17.120
 the 1630s,

00:13:17.379 --> 00:13:18.740
 it was planted in 1630,

00:13:18.839 --> 00:13:19.159
 Massachusetts,

00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:19.519
 May God,

00:13:19.860 --> 00:13:20.120
 would,

00:13:20.179 --> 00:13:21.839
 would bring in a human flood.

00:13:22.139 --> 00:13:24.199
 And with these swelling inhabitants,

00:13:24.600 --> 00:13:26.759
 more religious diversity.

00:13:28.199 --> 00:13:29.000
 At first,

00:13:29.079 --> 00:13:34.299
 those who failed to fit in and threatened the unity of the commonwealth could simply be expelled.

00:13:34.959 --> 00:13:36.959
 Like Baptist Roger Williams.

00:13:37.339 --> 00:13:40.720
 There was land enough available in which to relocate the difference.

00:13:41.159 --> 00:13:42.220
 Just sweep it out.

00:13:42.220 --> 00:13:43.300
 Or,

00:13:44.259 --> 00:13:44.820
 rarely,

00:13:45.259 --> 00:13:46.700
 but in more extreme cases,

00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:47.300
 executed.

00:13:47.700 --> 00:13:49.800
 Such as Quaker Mary Dyer.

00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:50.519
 You know,

00:13:50.660 --> 00:13:51.960
 we expelled her three times.

00:13:52.040 --> 00:13:52.920
 She'd keep coming back.

00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:53.620
 Didn't get the picture.

00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:53.960
 So,

00:13:54.060 --> 00:13:54.220
 hey,

00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:55.259
 we executed her.

00:13:58.860 --> 00:13:59.899
 Most commonly,

00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:01.960
 exiles would end up in Rhode Island,

00:14:02.139 --> 00:14:05.320
 which became a byword among Massachusetts Bay Puritans

00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:10.360
 for that receptacle of all that is blemished, blinkered, and pestilential.

00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:10.800
 Boy,

00:14:11.440 --> 00:14:12.080
 I love this stuff.

00:14:12.680 --> 00:14:12.879
 Yeah.

00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:13.500
 Yeah.

00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:15.519
 That's where the Baptists locate.

00:14:16.120 --> 00:14:21.639
 But when such minorities of divergent conviction began to increase in number as they did,

00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:23.240
 not only through immigration,

00:14:23.399 --> 00:14:25.080
 but also through proliferation,

00:14:25.680 --> 00:14:28.800
 stress fractures began to appear in the long,

00:14:28.940 --> 00:14:32.639
 hallowed model of government-upheld uniformity.

00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:39.259
 And especially significant for the proliferation of diverse sects was the Great Awakening.

00:14:40.340 --> 00:14:41.259
 Conspicuously,

00:14:41.740 --> 00:14:49.139
 the Spirit seemed to be at work in the Great Awakening beyond the confines of religious establishment.

00:14:49.139 --> 00:14:50.799
 Thus,

00:14:51.199 --> 00:14:54.679
 religious authorities were questioned and challenged.

00:14:54.679 --> 00:14:56.599
 And to stir with the Spirit,

00:14:56.599 --> 00:14:58.599
 new and freer forms multiplied,

00:14:59.599 --> 00:15:07.139
 and new congregations outside the established church sprang up like mushrooms in damp shade.

00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:09.539
 It's a place that the Baptists like.

00:15:09.539 --> 00:15:11.139
 Damn shade, I guess.

00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:22.779
 But many of them were Baptists who chafed at the unfair, unjust advantage of the established government-supported congregational churches that they enjoyed.

00:15:22.779 --> 00:15:31.059
 It was the Baptists who passionately and trenchantly offered a critique of the New England way of establishment religion.

00:15:32.759 --> 00:15:42.500
 Was it fair that Baptists, who were not part of the established churches, yet had to pay taxes expressly for their support?

00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:43.579
 Was that just?

00:15:45.100 --> 00:15:50.500
 Was this not an instance of taxation without representation?

00:15:50.500 --> 00:15:57.740
 Just grabbing that, you know, the aphorism that was so effective and applying it a little bit more widely here.

00:15:59.139 --> 00:16:05.440
 Was it right for Baptists to have to petition, often unavailingly, for permission to preach?

00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:14.179
 Which, if granted, was done so sparingly and grudgingly as a favor granted, not as a right inherent.

00:16:14.179 --> 00:16:22.719
 Should it be so that the sacred content of our faith and religious practice should be subject to civil law?

00:16:24.079 --> 00:16:29.159
 Surely, religious opinion should be excluded from the objects of legislation.

00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:47.339
 If the prosecution of this case for religious freedom is of interest to you, I commend the writings and labors of New England Baptist Isaac Bacchus, 1724-1806, and John Leyland, 1754-1841.

00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:53.100
 Both strove mightily for the disestablishment of religion in the colonies.

00:16:53.100 --> 00:17:12.579
 When will this great truth be acknowledged, pled Leyland, that neither the legislative, executive, nor judicial arms of government in their official capacities have anything to do with the souls of men, conscience, or eternity?

00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:23.460
 Why was this governmental non-interference and non-support viewed so vital to Leyland?

00:17:23.939 --> 00:17:35.339
 Because he was convinced that history demonstrates that government involving itself in religion is bad for both religion and for government.

00:17:35.339 --> 00:17:41.980
 For it creates tyranny in government and hypocrisy in religion.

00:17:42.579 --> 00:17:44.919
 It fosters tyranny in government.

00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:55.480
 Leyland's earliest memories was that of being forcibly baptized against his will and conscience as a little boy in Massachusetts, the religious policy that the state government enforced.

00:17:57.220 --> 00:18:00.679
 It also fosters hypocrisy in religion.

00:18:01.679 --> 00:18:07.899
 Leyland regarded Constantine's government support of Christianity, the subtle beginnings of disaster.

00:18:07.899 --> 00:18:09.639
 He had listened to Tyler's lecture.

00:18:09.799 --> 00:18:10.759
 See, that's what happened there.

00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:21.140
 And Constantine announces, I have cushy jobs for any Christians in the civil sphere.

00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:23.759
 Are there any Christians out there?

00:18:24.920 --> 00:18:28.059
 Should we be surprised that multiple hands are waving?

00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:29.200
 We are Christians!

00:18:29.319 --> 00:18:29.879
 We're Christians!

00:18:30.059 --> 00:18:31.140
 Give us those jobs!

00:18:31.140 --> 00:18:40.980
 You know, it would be hard not to suspect, as Jesus did, that some were following for the loaves and the fishes.

00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:48.820
 Referring to the Constantinian support of the church, Leyland grieved that it was then and there that, quote,

00:18:48.819 --> 00:19:03.059
 Christianity was disrobed of her virgin beauty and prostituted to the unhallowed principle of state policy where it has remained in a criminal commerce until the present moment.

00:19:03.059 --> 00:19:17.240
 And if government may support religion by acts of legislation, what's the limit to their intruding into the sphere of grace?

00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:25.120
 Rather tongue-in-cheek, this is kind of a reductio ad absurdum, rather tongue-in-cheek, Leyland writes,

00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:32.579
 How often have I wished that when rulers undertake to make laws about religion, they would complete the code?

00:19:33.419 --> 00:19:39.339
 Not only make provision for building meeting houses, paying preachers, and forcing people to hear them,

00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:47.579
 but also to enjoin on the hearers' repentance, faith, self-denial, love to God and love to man.

00:19:48.119 --> 00:19:52.099
 That everyone who did not repent of his sin should pay five pounds.

00:19:52.099 --> 00:19:55.740
 That all those who did not believe should pay ten pounds.

00:19:56.159 --> 00:20:01.019
 That every soul who did not deny himself and take up his cross daily would pay fifteen pounds.

00:20:01.659 --> 00:20:05.879
 That whoever did not love God with all his heart should be imprisoned for a year.

00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:11.759
 And that if a man did not love his neighbor as himself, he should be confined for life.

00:20:14.099 --> 00:20:18.759
 Yes, these are Christian moral duties.

00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:22.519
 But are they not the vocation of the church?

00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:24.539
 The body of Christ?

00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:26.140
 The assembly of the regenerate?

00:20:26.519 --> 00:20:28.759
 Where God's spirit animatingly dwells?

00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:31.000
 Indwells, in fact?

00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:38.680
 It is Christ's own who are, by his own saving work, gladly under the law of Christ,

00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:46.759
 who have been made his happy subjects through regeneration, not legislation.

00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:54.140
 Yes, we appeal to our neighbors to be reconciled to God through Christ,

00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:58.440
 but this appeal is by invitation and persuasion.

00:20:59.140 --> 00:21:02.940
 Never force, however benignly intended.

00:21:02.940 --> 00:21:10.480
 And until they, our neighbors, freely enter the fold, while they remain outsiders,

00:21:10.920 --> 00:21:19.559
 what reason or right would we have to think that they ought to behave or believe like believers,

00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:22.240
 as the church believes or behaves?

00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:23.299
 Really?

00:21:23.660 --> 00:21:25.279
 We're going to expect that of them?

00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:27.519
 We're going to demand that of them?

00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:28.059
 Really?

00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:32.440
 As the apostle writes, 1 Corinthians 5.12,

00:21:33.159 --> 00:21:35.980
 For what have I to do with judging outsiders?

00:21:37.139 --> 00:21:41.579
 Is it not those inside the church whom you, as Christians, judge?

00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:43.440
 Whom you are to judge?

00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:49.919
 So this takes us to the heart of what appears to be a muddle of our first founders,

00:21:50.179 --> 00:21:55.079
 which muddle has had a long afterlife and indeed continues with us still.

00:21:55.079 --> 00:22:06.919
 Did our first founders rightly affirm a covenant relationship between their New England plantation and God?

00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:13.039
 Has God granted them, like the King of England, granted them their charter,

00:22:13.899 --> 00:22:18.699
 a special commission as a commonwealth, to quote Winthrop?

00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:19.919
 This is their claim.

00:22:21.059 --> 00:22:22.799
 Well, let's probe.

00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:26.759
 What was this national covenant?

00:22:27.940 --> 00:22:30.519
 It certainly was not the new covenant.

00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:35.680
 That was between Christ and his bride, the church.

00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:40.919
 And the Puritan planners recognized this and distinguished the church from the commonwealth,

00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:44.099
 the saints from the citizens or the neighbors.

00:22:44.099 --> 00:22:52.379
 Well, if not the new covenant, what covenant was this civic commonwealth covenant?

00:22:53.879 --> 00:22:59.459
 Well, it was based in their mind on the old covenant that God entered with the commonwealth,

00:22:59.579 --> 00:23:00.659
 third nation of Israel.

00:23:01.240 --> 00:23:05.839
 The covenant between God and the seed of Abraham according to the flesh.

00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:17.500
 But surely we must ask, is any such covenant between God and some favored nation in present operation?

00:23:17.500 --> 00:23:23.559
 It's exceedingly doubtful, to say the least.

00:23:24.380 --> 00:23:32.779
 Hebrews attests, in speaking of a new covenant, God makes the first obsolete.

