I, too, followed you here thanks to Jonathan. And by interesting coincidence, I was reading in chapter 2 of The Dawn of Everything (Graeber and Wengrow) yesterday about the extensive influences of Native Americans Kandiaronk and Lahontan on the founding white boys. On page 53, Kandiaronk is quoted: “ Come on , my brotherr. Don’t get up in arms. . . It’s only natural for Christians to have faith in the holy scriptures, since from their infancy they’ve heard so much of them. Still, it is nothing if not reasonable for those born without such prejudice, such as the Wendats, to examine matters more closely. “ The discussion continues in the next paragraph with Kandiaronk’s ‘most telling point’ -- “the extraordinary self-importance of the Jesuit conviction that an all-knowing and all-powerful being would freely choose to entrap himself in flesh and undergo terrible suffering, all for the sale of a single species, designed to be imperfect, only some of which were going to be rescued from damnation anyway.”
So glad Jonathan Larsen tipped us off to your Substack! Back in the olden days of Freethought Blogs, I always looked forward to your writing. I get smarter with every paragraph.
Such a great essay. I learned something new about the origins of the idea about the US as a "Christian" nation. Of course the other thing missing from the Christian nationalist argument is that even if were true, the 1st ammendment still exists. I'd love to hear the biblical justification for that. Probably part of the 6% the framers came up with on their own.
One thing I think I missed in my reading of this was which other areas other than separation of powers does Barton claim are biblically inspired? Does he ever cite a chapter and verse for the 3/5 compromise? Or where why the lawgivers are tasked also with declaring war or directing spending?
Finally, thank you for your work with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. I had not been aware of your organization until I read Jonathan Larsen's reporting over at TFN. If there's any place less in need of an established religious ethos of any flavor it's the US military.
I think I do have examples other than the separation of powers. I'm sure I've written about that. I just can't remember where at the moment, but I'll look when I get a chance.
I just became another huge fan of your work!! Thank you for this cogent analysis. And, to give credit where credit is due, I was led here by a link in TFN by Jonathan Larsen.
I really enjoyed your analysis and the history lesson. Looking forward to more. Also glad to see my fellow news fuckers here.
I, too, followed you here thanks to Jonathan. And by interesting coincidence, I was reading in chapter 2 of The Dawn of Everything (Graeber and Wengrow) yesterday about the extensive influences of Native Americans Kandiaronk and Lahontan on the founding white boys. On page 53, Kandiaronk is quoted: “ Come on , my brotherr. Don’t get up in arms. . . It’s only natural for Christians to have faith in the holy scriptures, since from their infancy they’ve heard so much of them. Still, it is nothing if not reasonable for those born without such prejudice, such as the Wendats, to examine matters more closely. “ The discussion continues in the next paragraph with Kandiaronk’s ‘most telling point’ -- “the extraordinary self-importance of the Jesuit conviction that an all-knowing and all-powerful being would freely choose to entrap himself in flesh and undergo terrible suffering, all for the sale of a single species, designed to be imperfect, only some of which were going to be rescued from damnation anyway.”
So glad Jonathan Larsen tipped us off to your Substack! Back in the olden days of Freethought Blogs, I always looked forward to your writing. I get smarter with every paragraph.
Thank you, Lora. Nice to see an old Freethought Blogs reader!
Such a great essay. I learned something new about the origins of the idea about the US as a "Christian" nation. Of course the other thing missing from the Christian nationalist argument is that even if were true, the 1st ammendment still exists. I'd love to hear the biblical justification for that. Probably part of the 6% the framers came up with on their own.
One thing I think I missed in my reading of this was which other areas other than separation of powers does Barton claim are biblically inspired? Does he ever cite a chapter and verse for the 3/5 compromise? Or where why the lawgivers are tasked also with declaring war or directing spending?
Finally, thank you for your work with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. I had not been aware of your organization until I read Jonathan Larsen's reporting over at TFN. If there's any place less in need of an established religious ethos of any flavor it's the US military.
Edited for spelling.
I think I do have examples other than the separation of powers. I'm sure I've written about that. I just can't remember where at the moment, but I'll look when I get a chance.
I just became another huge fan of your work!! Thank you for this cogent analysis. And, to give credit where credit is due, I was led here by a link in TFN by Jonathan Larsen.
Thanks, Reyhaana!
Jonathan's wonderful plug in TFN is sending lots of people my way. He's the best.