How Did Christianity Influence Early American Society
Early American society was greatly influenced by Christianity and secular thinkers alike. Our founders formed their revolutionary ideas and embodied them in our constitution. But to deny the fundamental Christian principles that helped found our country would be a travesty. The fundamentals of Christianity and secular thinkers worked in concert with each other to form a unique ideology that made our country prosperous and helped us develop one of the most unique and lasting forms of government. These ideas were woven into a masterful document that has survived the test of time and continues to support and guide our modern country today. We can trace these unique ideas back to a handful of profoundly brilliant farmers, bar owners, and merchants
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This was a trait of strong family structure. In most societies of the time there was extreme intolerance to anyone who had differing points of view. For instance in England it was against the law to publicly criticize the King or parliament officials (Brinkley, 13th ed.). There was a long history of respect being bred into the population, weather it was forcibly or voluntary. Unfortunately it was a double edge sword, because at the same time they forcibly commanded respect, it fostered contempt for absolute authority. We see this in John Locke’s statement. “In transgressing the law of nature, the offender declares himself to live by another rule than that of reason and common equity, which is that measure God has set to the actions of men, for their mutual security; and so he becomes dangerous to mankind, the tye, which is to secure them from injury and violence, being slighted and broken by him. Which being a trespass against the whole species, and the peace and safety of it, provided for by the law of nature, every man upon this score, by the right he hath to preserve mankind in general, may restrain, or where it is necessary, destroy things noxious to them.” This is a really provocative statement for the time. He essentially is saying there is a higher power that rules man then a king, and that the king does not have absolute authority over his subjects. This nicely dovetails into Christian idea that
This was a trait of strong family structure. In most societies of the time there was extreme intolerance to anyone who had differing points of view. For instance in England it was against the law to publicly criticize the King or parliament officials (Brinkley, 13th ed.). There was a long history of respect being bred into the population, weather it was forcibly or voluntary. Unfortunately it was a double edge sword, because at the same time they forcibly commanded respect, it fostered contempt for absolute authority. We see this in John Locke’s statement. “In transgressing the law of nature, the offender declares himself to live by another rule than that of reason and common equity, which is that measure God has set to the actions of men, for their mutual security; and so he becomes dangerous to mankind, the tye, which is to secure them from injury and violence, being slighted and broken by him. Which being a trespass against the whole species, and the peace and safety of it, provided for by the law of nature, every man upon this score, by the right he hath to preserve mankind in general, may restrain, or where it is necessary, destroy things noxious to them.” This is a really provocative statement for the time. He essentially is saying there is a higher power that rules man then a king, and that the king does not have absolute authority over his subjects. This nicely dovetails into Christian idea that