00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:34.339
 Hebrews 8.13.

00:23:34.339 --> 00:23:43.419
 Paul argues in Romans, say 2.28.29, that the special covenant status of Israel, Abraham's physical seed,

00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:51.659
 does not pass to some other specially commissioned nation or nations.

00:23:51.660 --> 00:24:00.820
 Galatians rather passes to the gathering of individuals from all and any nation united by inward faith,

00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:02.200
 the inward faith of Abraham.

00:24:03.640 --> 00:24:06.759
 And as Paul insists in Galatians 3.29,

00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:14.460
 if you belong to Christ, not Massachusetts Bay Colony or Old England or New England or America

00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:18.079
 or any other nation, if you belong to Christ,

00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:23.059
 then you are Abraham's offspring and heirs to the promise.

00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:31.700
 It would appear that biblically there is no national covenant.

00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:40.559
 Did I just say it would appear biblically that there is no national covenant in present operation?

00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:48.259
 I believe I did say there is no currently operating national covenant.

00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:49.859
 Okay.

00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:51.819
 To sum up,

00:24:53.099 --> 00:24:59.220
 we have told a story of our first foundation as a commonwealth overwhelmingly zealous

00:24:59.220 --> 00:25:04.119
 to establish a society governed in all things by the will of God.

00:25:05.299 --> 00:25:09.019
 What must strike us as a breathtaking errand,

00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:15.579
 they were fortified in by their conviction that they were in plantation-wide covenant with God.

00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:21.639
 And that they were so long and broadly successful,

00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:28.379
 realizing this vision was largely a function of how united behind it

00:25:28.379 --> 00:25:33.339
 their rather religiously homogenous society was.

00:25:33.339 --> 00:25:39.279
 But there were outliers and losers in this New England Israel,

00:25:40.099 --> 00:25:44.559
 in the growing array of inhabitants who did not share in the vision

00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:47.679
 or differed in conscience in some particular

00:25:47.679 --> 00:25:51.419
 and chafed under the imposition of conformity.

00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:55.240
 Progressive expulsion of non-conformists

00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:58.439
 helped to let the steam out of the growing dissonance,

00:25:58.440 --> 00:26:02.180
 but the swelling influx of newcomers,

00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:05.420
 of deeper and more determined diversity,

00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:10.340
 put more and more pressure on the covenant model and its maintenance.

00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:16.340
 And it's noteworthy that the most articulate and impassioned critics

00:26:16.340 --> 00:26:19.380
 of this privileged establishment religion,

00:26:19.500 --> 00:26:20.640
 albeit Christian religion,

00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:24.420
 were not the secularists or the irreligious,

00:26:25.040 --> 00:26:28.620
 rather those with deep Christian conviction

00:26:28.620 --> 00:26:32.740
 who were convinced that such a union of church and state

00:26:32.740 --> 00:26:36.780
 was bad for both religion and for government.

00:26:38.040 --> 00:26:40.800
 And it was these views of Leyland and his Baptist brethren

00:26:40.800 --> 00:26:43.680
 and their experience of state persecution

00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:47.259
 that would prove germinal and salient

00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:51.100
 in what we are calling America's second founding,

00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:53.779
 to which we now turn.

00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:56.320
 The second founding.

00:26:57.340 --> 00:26:59.240
 By the second founding,

00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:02.420
 I refer to the coming together of the 13 colonies

00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:06.360
 in pursuit of the common goal of independence from Britain.

00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:09.480
 And one thing is noteworthy,

00:27:09.600 --> 00:27:11.180
 perhaps even remarkable,

00:27:11.180 --> 00:27:15.920
 is that when it came to forging a policy

00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:19.299
 for the nascent nation on religion,

00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:21.640
 these founding fathers,

00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:22.960
 or the second founding here,

00:27:23.840 --> 00:27:27.640
 contemplated the approach taken by their first founding forebearers

00:27:27.640 --> 00:27:30.759
 and ultimately rejected it,

00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:32.799
 very self-consciously.

00:27:32.980 --> 00:27:34.720
 They ultimately rejected it.

00:27:35.560 --> 00:27:39.000
 Through a process of contestation and compromise,

00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:41.700
 what eventually prevailed

00:27:41.700 --> 00:27:44.819
 seems to be well summarized

00:27:44.819 --> 00:27:47.000
 in a three-fold creed.

00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:50.380
 And here I'm drawing on the work

00:27:50.380 --> 00:27:52.279
 of one of the more acute scholars of this question,

00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:53.859
 Stephen Waldman.

00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:56.640
 And if you want to read one good book on this stuff,

00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:57.660
 this would be a good one.

00:27:57.660 --> 00:27:57.859
 Whoops.

00:27:58.660 --> 00:27:59.440
 That would be a good one.

00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:01.980
 It might upend some of your current views.

00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:05.079
 It's symbolic of that process.

00:28:05.079 --> 00:28:10.319
 So this little three-fold creed.

00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:16.960
 One, religion is essential to the flourishing of a republic.

00:28:18.379 --> 00:28:21.240
 Two, to thrive,

00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:25.000
 religion needs less help,

00:28:25.419 --> 00:28:27.579
 not more, from government.

00:28:28.659 --> 00:28:34.079
 Three, all have the right to full religious freedom.

00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:34.720
 Freedom.

00:28:35.919 --> 00:28:38.899
 What came to be inscribed in our foundation documents

00:28:38.899 --> 00:28:41.879
 was the commitment to religious liberty,

00:28:43.159 --> 00:28:47.079
 a formula for promoting religion

00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:52.019
 by leaving it alone by the federal government.

00:28:53.480 --> 00:28:57.059
 How did this radically new approach to religion emerge?

00:28:57.839 --> 00:29:01.319
 Why did it commend itself to the founders of our nation?

00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:02.700
 Well, for one,

00:29:02.939 --> 00:29:05.720
 the old model of an established state-supported religion

00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:06.779
 imposed by law,

00:29:07.419 --> 00:29:11.220
 workable under conditions of a homogenous commonwealth,

00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:13.500
 ceased to be viable

00:29:13.500 --> 00:29:17.419
 in the face of growing religious diversity of the population.

00:29:18.740 --> 00:29:21.519
 By the time of the revolution,

00:29:21.819 --> 00:29:23.139
 the religious minorities,

00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:26.740
 once few enough to be handled by exile or execution,

00:29:26.740 --> 00:29:31.259
 were now in the majority.

00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:34.400
 Before 1690,

00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:40.599
 90% of the churches across the colonies

00:29:40.599 --> 00:29:44.299
 were of the established denomination.

00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:47.680
 90% were of the established denomination.

00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:50.120
 So this would have been congregationalism up in New England,

00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:52.600
 Anglicanism in the southern colonies.

00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:53.779
 And 90%

00:29:53.779 --> 00:29:57.539
 by 1770,

00:29:58.400 --> 00:30:00.640
 only 35%

00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:03.440
 were part of the established,

00:30:04.220 --> 00:30:06.840
 the establishment church.

00:30:07.560 --> 00:30:09.420
 Such was the effect of the Great Awakening,

00:30:09.500 --> 00:30:10.580
 we've already mentioned that a little bit,

00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:11.440
 and immigration.

00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:13.940
 As far as immigration,

00:30:14.299 --> 00:30:16.580
 the population swell that we've already noted

00:30:16.580 --> 00:30:19.039
 in the colonial period,

00:30:19.380 --> 00:30:21.100
 it just continues unabated

00:30:21.100 --> 00:30:22.960
 in the young republic.

00:30:23.660 --> 00:30:27.039
 From 1776 to 1820,

00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:28.460
 it's less than,

00:30:28.580 --> 00:30:28.779
 you know,

00:30:28.820 --> 00:30:29.960
 not much time.

00:30:30.840 --> 00:30:33.480
 250,000 immigrants arrived

00:30:33.480 --> 00:30:36.340
 to make a new life in this new nation,

00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:37.080
 bringing with them

00:30:37.080 --> 00:30:40.779
 a new range of religious practices and beliefs.

00:30:40.779 --> 00:30:41.779
 Lutherans,

00:30:42.139 --> 00:30:42.779
 Presbyterians,

00:30:42.879 --> 00:30:43.299
 Moravians,

00:30:43.420 --> 00:30:43.720
 Mennonites,

00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:44.139
 Catholics,

00:30:44.319 --> 00:30:44.680
 Huguenots,

00:30:44.839 --> 00:30:45.299
 Dunkers,

00:30:45.440 --> 00:30:46.299
 I could go on.

00:30:46.920 --> 00:30:47.259
 More.

00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:48.940
 And now,

00:30:49.160 --> 00:30:50.720
 to our modern eyes,

00:30:51.299 --> 00:30:53.099
 this might seem pretty uniform.

00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:53.879
 I mean,

00:30:53.899 --> 00:30:54.480
 after all,

00:30:54.539 --> 00:30:56.480
 with the exception of a smattering of Jews,

00:30:56.879 --> 00:30:59.920
 everyone was still some stripe of Christian.

00:31:00.759 --> 00:31:01.099
 True.

00:31:01.740 --> 00:31:02.279
 But,

00:31:02.539 --> 00:31:03.700
 to the first settlers,

00:31:04.420 --> 00:31:06.299
 they felt awash

00:31:06.299 --> 00:31:07.859
 in a kaleidoscope

00:31:07.859 --> 00:31:09.920
 of religious exoticism.

00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:10.560
 Yeah,

00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:11.060
 and just,

00:31:11.380 --> 00:31:11.620
 I mean,

00:31:12.600 --> 00:31:12.740
 to,

00:31:13.080 --> 00:31:15.660
 and to the patriot leaders,

00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:18.000
 the new boots on the ground,

00:31:18.200 --> 00:31:19.779
 coming in from all over the place,

00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:21.340
 put the writing on the wall,

00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:22.320
 to mix my metaphors.

00:31:22.960 --> 00:31:26.500
 There was no dominant faith,

00:31:27.600 --> 00:31:29.640
 and there would likely never be one

00:31:29.640 --> 00:31:31.200
 in this new nation.

00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:34.819
 And there were many for whom,

00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:35.340
 seemingly,

00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:37.480
 religion was not that important.

00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:40.039
 Judging by church attendance,

00:31:40.200 --> 00:31:42.420
 historians estimate that religious adherence

00:31:42.420 --> 00:31:45.160
 in 1776

00:31:45.160 --> 00:31:50.580
 is only at 17%.

00:31:50.580 --> 00:31:52.200
 Wow!

00:31:54.200 --> 00:31:56.380
 That's certainly lower than America today.

00:31:56.580 --> 00:31:56.740
 I mean,

00:31:56.759 --> 00:31:58.680
 even with this kind of new slump

00:31:58.680 --> 00:32:00.140
 and record lows,

00:32:00.700 --> 00:32:02.720
 we're at least at 30% now.

00:32:03.259 --> 00:32:05.620
 That's 17% in 1776.

00:32:07.620 --> 00:32:10.160
 Puts a new spin on the good old days.

00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.960
 Um,

00:32:11.160 --> 00:32:12.900
 another solvent

00:32:12.900 --> 00:32:16.480
 of the old official religious establishment model

00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:18.720
 was the need for joint action

00:32:18.720 --> 00:32:20.340
 in the common endeavor

00:32:20.340 --> 00:32:21.800
 of fighting Britain

00:32:21.800 --> 00:32:23.759
 for American independence.

00:32:24.560 --> 00:32:26.920
 George Washington's Continental Army

00:32:26.920 --> 00:32:28.040
 was probably

00:32:28.040 --> 00:32:31.720
 the first truly national institution.

00:32:31.720 --> 00:32:34.360
 The fighting men came

00:32:34.360 --> 00:32:35.539
 from all parts of the country.

00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:37.400
 Massachusetts Congregationalists,

00:32:37.539 --> 00:32:38.480
 Rhode Island Baptists,

00:32:38.779 --> 00:32:39.839
 New York Episcopalians,

00:32:39.940 --> 00:32:40.759
 and Dutch Reformed,

00:32:41.200 --> 00:32:42.819
 New Jersey Presbyterians,

00:32:43.120 --> 00:32:44.120
 Maryland Catholics,

00:32:44.700 --> 00:32:45.700
 Pennsylvania Quakers,

00:32:46.079 --> 00:32:47.759
 and all manner of sects in Pennsylvania.

00:32:47.940 --> 00:32:48.799
 They were a little looser there.

00:32:49.140 --> 00:32:50.600
 And even a scattering of Jews

00:32:50.600 --> 00:32:52.579
 fought in Washington's army,

00:32:52.799 --> 00:32:53.660
 the Continental Army.

00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:55.980
 And throw in the mix somewhere

00:32:55.980 --> 00:32:56.740
 between

00:32:56.740 --> 00:32:57.920
 something,

00:32:58.140 --> 00:33:00.220
 between 5,000 and 12,000

00:33:00.220 --> 00:33:01.700
 German Hessian mercenaries

00:33:01.700 --> 00:33:02.940
 mostly Lutheran

00:33:02.940 --> 00:33:05.140
 who defected to the American side

00:33:05.140 --> 00:33:05.980
 during the war.

00:33:07.380 --> 00:33:08.640
 And you have

00:33:08.640 --> 00:33:10.000
 what certainly the neighbors

00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:10.500
 would have felt

00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:11.580
 looking across the fences

00:33:11.580 --> 00:33:13.000
 to be

00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:14.640
 pretty exotic

00:33:14.640 --> 00:33:15.519
 a menagerie,

00:33:15.660 --> 00:33:16.740
 a religious menagerie.

00:33:17.900 --> 00:33:19.100
 Commander-in-Chief Washington

00:33:19.100 --> 00:33:19.700
 knew

00:33:19.700 --> 00:33:21.400
 that if he were to forge

00:33:21.400 --> 00:33:22.340
 an interfaith army

00:33:22.340 --> 00:33:24.000
 he would have to cultivate

00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:24.660
 and uphold

00:33:24.660 --> 00:33:26.340
 some religious tolerance.

00:33:27.340 --> 00:33:28.880
 And so the Continental Army

00:33:28.880 --> 00:33:30.740
 became the first laboratory

00:33:30.740 --> 00:33:32.279
 of this experience,

00:33:32.720 --> 00:33:33.440
 this experiment.

00:33:35.019 --> 00:33:36.240
 As the men fought

00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:37.039
 and slept

00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:38.140
 beside each other

00:33:38.140 --> 00:33:39.039
 and were

00:33:39.039 --> 00:33:40.079
 hospitably

00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:41.039
 housed

00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:41.960
 and fed

00:33:41.960 --> 00:33:43.420
 across the land

00:33:43.420 --> 00:33:44.200
 as they traveled

00:33:44.200 --> 00:33:46.019
 by strangers

00:33:46.019 --> 00:33:47.740
 of different faiths,

00:33:49.339 --> 00:33:49.900
 bigotry

00:33:49.900 --> 00:33:51.420
 slowly gave way

00:33:51.420 --> 00:33:51.740
 to respect.

00:33:53.500 --> 00:33:53.859
 And their

00:33:53.859 --> 00:33:54.620
 commander-in-chief

00:33:54.620 --> 00:33:55.200
 was model

00:33:55.200 --> 00:33:55.759
 in this regard.

00:33:56.099 --> 00:33:56.920
 He allowed his soldiers,

00:33:57.059 --> 00:33:57.900
 Washington allowed his soldiers

00:33:57.900 --> 00:33:59.560
 to pick their own chaplains

00:33:59.560 --> 00:34:01.360
 unconstrained.

00:34:01.540 --> 00:34:02.940
 Some wanted a Unitarian chaplain,

00:34:03.000 --> 00:34:04.280
 they got a Unitarian chaplain.

00:34:05.500 --> 00:34:06.700
 And he insisted

00:34:06.700 --> 00:34:07.759
 on mutual tolerance.

00:34:08.680 --> 00:34:09.599
 Don't bash

00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:10.840
 the Roman Catholics.

00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:12.099
 They're fighting

00:34:12.099 --> 00:34:12.960
 just as bravely,

00:34:13.160 --> 00:34:13.960
 they bleed

00:34:13.960 --> 00:34:15.200
 the same kind of blood.

00:34:16.019 --> 00:34:16.780
 Don't bash them.

00:34:16.780 --> 00:34:20.740
 Well,

00:34:21.740 --> 00:34:23.160
 while we are contending

00:34:23.160 --> 00:34:24.200
 for our own liberty,

00:34:24.420 --> 00:34:25.560
 Washington urged his troops

00:34:25.560 --> 00:34:26.800
 and the nation

00:34:26.800 --> 00:34:27.820
 for which they fought,

00:34:28.140 --> 00:34:30.400
 we should be very cautious

00:34:30.400 --> 00:34:31.920
 of violating

00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:32.980
 the rights of conscience

00:34:32.980 --> 00:34:33.600
 of others,

00:34:33.980 --> 00:34:34.980
 ever considering

00:34:34.980 --> 00:34:36.540
 that God alone

00:34:36.540 --> 00:34:37.380
 is the judge

00:34:37.380 --> 00:34:38.380
 of the hearts of men.

00:34:39.040 --> 00:34:39.900
 And to him only

00:34:39.900 --> 00:34:40.640
 in this case,

00:34:41.140 --> 00:34:42.040
 they are answerable.

00:34:42.039 --> 00:34:44.320
 Well,

00:34:44.539 --> 00:34:45.659
 as nearly as diverse

00:34:45.659 --> 00:34:46.539
 as the new

00:34:46.539 --> 00:34:47.440
 Continental Army

00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:50.139
 was the Continental Congress

00:34:50.139 --> 00:34:52.460
 with delegates

00:34:52.460 --> 00:34:53.920
 of various states

00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:54.639
 coming together

00:34:54.639 --> 00:34:55.460
 including

00:34:55.460 --> 00:34:56.699
 Episcopalians,

00:34:57.059 --> 00:34:57.900
 Dutch Reformed,

00:34:58.239 --> 00:34:58.860
 Lutherans,

00:34:59.239 --> 00:34:59.840
 Baptists,

00:35:00.219 --> 00:35:00.920
 Methodists,

00:35:01.559 --> 00:35:02.119
 and even

00:35:02.119 --> 00:35:03.219
 a Roman Catholic

00:35:03.219 --> 00:35:05.119
 in the Continental Congress.

00:35:06.279 --> 00:35:07.159
 One of the first

00:35:07.159 --> 00:35:07.940
 acts in Congress

00:35:07.940 --> 00:35:08.719
 was to consider

00:35:08.719 --> 00:35:09.340
 a resolution

00:35:09.340 --> 00:35:10.719
 that the next day's session

00:35:10.719 --> 00:35:11.840
 be opened with prayer

00:35:11.840 --> 00:35:12.620
 read by

00:35:12.620 --> 00:35:14.039
 my Anglican minister.

00:35:15.059 --> 00:35:15.280
 Well,

00:35:15.320 --> 00:35:15.760
 at first,

00:35:16.019 --> 00:35:17.200
 the motion floundered

00:35:17.200 --> 00:35:18.920
 as some non-Anglicans

00:35:18.920 --> 00:35:19.480
 opposed.

00:35:20.340 --> 00:35:21.380
 Not hearing any prayer

00:35:21.380 --> 00:35:22.140
 from an Anglican.

00:35:23.260 --> 00:35:23.700
 Finally,

00:35:23.780 --> 00:35:24.780
 it was Sam Adams.

00:35:25.079 --> 00:35:25.240
 Oh,

00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:26.460
 and Sam Adams

00:35:26.460 --> 00:35:27.660
 was no friend

00:35:27.660 --> 00:35:28.860
 of the Church of England.

00:35:29.320 --> 00:35:29.539
 Oh,

00:35:29.539 --> 00:35:30.000
 no.

00:35:31.000 --> 00:35:31.960
 Sam Adams rose

00:35:31.960 --> 00:35:32.740
 and stated a view

00:35:32.740 --> 00:35:33.860
 that would slowly

00:35:33.860 --> 00:35:35.000
 but increasingly

00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:36.460
 become prevalent

00:35:36.460 --> 00:35:37.380
 that he

00:35:37.380 --> 00:35:38.960
 was no bigot

00:35:38.960 --> 00:35:40.300
 and could hear

00:35:40.300 --> 00:35:40.800
 a prayer

00:35:40.800 --> 00:35:41.760
 from any gentleman

00:35:41.760 --> 00:35:42.880
 of piety and virtue

00:35:42.880 --> 00:35:44.600
 who was at the same time

00:35:44.600 --> 00:35:46.000
 a friend of this country.

00:35:48.440 --> 00:35:49.680
 As with their brethren

00:35:49.680 --> 00:35:50.360
 in arms,

00:35:51.060 --> 00:35:52.780
 part of Congress's evolution

00:35:52.780 --> 00:35:53.880
 toward pluralism

00:35:53.880 --> 00:35:55.260
 was likely due

00:35:55.260 --> 00:35:56.880
 to the simple fact

00:35:56.880 --> 00:35:57.500
 that it,

00:35:57.640 --> 00:35:58.620
 the Continental Congress,

00:35:59.140 --> 00:35:59.860
 was the most

00:35:59.860 --> 00:36:01.020
 religiously diverse

00:36:01.020 --> 00:36:02.280
 that any of the delegates

00:36:02.280 --> 00:36:03.800
 had ever encountered.

00:36:03.800 --> 00:36:06.860
 and to defeat Britain,

00:36:07.340 --> 00:36:07.620
 they,

00:36:07.800 --> 00:36:08.500
 like their brethren

00:36:08.500 --> 00:36:09.000
 in arms,

00:36:09.500 --> 00:36:11.180
 would have to set aside

00:36:11.180 --> 00:36:12.320
 their religious disagreements

00:36:12.320 --> 00:36:13.620
 and work together

00:36:13.620 --> 00:36:14.500
 for the goal.

00:36:14.500 --> 00:36:18.340
 If these experiences

00:36:18.340 --> 00:36:20.059
 influenced the nation's leadership

00:36:20.059 --> 00:36:21.579
 and the nation itself

00:36:21.579 --> 00:36:23.500
 to greater receptivity

00:36:23.500 --> 00:36:24.440
 to an approach

00:36:24.440 --> 00:36:24.980
 to religion

00:36:24.980 --> 00:36:25.900
 differing

00:36:25.900 --> 00:36:26.659
 from their first

00:36:26.659 --> 00:36:27.920
 founding forebears,

00:36:28.920 --> 00:36:30.659
 perhaps most critical

00:36:30.659 --> 00:36:31.500
 for this shift

00:36:31.500 --> 00:36:32.579
 in its formulation

00:36:32.579 --> 00:36:34.739
 was the experience

00:36:34.739 --> 00:36:37.059
 of its chief architect,

00:36:38.019 --> 00:36:38.659
 James Madison.

00:36:38.659 --> 00:36:42.279
 It was a wave

00:36:42.279 --> 00:36:43.659
 of religious bigotry

00:36:43.659 --> 00:36:45.359
 in Madison's backyard

00:36:45.359 --> 00:36:46.719
 that changed the course

00:36:46.719 --> 00:36:47.719
 of religious policy

00:36:47.719 --> 00:36:48.219
 in America.

00:36:48.719 --> 00:36:49.659
 In 1774,

00:36:49.859 --> 00:36:50.879
 from his Virginia home,

00:36:51.199 --> 00:36:52.119
 Madison fumed,

00:36:52.579 --> 00:36:53.960
 that diabolical,

00:36:54.119 --> 00:36:55.639
 hell-conceived principle

00:36:55.639 --> 00:36:56.519
 of persecution

00:36:56.519 --> 00:36:57.399
 rages.

00:36:58.219 --> 00:36:58.539
 Well,

00:36:58.619 --> 00:36:59.199
 he referred to

00:36:59.199 --> 00:37:00.259
 a wave of persecution

00:37:00.259 --> 00:37:01.460
 unleashed by officials

00:37:01.460 --> 00:37:02.279
 of the established

00:37:02.279 --> 00:37:03.339
 Anglican Church

00:37:03.339 --> 00:37:03.879
 in Virginia

00:37:03.879 --> 00:37:05.279
 against local Baptists.

00:37:05.280 --> 00:37:07.080
 from 1760

00:37:07.080 --> 00:37:08.480
 to 1778,

00:37:08.840 --> 00:37:09.500
 there were at least

00:37:09.500 --> 00:37:11.880
 153 serious

00:37:11.880 --> 00:37:13.800
 instances of persecution

00:37:13.800 --> 00:37:14.360
 in Virginia

00:37:14.360 --> 00:37:15.820
 involving 78 Baptists,

00:37:16.220 --> 00:37:17.840
 including 56 jailings

00:37:17.840 --> 00:37:18.760
 of 45 different

00:37:18.760 --> 00:37:19.580
 Baptist preachers.

00:37:20.140 --> 00:37:21.019
 Many of them,

00:37:21.480 --> 00:37:22.160
 many of those incidents,

00:37:22.460 --> 00:37:23.400
 clustered around

00:37:23.400 --> 00:37:24.820
 Madison's own county.

00:37:24.960 --> 00:37:25.519
 So this is right

00:37:25.519 --> 00:37:26.280
 in his backyard.

00:37:27.260 --> 00:37:28.100
 Baptists were beaten,

00:37:28.380 --> 00:37:28.620
 whipped,

00:37:29.040 --> 00:37:29.460
 assaulted,

00:37:29.760 --> 00:37:30.460
 incarcerated.

00:37:30.820 --> 00:37:31.420
 They'd even put him

00:37:31.420 --> 00:37:32.040
 in a little jail cell

00:37:32.040 --> 00:37:32.720
 and everybody would

00:37:32.720 --> 00:37:33.660
 urinate on him.

00:37:35.280 --> 00:37:36.700
 What was their crime?

00:37:37.120 --> 00:37:37.320
 Well,

00:37:37.460 --> 00:37:37.980
 unofficially,

00:37:38.140 --> 00:37:39.180
 simply being a Baptist

00:37:39.180 --> 00:37:39.720
 minister

00:37:39.720 --> 00:37:41.100
 in an Anglican Virginia.

00:37:42.380 --> 00:37:42.880
 Officially,

00:37:42.980 --> 00:37:43.540
 they were charged

00:37:43.540 --> 00:37:44.300
 as being, quote,

00:37:44.380 --> 00:37:45.460
 vagrant and itinerant

00:37:45.460 --> 00:37:45.940
 persons

00:37:45.940 --> 00:37:47.300
 and for assembling

00:37:47.300 --> 00:37:48.460
 themselves unlawfully

00:37:48.460 --> 00:37:49.340
 at sundry times

00:37:49.340 --> 00:37:49.780
 and places

00:37:49.780 --> 00:37:51.340
 under the denomination

00:37:51.340 --> 00:37:52.360
 of Anabaptist

00:37:52.360 --> 00:37:53.380
 and for teaching

00:37:53.380 --> 00:37:53.860
 and preaching

00:37:53.860 --> 00:37:55.400
 schismatic doctrines.

00:37:57.280 --> 00:37:58.540
 Though the court records

00:37:58.540 --> 00:37:59.300
 have been lost,

00:37:59.700 --> 00:38:00.900
 there's good indication,

00:38:01.080 --> 00:38:01.800
 I'm confident

00:38:01.800 --> 00:38:02.620
 that he did,

00:38:02.619 --> 00:38:03.519
 that Madison,

00:38:04.319 --> 00:38:05.619
 as their attorney,

00:38:06.319 --> 00:38:08.559
 defended the Baptists

00:38:08.559 --> 00:38:09.900
 in Virginia courts.

00:38:11.079 --> 00:38:11.400
 Madison,

00:38:11.519 --> 00:38:12.159
 in his memoirs,

00:38:12.219 --> 00:38:13.259
 writes that he had,

00:38:13.480 --> 00:38:13.500
 quote,

00:38:13.679 --> 00:38:14.819
 spared no exertion

00:38:14.819 --> 00:38:15.500
 to save them,

00:38:15.559 --> 00:38:16.119
 the Baptists,

00:38:16.460 --> 00:38:17.400
 from imprisonment

00:38:17.400 --> 00:38:18.559
 and to promote

00:38:18.559 --> 00:38:20.179
 their release from it.

00:38:21.539 --> 00:38:22.400
 He was an attorney

00:38:22.400 --> 00:38:23.000
 who was working there.

00:38:23.319 --> 00:38:24.219
 So, he...

00:38:24.219 --> 00:38:25.000
 Patrick Henry,

00:38:25.900 --> 00:38:27.239
 also a Virginia attorney,

00:38:28.099 --> 00:38:30.579
 he defended dissenters,

00:38:30.699 --> 00:38:31.419
 Baptist dissenters

00:38:31.419 --> 00:38:31.799
 in court

00:38:31.799 --> 00:38:32.819
 and he'd do it for free,

00:38:33.019 --> 00:38:33.419
 gratis.

00:38:34.339 --> 00:38:35.199
 They tried to pay him,

00:38:35.259 --> 00:38:35.859
 the Baptists would,

00:38:35.959 --> 00:38:36.139
 you know,

00:38:36.139 --> 00:38:36.839
 pass the hat

00:38:36.839 --> 00:38:37.419
 and try to get up

00:38:37.419 --> 00:38:38.159
 as much as they could.

00:38:38.259 --> 00:38:39.159
 They were pretty poor

00:38:39.159 --> 00:38:40.619
 and he gallantly

00:38:40.619 --> 00:38:41.739
 just gave it all back,

00:38:42.039 --> 00:38:43.599
 becoming a real hero

00:38:43.599 --> 00:38:44.759
 to the Baptists.

00:38:45.379 --> 00:38:46.259
 Another Virginian,

00:38:46.719 --> 00:38:47.319
 Jefferson,

00:38:47.679 --> 00:38:48.579
 for his opposition

00:38:48.579 --> 00:38:49.919
 to the forced imposition

00:38:49.919 --> 00:38:51.219
 of state-sanctioned religion

00:38:51.219 --> 00:38:52.159
 on minorities,

00:38:52.279 --> 00:38:52.839
 the Baptists,

00:38:53.259 --> 00:38:54.579
 he also became a hero

00:38:54.579 --> 00:38:55.759
 of the persecuted Baptists

00:38:55.760 --> 00:38:56.980
 who they hailed

00:38:56.980 --> 00:38:58.460
 as defender

00:38:58.460 --> 00:38:59.600
 of the rights of man

00:38:59.600 --> 00:39:00.840
 and the rights of conscience.

00:39:01.320 --> 00:39:02.000
 This is the Baptists

00:39:02.000 --> 00:39:02.480
 of Jefferson.

00:39:03.580 --> 00:39:04.340
 Those were the words

00:39:04.340 --> 00:39:05.060
 of John Leyland

00:39:05.060 --> 00:39:05.800
 who continued,

00:39:06.200 --> 00:39:07.480
 Pardon me, my hearers,

00:39:07.580 --> 00:39:08.880
 if I am overwarm.

00:39:09.620 --> 00:39:10.880
 I lived in Virginia

00:39:10.880 --> 00:39:12.000
 14 years.

00:39:12.600 --> 00:39:13.880
 The beneficial influence

00:39:13.880 --> 00:39:14.680
 of my hero,

00:39:15.020 --> 00:39:15.340
 Jefferson,

00:39:15.960 --> 00:39:17.620
 was too generally felt

00:39:17.620 --> 00:39:19.140
 to leave me a stoic.

00:39:21.280 --> 00:39:22.240
 When Jefferson

00:39:22.240 --> 00:39:23.220
 attained the presidency

00:39:23.220 --> 00:39:24.040
 in 1801,

00:39:24.500 --> 00:39:25.740
 jubilant Baptists,

00:39:25.760 --> 00:39:26.900
 all over Massachusetts,

00:39:27.260 --> 00:39:28.560
 collectively convened,

00:39:28.940 --> 00:39:31.180
 900 cows

00:39:31.180 --> 00:39:33.020
 to furnish milk

00:39:33.020 --> 00:39:34.980
 to make an enormous,

00:39:35.220 --> 00:39:37.300
 a mammoth cheese roll.

00:39:37.480 --> 00:39:38.200
 Cheese, you know,

00:39:38.260 --> 00:39:38.820
 ah,

00:39:39.460 --> 00:39:40.220
 that they had to,

00:39:40.380 --> 00:39:40.740
 but yeah,

00:39:40.840 --> 00:39:41.640
 they had to just put it

00:39:41.640 --> 00:39:42.720
 in a massive wagon

00:39:42.720 --> 00:39:43.580
 and bring it down

00:39:43.580 --> 00:39:45.160
 and Leyland delivered it

00:39:45.160 --> 00:39:47.580
 down to Washington, D.C.

00:39:47.920 --> 00:39:48.580
 to Jefferson

00:39:48.580 --> 00:39:49.460
 to present to him.

00:39:50.300 --> 00:39:51.080
 Jefferson is,

00:39:51.300 --> 00:39:51.900
 he is,

00:39:52.160 --> 00:39:53.080
 Jefferson was no

00:39:53.080 --> 00:39:54.100
 Orthodox Christian,

00:39:54.100 --> 00:39:55.020
 let alone Baptist.

00:39:55.760 --> 00:39:56.800
 and Leyland had

00:39:56.800 --> 00:39:58.160
 no illusions here,

00:39:58.760 --> 00:40:00.340
 but they were united

00:40:00.340 --> 00:40:01.140
 in this,

00:40:02.140 --> 00:40:04.140
 that any intermingling

00:40:04.140 --> 00:40:05.100
 of church and state

00:40:05.100 --> 00:40:05.720
 came from,

00:40:05.780 --> 00:40:06.500
 to quote Leyland,

00:40:07.260 --> 00:40:09.260
 the same rotten nest egg

00:40:09.260 --> 00:40:10.220
 which is always

00:40:10.220 --> 00:40:11.360
 hatching vipers.

00:40:11.360 --> 00:40:12.820
 I mean the principle

00:40:12.820 --> 00:40:14.019
 of intruding the laws

00:40:14.019 --> 00:40:14.539
 of men

00:40:14.539 --> 00:40:15.579
 into the kingdom

00:40:15.579 --> 00:40:16.320
 of Christ.

00:40:18.039 --> 00:40:18.920
 Well, back to Madison.

00:40:19.700 --> 00:40:20.440
 The upshot

00:40:20.440 --> 00:40:21.980
 of Madison's experience

00:40:21.980 --> 00:40:22.500
 of the religious

00:40:22.500 --> 00:40:23.820
 persecution of the Baptists

00:40:23.820 --> 00:40:25.300
 in his Virginia backyard

00:40:25.300 --> 00:40:27.340
 crystallized his conviction

00:40:27.340 --> 00:40:29.220
 which he formulated

00:40:29.220 --> 00:40:31.400
 as a policy proposal

00:40:31.400 --> 00:40:32.940
 for the new nation,

00:40:33.700 --> 00:40:34.820
 the Constitutional Convention.

00:40:34.820 --> 00:40:36.500
 quote,

00:40:36.660 --> 00:40:38.400
 that all men

00:40:38.400 --> 00:40:40.000
 are equally entitled

00:40:40.000 --> 00:40:41.820
 to the free

00:40:41.820 --> 00:40:43.220
 exercise of religion

00:40:43.220 --> 00:40:48.820
 according to the

00:40:48.820 --> 00:40:50.320
 dictates of conscience,

00:40:51.160 --> 00:40:51.840
 unpunished

00:40:51.840 --> 00:40:54.100
 and unrestrained

00:40:54.100 --> 00:40:55.480
 by the magistrate.

00:40:56.480 --> 00:40:57.039
 Now notice,

00:40:57.320 --> 00:40:59.700
 notice this is going

00:40:59.700 --> 00:41:00.860
 beyond toleration

00:41:00.860 --> 00:41:02.980
 to the recognition

00:41:02.980 --> 00:41:04.160
 of a fundamental

00:41:04.160 --> 00:41:05.680
 human right,

00:41:06.260 --> 00:41:07.360
 the exercise

00:41:07.360 --> 00:41:08.079
 of religion

00:41:08.079 --> 00:41:08.900
 according to the

00:41:08.900 --> 00:41:10.000
 dictates of conscience.

00:41:11.820 --> 00:41:12.340
 And integral

00:41:12.340 --> 00:41:13.559
 to the upholding

00:41:13.559 --> 00:41:14.220
 of this right

00:41:14.220 --> 00:41:14.880
 for Madison

00:41:14.880 --> 00:41:16.200
 was the buttressing

00:41:16.200 --> 00:41:16.920
 clause

00:41:16.920 --> 00:41:19.440
 of non-establishment.

00:41:19.640 --> 00:41:19.960
 So you've got

00:41:19.960 --> 00:41:20.740
 free exercise

00:41:20.740 --> 00:41:22.960
 and non-establishment.

00:41:24.059 --> 00:41:25.460
 If the dominant

00:41:25.460 --> 00:41:27.140
 religion could establish

00:41:27.140 --> 00:41:27.720
 their religion

00:41:27.720 --> 00:41:28.559
 as privileged,

00:41:29.039 --> 00:41:30.320
 it would necessarily

00:41:30.320 --> 00:41:31.360
 abridge

00:41:31.360 --> 00:41:32.760
 the religious freedom

00:41:32.760 --> 00:41:33.559
 of minorities.

00:41:35.100 --> 00:41:36.420
 This position

00:41:36.420 --> 00:41:36.980
 of Madison

00:41:36.980 --> 00:41:40.400
 was by no account

00:41:40.400 --> 00:41:42.220
 unanimously embraced

00:41:42.220 --> 00:41:43.880
 by the state delegates

00:41:43.880 --> 00:41:46.080
 at the Constitutional Convention.

00:41:47.240 --> 00:41:48.500
 While Madison

00:41:48.500 --> 00:41:51.000
 wanted a strict separation

00:41:51.000 --> 00:41:52.220
 of church and state,

00:41:53.280 --> 00:41:55.059
 others did not.

00:41:56.380 --> 00:41:56.840
 Delegates,

00:41:57.160 --> 00:41:58.039
 especially from

00:41:58.039 --> 00:41:58.900
 our own New England,

00:41:58.900 --> 00:42:00.920
 wanted continued

00:42:00.920 --> 00:42:01.800
 privilege

00:42:01.800 --> 00:42:03.980
 and state support

00:42:03.980 --> 00:42:05.340
 for the present

00:42:05.340 --> 00:42:06.420
 established religion,

00:42:06.940 --> 00:42:07.500
 their own.

00:42:07.660 --> 00:42:07.940
 Surprise,

00:42:08.079 --> 00:42:08.300
 surprise.

00:42:09.300 --> 00:42:09.400
 Okay.

00:42:10.619 --> 00:42:11.960
 The solution

00:42:11.960 --> 00:42:12.940
 that Madison

00:42:12.940 --> 00:42:14.420
 shepherded through

00:42:14.420 --> 00:42:15.139
 to adoption

00:42:15.139 --> 00:42:16.740
 was a compromise

00:42:16.740 --> 00:42:19.079
 and agreed upon

00:42:19.079 --> 00:42:20.840
 for reasons

00:42:20.840 --> 00:42:22.220
 that were often

00:42:22.220 --> 00:42:23.400
 opposite

00:42:23.400 --> 00:42:25.019
 among the delegates.

00:42:25.019 --> 00:42:26.460
 they embraced

00:42:26.460 --> 00:42:28.519
 this formulation

00:42:28.519 --> 00:42:29.900
 for opposite reasons.

00:42:33.300 --> 00:42:34.059
 While

00:42:34.059 --> 00:42:34.860
 Madison

00:42:34.860 --> 00:42:35.980
 wanted the First Amendment

00:42:35.980 --> 00:42:36.980
 to apply

00:42:36.980 --> 00:42:37.920
 as widely

00:42:37.920 --> 00:42:38.599
 as possible,

00:42:38.739 --> 00:42:39.599
 right down

00:42:39.599 --> 00:42:40.500
 to the local level,

00:42:41.559 --> 00:42:42.340
 he realized

00:42:42.340 --> 00:42:43.340
 there was no

00:42:43.340 --> 00:42:44.059
 consensus

00:42:44.059 --> 00:42:45.259
 for this.

00:42:45.940 --> 00:42:46.599
 Too many

00:42:46.599 --> 00:42:47.619
 wanted to keep

00:42:47.619 --> 00:42:48.360
 their privileged,

00:42:48.579 --> 00:42:49.639
 established churches.

00:42:49.639 --> 00:42:49.819
 churches.

00:42:50.460 --> 00:42:51.400
 So Madison

00:42:51.400 --> 00:42:52.980
 conceded

00:42:52.980 --> 00:42:55.759
 at the state level

00:42:55.759 --> 00:42:57.719
 and clarified

00:42:57.719 --> 00:42:58.539
 that this

00:42:58.539 --> 00:42:59.859
 First Amendment

00:42:59.859 --> 00:43:01.619
 was a declaration

00:43:01.619 --> 00:43:02.639
 that at the,

00:43:02.759 --> 00:43:03.839
 don't miss this,

00:43:03.940 --> 00:43:05.440
 at the federal,

00:43:06.159 --> 00:43:07.659
 federal government

00:43:07.659 --> 00:43:09.940
 could not support

00:43:09.940 --> 00:43:11.279
 or regulate religion.

00:43:11.279 --> 00:43:11.920
 But,

00:43:12.199 --> 00:43:13.480
 that the First Amendment

00:43:13.480 --> 00:43:14.659
 was also a declaration

00:43:14.659 --> 00:43:16.759
 that the individual states

00:43:16.760 --> 00:43:18.440
 absolutely could.

00:43:19.400 --> 00:43:20.240
 They absolutely

00:43:20.240 --> 00:43:21.460
 could regulate religion.

00:43:22.980 --> 00:43:24.160
 That was part

00:43:24.160 --> 00:43:24.880
 of the compromise

00:43:24.880 --> 00:43:26.040
 that enabled

00:43:26.040 --> 00:43:26.980
 the First Amendment

00:43:26.980 --> 00:43:28.040
 to gain wide

00:43:28.040 --> 00:43:29.280
 and sufficient support.

00:43:30.960 --> 00:43:31.660
 Notice

00:43:31.660 --> 00:43:33.140
 that for many

00:43:33.140 --> 00:43:34.120
 what appealed

00:43:34.120 --> 00:43:35.340
 in the First Amendment

00:43:35.340 --> 00:43:36.260
 was that it

00:43:36.260 --> 00:43:37.120
 protected

00:43:37.120 --> 00:43:38.160
 the state

00:43:38.160 --> 00:43:38.980
 from

00:43:38.980 --> 00:43:40.240
 federal government

00:43:40.240 --> 00:43:40.960
 imposing

00:43:40.960 --> 00:43:42.060
 any restriction

00:43:42.060 --> 00:43:43.340
 on the state's ability

00:43:43.340 --> 00:43:44.560
 to make their own laws

00:43:44.560 --> 00:43:45.620
 with respect to religion.

00:43:46.760 --> 00:43:48.000
 It protected

00:43:48.000 --> 00:43:49.560
 the state's ability

00:43:49.560 --> 00:43:51.200
 to establish religion

00:43:51.200 --> 00:43:52.680
 as they desired.

00:43:55.320 --> 00:43:56.040
 Establishment

00:43:56.040 --> 00:43:56.600
 religion

00:43:56.600 --> 00:43:57.460
 persisted

00:43:57.460 --> 00:43:58.620
 in many states

00:43:58.620 --> 00:43:59.660
 for many years.

00:44:01.040 --> 00:44:01.760
 1817,

00:44:02.000 --> 00:44:02.440
 New Hampshire.

00:44:02.720 --> 00:44:03.460
 It's not

00:44:03.460 --> 00:44:04.100
 disestablished

00:44:04.100 --> 00:44:04.900
 until 1817.

00:44:05.060 --> 00:44:05.440
 Connecticut,

00:44:05.960 --> 00:44:06.840
 not disestablished

00:44:06.840 --> 00:44:07.920
 until 1818.

00:44:08.440 --> 00:44:09.060
 Massachusetts,

00:44:09.500 --> 00:44:10.340
 not disestablished

00:44:10.340 --> 00:44:11.820
 until 1833.

00:44:14.560 --> 00:44:15.760
 The First Amendment

00:44:15.760 --> 00:44:17.060
 liberties did not

00:44:17.060 --> 00:44:18.240
 legally apply

00:44:18.240 --> 00:44:20.060
 to individual states

00:44:20.060 --> 00:44:22.680
 until 1866

00:44:22.680 --> 00:44:24.060
 in the aftermath

00:44:24.060 --> 00:44:25.040
 of the Civil War

00:44:25.040 --> 00:44:25.940
 when Congress

00:44:25.940 --> 00:44:27.860
 passed the 14th Amendment

00:44:27.860 --> 00:44:29.520
 prohibiting states

00:44:29.520 --> 00:44:30.900
 from enacting laws

00:44:30.900 --> 00:44:31.880
 that infringed

00:44:31.880 --> 00:44:33.360
 upon individual citizens'

00:44:33.940 --> 00:44:34.280
 liberties.

00:44:35.620 --> 00:44:36.520
 And since then,

00:44:36.660 --> 00:44:38.040
 since 1866,

00:44:38.400 --> 00:44:38.880
 the courts

00:44:38.880 --> 00:44:39.480
 have interpreted

00:44:39.480 --> 00:44:40.300
 this to mean

00:44:40.300 --> 00:44:42.400
 that the original

00:44:42.400 --> 00:44:43.300
 federal

00:44:43.300 --> 00:44:44.820
 Bill of Rights

00:44:44.820 --> 00:44:46.019
 now

00:44:46.019 --> 00:44:48.220
 applies to the states,

00:44:48.660 --> 00:44:49.460
 a doctrine called

00:44:49.460 --> 00:44:50.560
 incorporation,

00:44:51.300 --> 00:44:52.260
 if I've got that right,

00:44:52.320 --> 00:44:52.519
 Tyler.

00:44:53.680 --> 00:44:54.980
 In the end,

00:44:55.240 --> 00:44:55.980
 so in the end,

00:44:56.280 --> 00:44:56.660
 Madison

00:44:56.660 --> 00:44:58.580
 got what was his way.

00:44:58.640 --> 00:44:59.400
 He got his way.

00:45:01.100 --> 00:45:02.420
 It was not

00:45:02.420 --> 00:45:03.220
 the way

00:45:03.220 --> 00:45:04.500
 favored by many

00:45:04.500 --> 00:45:05.200
 of the founders.

00:45:05.960 --> 00:45:06.820
 Many thought

00:45:06.820 --> 00:45:07.760
 separation of church

00:45:07.760 --> 00:45:08.160
 and state

00:45:08.159 --> 00:45:09.199
 a bad idea

00:45:09.199 --> 00:45:09.779
 for religion

00:45:09.779 --> 00:45:10.819
 because the state

00:45:10.819 --> 00:45:11.519
 could and should

00:45:11.519 --> 00:45:12.480
 help it to flourish.

00:45:13.199 --> 00:45:13.719
 Christianity,

00:45:13.879 --> 00:45:15.000
 the religion concerned here,

00:45:15.199 --> 00:45:16.019
 would be better

00:45:16.019 --> 00:45:17.179
 and stronger for it,

00:45:17.359 --> 00:45:18.279
 so thought many

00:45:18.279 --> 00:45:19.019
 and most.

00:45:19.960 --> 00:45:21.159
 So I am,

00:45:21.699 --> 00:45:22.599
 along with Madison

00:45:22.599 --> 00:45:23.239
 and my Baptist

00:45:23.239 --> 00:45:23.779
 forebears,

00:45:24.079 --> 00:45:25.159
 convinced they were,

00:45:25.539 --> 00:45:26.779
 however well-intentioned,

00:45:27.139 --> 00:45:27.679
 wrong.

00:45:29.039 --> 00:45:30.059
 I'm persuaded

00:45:30.059 --> 00:45:30.879
 by Scripture

00:45:30.879 --> 00:45:31.480
 and history

00:45:31.480 --> 00:45:33.139
 that government's

00:45:33.139 --> 00:45:33.679
 support

00:45:33.679 --> 00:45:35.219
 of Christianity,

00:45:35.739 --> 00:45:37.519
 at least Christianity,

00:45:37.659 --> 00:45:38.239
 let's just regard

00:45:38.239 --> 00:45:38.819
 Christianity,

00:45:38.980 --> 00:45:39.599
 government's support

00:45:39.599 --> 00:45:40.279
 of Christianity,

00:45:40.899 --> 00:45:41.759
 ultimately

00:45:41.759 --> 00:45:43.159
 harms it.

00:45:44.539 --> 00:45:44.919
 Now,

00:45:45.000 --> 00:45:46.019
 I know this is,

00:45:46.099 --> 00:45:47.219
 just as it was,

00:45:47.480 --> 00:45:48.099
 contested.

00:45:48.839 --> 00:45:50.039
 While John Adams

00:45:50.039 --> 00:45:50.779
 and George Washington

00:45:50.779 --> 00:45:51.879
 generally approved

00:45:51.879 --> 00:45:52.759
 religious freedom,

00:45:52.899 --> 00:45:53.440
 they thought,

00:45:53.559 --> 00:45:54.000
 because religion

00:45:54.000 --> 00:45:54.980
 is so important,

00:45:55.279 --> 00:45:56.179
 it should be encouraged

00:45:56.179 --> 00:45:56.779
 by government.

00:45:57.960 --> 00:45:58.639
 Patrick Henry

00:45:58.639 --> 00:45:59.199
 went further

00:45:59.199 --> 00:46:00.339
 and pushed for it

00:46:00.339 --> 00:46:01.539
 to be actively supported.

00:46:01.539 --> 00:46:04.300
 Thomas Jefferson's

00:46:04.300 --> 00:46:04.759
 worries were

00:46:04.759 --> 00:46:05.500
 on the other side,

00:46:05.699 --> 00:46:07.099
 that religious influence

00:46:07.099 --> 00:46:07.779
 would distort

00:46:07.779 --> 00:46:08.679
 and corrupt

00:46:08.679 --> 00:46:10.199
 the even-handedness

00:46:10.199 --> 00:46:12.079
 that the state required

00:46:12.079 --> 00:46:13.800
 toward all of its citizens.

00:46:16.279 --> 00:46:17.239
 The state should

00:46:17.239 --> 00:46:18.159
 protect its citizens

00:46:18.159 --> 00:46:19.139
 to believe and practice

00:46:19.139 --> 00:46:20.019
 whatever they liked,

00:46:20.519 --> 00:46:21.519
 so long as it hurt

00:46:21.519 --> 00:46:22.279
 no one in life,

00:46:22.420 --> 00:46:22.920
 limb, liberty,

00:46:22.960 --> 00:46:23.500
 or property.

00:46:25.360 --> 00:46:26.380
 The legitimate

00:46:26.380 --> 00:46:27.559
 powers of government,

00:46:27.739 --> 00:46:28.480
 Jefferson clarified,

00:46:29.039 --> 00:46:30.940
 extend to such acts

00:46:30.940 --> 00:46:31.480
 only,

00:46:31.539 --> 00:46:33.219
 as are injurious

00:46:33.219 --> 00:46:33.980
 to others.

00:46:34.800 --> 00:46:35.179
 But,

00:46:35.420 --> 00:46:37.059
 it does me no injury

00:46:37.059 --> 00:46:37.759
 for my neighbor

00:46:37.759 --> 00:46:38.420
 to say there are

00:46:38.420 --> 00:46:39.840
 20 gods or no god.

00:46:40.500 --> 00:46:41.300
 It neither picks

00:46:41.300 --> 00:46:41.960
 my pocket

00:46:41.960 --> 00:46:43.460
 nor breaks my leg.

00:46:47.460 --> 00:46:48.519
 But Madison,

00:46:48.599 --> 00:46:49.119
 that was Jefferson,

00:46:49.259 --> 00:46:49.860
 but Madison,

00:46:49.980 --> 00:46:50.420
 to my mind,

00:46:50.699 --> 00:46:52.099
 helpfully integrated

00:46:52.099 --> 00:46:52.759
 the insights

00:46:52.759 --> 00:46:53.800
 of both Jefferson

00:46:53.800 --> 00:46:55.139
 and the Baptists

00:46:55.139 --> 00:46:56.719
 that a separation

00:46:56.719 --> 00:46:57.659
 of church and state

00:46:57.659 --> 00:46:58.820
 was critical

00:46:58.820 --> 00:47:02.000
 for both democracy

00:47:02.000 --> 00:47:03.780
 and faith.

00:47:05.200 --> 00:47:06.280
 He discerned

00:47:06.280 --> 00:47:07.360
 both the threat

00:47:07.360 --> 00:47:07.920
 of government

00:47:07.920 --> 00:47:09.039
 restriction

00:47:09.039 --> 00:47:10.200
 of religion

00:47:10.200 --> 00:47:11.940
 and equally

00:47:11.940 --> 00:47:12.620
 the harm

00:47:12.620 --> 00:47:13.180
 of government

00:47:13.180 --> 00:47:14.640
 support of it.

00:47:16.840 --> 00:47:17.680
 The first,

00:47:17.840 --> 00:47:18.019
 I think,

00:47:18.080 --> 00:47:19.280
 is probably pretty clear.

00:47:19.620 --> 00:47:19.800
 I mean,

00:47:19.820 --> 00:47:20.640
 we don't want government

00:47:20.640 --> 00:47:21.140
 to tell us

00:47:21.140 --> 00:47:21.760
 what to believe,

00:47:21.880 --> 00:47:22.680
 to intrude upon

00:47:22.680 --> 00:47:23.620
 the domain of conscience.

00:47:23.619 --> 00:47:23.859
 us.

00:47:24.500 --> 00:47:25.659
 The second insight

00:47:25.659 --> 00:47:26.579
 is perhaps

00:47:26.579 --> 00:47:27.880
 a little more subtle,

00:47:28.279 --> 00:47:29.679
 that government help

00:47:29.679 --> 00:47:31.699
 will ultimately hurt.

00:47:31.699 --> 00:47:33.839
 Well,

00:47:33.919 --> 00:47:34.579
 clearly it hurts

00:47:34.579 --> 00:47:36.299
 the unfavored faiths.

00:47:37.000 --> 00:47:37.679
 If one religion

00:47:37.679 --> 00:47:38.460
 is given favored

00:47:38.460 --> 00:47:39.439
 first-class treatment,

00:47:40.339 --> 00:47:41.259
 the rest receive

00:47:41.259 --> 00:47:43.419
 second-class status.

00:47:44.379 --> 00:47:44.939
 And this,

00:47:45.059 --> 00:47:45.299
 of course,

00:47:45.399 --> 00:47:46.859
 creates just resentment

00:47:46.859 --> 00:47:48.480
 toward the favored.

00:47:49.379 --> 00:47:50.059
 It's not going to help

00:47:50.059 --> 00:47:50.460
 the favored

00:47:50.460 --> 00:47:50.919
 for everybody

00:47:50.919 --> 00:47:51.399
 to be bitter

00:47:51.399 --> 00:47:52.059
 toward the favored.

00:47:52.879 --> 00:47:54.639
 The privileged Joseph

00:47:54.639 --> 00:47:56.099
 with his government

00:47:56.099 --> 00:47:57.639
 bequeath colored coat

00:47:57.639 --> 00:47:58.759
 is surrounded

00:47:58.759 --> 00:47:59.699
 by common-frocked

00:48:00.559 --> 00:48:01.399
 bitter brothers.

00:48:01.699 --> 00:48:03.399
 than Joseph

00:48:03.399 --> 00:48:04.239
 has deservedly

00:48:04.239 --> 00:48:05.219
 held in disesteem.

00:48:05.960 --> 00:48:06.119
 Okay?

00:48:07.559 --> 00:48:08.759
 And political support

00:48:08.759 --> 00:48:09.739
 makes religion,

00:48:10.179 --> 00:48:10.919
 surprise,

00:48:11.119 --> 00:48:11.460
 surprise,

00:48:11.960 --> 00:48:12.460
 political.

00:48:13.319 --> 00:48:14.699
 Political support

00:48:14.699 --> 00:48:15.639
 makes religion

00:48:15.639 --> 00:48:16.339
 political.

00:48:17.739 --> 00:48:18.899
 And that leads

00:48:18.899 --> 00:48:20.960
 to distrust

00:48:20.960 --> 00:48:21.859
 of Christians

00:48:21.859 --> 00:48:22.819
 by outsiders.

00:48:24.039 --> 00:48:26.779
 And a snare

00:48:26.779 --> 00:48:28.339
 to insiders.

00:48:29.119 --> 00:48:30.759
 For we like

00:48:30.760 --> 00:48:31.540
 power,

00:48:31.780 --> 00:48:32.180
 privilege,

00:48:32.460 --> 00:48:33.340
 and patronage.

00:48:33.340 --> 00:48:34.380
 And that

00:48:34.380 --> 00:48:35.560
 corrupts us.

00:48:37.300 --> 00:48:38.360
 If I

00:48:38.360 --> 00:48:39.420
 have been given

00:48:39.420 --> 00:48:40.620
 preferential treatment

00:48:40.620 --> 00:48:42.340
 for being a Christian,

00:48:43.140 --> 00:48:44.720
 how do you know,

00:48:44.800 --> 00:48:45.940
 or even I know,

00:48:46.500 --> 00:48:47.940
 that I'm not a Christian

00:48:47.940 --> 00:48:50.200
 just for the perks?

00:48:52.200 --> 00:48:52.840
 Privilege

00:48:52.840 --> 00:48:54.220
 paves the way

00:48:54.220 --> 00:48:55.240
 to hypocrisy.

00:48:55.239 --> 00:48:57.359
 If I'm even

00:48:57.359 --> 00:48:57.979
 given a better

00:48:57.979 --> 00:48:59.319
 parking place

00:48:59.319 --> 00:49:00.099
 for my faith,

00:49:00.539 --> 00:49:01.659
 how do you know

00:49:01.659 --> 00:49:02.619
 that I'm not doing it

00:49:02.619 --> 00:49:03.739
 for the parking place?

00:49:04.059 --> 00:49:04.259
 I mean,

00:49:04.299 --> 00:49:04.699
 after all,

00:49:04.739 --> 00:49:05.379
 this is New England.

00:49:05.539 --> 00:49:06.639
 Parking place is quite tough.

00:49:09.319 --> 00:49:10.759
 If we treasure

00:49:10.759 --> 00:49:11.539
 our faith

00:49:11.539 --> 00:49:12.359
 and its purity,

00:49:13.199 --> 00:49:14.399
 do we want

00:49:14.399 --> 00:49:15.579
 to intermingle it

00:49:15.579 --> 00:49:16.459
 with such

00:49:16.459 --> 00:49:17.879
 irresistible

00:49:17.879 --> 00:49:18.779
 allurements

00:49:18.779 --> 00:49:19.519
 of power,

00:49:19.819 --> 00:49:20.119
 privilege,

00:49:20.239 --> 00:49:21.019
 and patronage

00:49:21.019 --> 00:49:22.099
 which government

00:49:22.099 --> 00:49:23.159
 support can supply?

00:49:24.099 --> 00:49:24.679
 Do we really

00:49:24.679 --> 00:49:25.360
 want that?

00:49:26.440 --> 00:49:27.579
 If we love

00:49:27.579 --> 00:49:28.259
 our faith,

00:49:28.639 --> 00:49:29.400
 do we want

00:49:29.400 --> 00:49:29.880
 government

00:49:29.880 --> 00:49:30.719
 to touch it?

00:49:33.280 --> 00:49:34.219
 I wish

00:49:34.219 --> 00:49:34.940
 I were godly

00:49:34.940 --> 00:49:35.460
 enough to be

00:49:35.460 --> 00:49:36.000
 immune from

00:49:36.000 --> 00:49:36.980
 such blandishments,

00:49:37.239 --> 00:49:38.199
 but I'm not.

00:49:39.099 --> 00:49:40.500
 So I want

00:49:40.500 --> 00:49:41.860
 to put up

00:49:41.860 --> 00:49:42.659
 some protective

00:49:42.659 --> 00:49:43.259
 structures

00:49:43.259 --> 00:49:44.300
 to buttress

00:49:44.300 --> 00:49:45.500
 my best intentions

00:49:45.500 --> 00:49:46.639
 but weak resolves

00:49:46.639 --> 00:49:47.460
 to keep

00:49:47.460 --> 00:49:48.259
 my faith

00:49:48.259 --> 00:49:48.739
 pure.

00:49:48.739 --> 00:49:50.919
 As one has put it,

00:49:51.139 --> 00:49:51.859
 church and state

00:49:51.859 --> 00:49:52.439
 when married

00:49:52.439 --> 00:49:53.319
 bring out

00:49:53.319 --> 00:49:53.779
 the worst

00:49:53.779 --> 00:49:54.419
 in each other.

00:49:55.539 --> 00:49:56.039
 It's kind of like

00:49:56.039 --> 00:49:57.519
 two mischievous boys

00:49:57.519 --> 00:49:57.959
 in the back

00:49:57.959 --> 00:49:58.579
 of the classroom

00:49:58.579 --> 00:49:59.619
 who went together,

00:49:59.919 --> 00:50:00.919
 get up to no good,

00:50:01.819 --> 00:50:03.159
 best for everyone

00:50:03.159 --> 00:50:03.979
 to just keep

00:50:03.979 --> 00:50:04.959
 them separated.

00:50:06.619 --> 00:50:07.419
 So in sum,

00:50:08.399 --> 00:50:10.019
 this story

00:50:10.019 --> 00:50:10.539
 from history

00:50:10.539 --> 00:50:11.159
 I have offered

00:50:11.159 --> 00:50:12.079
 is that

00:50:12.079 --> 00:50:12.819
 in the ongoing

00:50:12.819 --> 00:50:13.619
 experiment

00:50:13.619 --> 00:50:14.659
 in this land

00:50:14.659 --> 00:50:15.979
 of how to relate

00:50:15.979 --> 00:50:16.479
 religion

00:50:16.479 --> 00:50:17.419
 and civil government,

00:50:17.420 --> 00:50:19.300
 some insights

00:50:19.300 --> 00:50:19.960
 emerge.

00:50:21.480 --> 00:50:22.019
 The venture

00:50:22.019 --> 00:50:23.039
 of the first

00:50:23.039 --> 00:50:23.420
 founders

00:50:23.420 --> 00:50:24.059
 to establish

00:50:24.059 --> 00:50:24.639
 a Christian

00:50:24.639 --> 00:50:25.300
 national

00:50:25.300 --> 00:50:26.180
 religious covenant

00:50:26.180 --> 00:50:27.019
 between God

00:50:27.019 --> 00:50:27.880
 and this people,

00:50:28.500 --> 00:50:29.420
 however sincerely

00:50:29.420 --> 00:50:30.000
 intended

00:50:30.000 --> 00:50:30.740
 and zealously

00:50:30.740 --> 00:50:31.480
 prosecuted,

00:50:31.940 --> 00:50:33.400
 ultimately floundered

00:50:33.400 --> 00:50:35.079
 not only

00:50:35.079 --> 00:50:36.360
 on the impracticality

00:50:36.360 --> 00:50:37.340
 of the religious

00:50:37.340 --> 00:50:38.059
 uniformity

00:50:38.059 --> 00:50:38.720
 it required

00:50:38.720 --> 00:50:39.639
 of an increasingly

00:50:39.639 --> 00:50:41.400
 diverse population,

00:50:41.900 --> 00:50:42.720
 but even

00:50:42.720 --> 00:50:43.619
 on its own

00:50:43.619 --> 00:50:44.440
 terms

00:50:44.440 --> 00:50:46.139
 by its theological

00:50:46.139 --> 00:50:47.319
 incoherence.

00:50:48.400 --> 00:50:48.859
 The Bible

00:50:48.859 --> 00:50:49.500
 does not

00:50:49.500 --> 00:50:50.079
 endorse

00:50:50.079 --> 00:50:50.920
 a Christian

00:50:50.920 --> 00:50:51.699
 national

00:50:51.699 --> 00:50:52.279
 covenant.

00:50:53.779 --> 00:50:54.299
 In the second

00:50:54.299 --> 00:50:54.779
 founding,

00:50:55.259 --> 00:50:55.759
 an alternative

00:50:55.759 --> 00:50:56.279
 arrangement

00:50:56.279 --> 00:50:56.920
 was hammered

00:50:56.920 --> 00:50:57.159
 out

00:50:57.159 --> 00:50:58.359
 and launched,

00:50:58.859 --> 00:50:59.460
 albeit only

00:50:59.460 --> 00:51:00.059
 on the federal

00:51:00.059 --> 00:51:00.480
 level,

00:51:01.699 --> 00:51:02.159
 the free

00:51:02.159 --> 00:51:02.879
 exercise

00:51:02.879 --> 00:51:04.339
 and non-establishment

00:51:04.339 --> 00:51:04.719
 of religion.

00:51:05.480 --> 00:51:06.219
 For all the

00:51:06.219 --> 00:51:06.699
 challenges

00:51:06.699 --> 00:51:07.460
 of interpreting

00:51:07.460 --> 00:51:08.679
 and applying

00:51:08.679 --> 00:51:09.599
 this arrangement

00:51:09.599 --> 00:51:10.900
 to the intricacies

00:51:10.900 --> 00:51:11.679
 and complexities

00:51:11.679 --> 00:51:12.359
 of American

00:51:12.359 --> 00:51:12.759
 life,

00:51:13.079 --> 00:51:14.059
 I have suggested

00:51:14.059 --> 00:51:15.019
 there is a

00:51:15.019 --> 00:51:16.239
 genius to it.

00:51:17.460 --> 00:51:18.139
 I think it

00:51:18.139 --> 00:51:19.399
 a good formulation

00:51:19.399 --> 00:51:20.899
 that seeks

00:51:20.899 --> 00:51:21.419
 to preserve

00:51:21.419 --> 00:51:22.179
 two related

00:51:22.179 --> 00:51:22.559
 goods,

00:51:22.799 --> 00:51:23.659
 free exercise

00:51:23.659 --> 00:51:25.539
 and non-establishment.

00:51:26.440 --> 00:51:27.099
 Perhaps I might

00:51:27.099 --> 00:51:28.179
 put it memorably

00:51:28.179 --> 00:51:29.500
 like this,

00:51:30.480 --> 00:51:31.599
 free exercise.

00:51:32.799 --> 00:51:34.259
 I don't want

00:51:34.259 --> 00:51:35.019
 the government

00:51:35.019 --> 00:51:36.159
 to feed me

00:51:36.159 --> 00:51:36.960
 to the lions

00:51:36.960 --> 00:51:37.839
 for being a

00:51:37.839 --> 00:51:38.179
 Christian.

00:51:38.940 --> 00:51:39.859
 But beyond

00:51:39.859 --> 00:51:40.500
 self-interest,

00:51:40.500 --> 00:51:41.360
 neither do I

00:51:41.360 --> 00:51:41.760
 want my

00:51:41.760 --> 00:51:42.099
 Jewish,

00:51:42.280 --> 00:51:42.559
 Muslim,

00:51:42.719 --> 00:51:42.940
 Sikh,

00:51:43.019 --> 00:51:43.360
 or atheist

00:51:43.360 --> 00:51:43.719
 neighbors

00:51:43.719 --> 00:51:44.320
 to be fed

00:51:44.320 --> 00:51:44.960
 to the lions

00:51:44.960 --> 00:51:45.739
 for following

00:51:45.739 --> 00:51:46.599
 their consciences

00:51:46.599 --> 00:51:47.219
 and religion.

00:51:49.239 --> 00:51:50.559
 Non-establishment.

00:51:51.559 --> 00:51:52.960
 I'm not safe

00:51:52.960 --> 00:51:53.619
 to drive

00:51:53.619 --> 00:51:54.340
 when drunk.

00:51:55.159 --> 00:51:56.019
 So I want

00:51:56.019 --> 00:51:56.800
 my keys

00:51:56.800 --> 00:51:57.559
 to be taken

00:51:57.559 --> 00:51:58.300
 from me.

00:51:59.960 --> 00:52:00.960
 It's better

00:52:00.960 --> 00:52:01.500
 for me

00:52:01.500 --> 00:52:02.079
 and it certainly

00:52:02.079 --> 00:52:02.579
 is better

00:52:02.579 --> 00:52:03.139
 for everyone

00:52:03.139 --> 00:52:03.579
 else.

00:52:04.820 --> 00:52:05.659
 Power to

00:52:05.659 --> 00:52:06.380
 impose your

00:52:06.380 --> 00:52:07.239
 will on others

00:52:07.239 --> 00:52:08.659
 is intoxicating.

00:52:08.980 --> 00:52:09.500
 It makes you

00:52:09.500 --> 00:52:10.300
 drunk with the

00:52:10.300 --> 00:52:11.700
 power of possibility.

00:52:12.860 --> 00:52:13.900
 When Christians

00:52:13.900 --> 00:52:14.580
 have had political

00:52:14.580 --> 00:52:15.360
 power to impose

00:52:15.360 --> 00:52:16.180
 our will on others,

00:52:16.380 --> 00:52:17.180
 we have left

00:52:17.180 --> 00:52:18.560
 a fairly consistently

00:52:18.560 --> 00:52:20.140
 bad track record.

00:52:20.860 --> 00:52:21.780
 We have bullied

00:52:21.780 --> 00:52:22.800
 and abused

00:52:22.800 --> 00:52:23.500
 our non-Christian

00:52:23.500 --> 00:52:23.920
 neighbors

00:52:23.920 --> 00:52:25.420
 and even our

00:52:25.420 --> 00:52:26.080
 differing

00:52:26.080 --> 00:52:27.160
 Christian sisters

00:52:27.160 --> 00:52:27.820
 and brothers.

00:52:29.240 --> 00:52:30.120
 When we get

00:52:30.120 --> 00:52:30.760
 behind the wheel

00:52:30.760 --> 00:52:31.320
 drunk

00:52:31.320 --> 00:52:32.760
 with the power

00:52:32.760 --> 00:52:33.760
 of that opportunity

00:52:33.760 --> 00:52:34.560
 to enforce

00:52:34.560 --> 00:52:35.519
 our vision

00:52:35.519 --> 00:52:36.080
 of the good,

00:52:36.440 --> 00:52:36.960
 there is,

00:52:37.039 --> 00:52:37.940
 as we have seen,

00:52:38.160 --> 00:52:39.480
 lots of blood

00:52:39.480 --> 00:52:40.420
 on the highway

00:52:40.420 --> 00:52:42.280
 and it is blood

00:52:42.280 --> 00:52:43.679
 on our hands.

00:52:44.679 --> 00:52:45.880
 We should not

00:52:45.880 --> 00:52:47.199
 be given the keys.

00:52:48.019 --> 00:52:48.780
 It's not good

00:52:48.780 --> 00:52:49.559
 for us

00:52:49.559 --> 00:52:51.179
 or anyone else.

00:52:54.039 --> 00:52:55.039
 This is so

00:52:55.039 --> 00:52:55.800
 for Christians,

00:52:56.039 --> 00:52:56.659
 I believe.

00:52:57.800 --> 00:52:58.539
 That, sorry,

00:52:58.679 --> 00:52:59.519
 that it is so

00:52:59.519 --> 00:53:00.099
 for Christians,

00:53:00.260 --> 00:53:00.599
 I believe,

00:53:00.940 --> 00:53:02.719
 is more of a scandal.

00:53:03.519 --> 00:53:04.400
 It ought not

00:53:04.400 --> 00:53:04.940
 to be so

00:53:04.940 --> 00:53:05.619
 with us.

00:53:05.619 --> 00:53:07.900
 We ought not

00:53:07.900 --> 00:53:08.619
 to exercise

00:53:08.619 --> 00:53:09.279
 power

00:53:09.279 --> 00:53:10.480
 as does the world

00:53:10.480 --> 00:53:11.739
 as our master

00:53:11.739 --> 00:53:12.819
 himself makes clear.

00:53:13.920 --> 00:53:14.500
 Matthew 20,

00:53:14.539 --> 00:53:15.480
 25, 26.

00:53:16.380 --> 00:53:17.639
 A worse scandal,

00:53:18.139 --> 00:53:19.460
 but I'm not sure

00:53:19.460 --> 00:53:20.219
 ours is a worse

00:53:20.219 --> 00:53:21.719
 level of abuse.

00:53:22.599 --> 00:53:23.619
 I'm not persuaded

00:53:23.619 --> 00:53:24.159
 by history

00:53:24.159 --> 00:53:24.920
 that non-believers

00:53:24.920 --> 00:53:26.639
 or other religionists

00:53:26.639 --> 00:53:27.380
 do any better

00:53:27.380 --> 00:53:28.539
 with unrestricted power

00:53:28.539 --> 00:53:29.059
 to impose

00:53:29.059 --> 00:53:29.779
 their will.

00:53:29.780 --> 00:53:29.840
 people,

00:53:30.660 --> 00:53:31.820
 how often

00:53:31.820 --> 00:53:32.320
 has the cry

00:53:32.320 --> 00:53:32.740
 gone up,

00:53:33.340 --> 00:53:34.540
 Christians to the lions

00:53:34.540 --> 00:53:35.320
 or it's endless

00:53:35.320 --> 00:53:35.960
 variation,

00:53:36.300 --> 00:53:37.440
 Christians to the gulags,

00:53:37.740 --> 00:53:38.620
 Christians to the killing

00:53:38.620 --> 00:53:38.980
 fields,

00:53:39.300 --> 00:53:40.380
 Christians to the machete.

00:53:41.220 --> 00:53:42.000
 I don't want

00:53:42.000 --> 00:53:43.280
 other religions

00:53:43.280 --> 00:53:44.240
 established

00:53:44.240 --> 00:53:45.400
 or atheism

00:53:45.400 --> 00:53:46.120
 established

00:53:46.120 --> 00:53:47.400
 for the same worries.

00:53:48.240 --> 00:53:49.380
 I don't even want

00:53:49.380 --> 00:53:50.519
 Christianity established

00:53:50.519 --> 00:53:51.960
 until Christ returns

00:53:51.960 --> 00:53:52.780
 and establishes

00:53:52.780 --> 00:53:54.060
 his perfect expression

00:53:54.060 --> 00:53:55.400
 in his perfect way.

00:53:55.400 --> 00:53:56.860
 I just don't trust myself

00:53:56.860 --> 00:53:57.860
 or frankly

00:53:57.860 --> 00:53:58.700
 any of you.

00:53:59.220 --> 00:54:00.559
 I know myself

00:54:00.559 --> 00:54:01.599
 and us

00:54:01.599 --> 00:54:03.059
 all too well.

00:54:03.860 --> 00:54:05.019
 And so I am grateful

00:54:05.019 --> 00:54:06.019
 in excelsis

00:54:06.019 --> 00:54:07.260
 for the constitutional

00:54:07.260 --> 00:54:07.760
 arrangement

00:54:07.760 --> 00:54:08.800
 we providentially

00:54:08.800 --> 00:54:09.220
 live under

00:54:09.220 --> 00:54:09.760
 in America.

00:54:10.180 --> 00:54:11.440
 Let us give thanks

00:54:11.440 --> 00:54:12.000
 to God

00:54:12.000 --> 00:54:12.760
 that it is so

00:54:12.760 --> 00:54:14.420
 and seek to support

00:54:14.420 --> 00:54:15.240
 the institutions

00:54:15.240 --> 00:54:16.099
 which protect

00:54:16.099 --> 00:54:17.139
 and preserve it

00:54:17.139 --> 00:54:17.660
 for us

00:54:17.660 --> 00:54:18.440
 and our neighbors

00:54:18.440 --> 00:54:19.260
 and hopefully

00:54:19.260 --> 00:54:19.840
 our children

00:54:19.840 --> 00:54:21.660
 and our children's

00:54:21.660 --> 00:54:21.980
 children

00:54:21.980 --> 00:54:23.639
 until the Lord

00:54:23.639 --> 00:54:24.160
 returns.

00:54:24.159 --> 00:54:26.000
 Even so,

00:54:26.420 --> 00:54:27.219
 come Lord Jesus.

00:54:27.219 --> 00:54:27.619
 Amen.