Think americas most common code of spirituality. And for franklin when you go back to the 18th century, doctrineless moralized christianity was serious intellectual business. It was very serious. Born out of contemporary religious debates and dissatisfaction with his familys puritanism, like many skeptics in the 18th century, franklin was weary of 300 years of fighting over the legacy of the ref reformation. Franklin grew up in a world of intractable conflict between catholics and protestants. But also within and between protestant denominations themselves. What good was christianity, he wondered, if it precipitated pettiness, persecution and violence. Unlike some selfhelp celebrities today, franklin and his cohort of european and american deists reckoned in promoting a ethicsfocused christianity, they were redeeming christianity itself. How successful that redemptive effort was, you all are going to have to decide for yourselves. Could you really have a nonexclusive doctrinely minimal
Discipline, denerve lebe nerve success in this live. Thats what good wants for us. Well, today its easy to dismiss this sort of pot faith because its so often peddled by wealthy media superstars, but it is i think americas most common code of spirituality. And for franklin when you go back to the 18th century, doctrineless moralized christianity was serious intellectual business. It was very serious. Born out of contemporary religious debates and dissatisfaction with his familys puritanism, like many skeptics in the 18th century, franklin was weary of 300 years of fighting over the legacy of the ref reformation. Franklin grew up in a world of intractable conflict between catholics and protestants. But also within and between protestant denominations themselves. What good was christianity, he wondered, if it precipitated pettiness, persecution and violence. Unlike some selfhelp celebrities today, franklin and his cohort of european and american deists reckoned in promoting a ethicsfocus
The founding generations appeal for scripture to answer fundamental political questions and to inform an emerging constitutional tradition. Daniel driesbeck is a professor in the school of Public Affairs at American University here in washington, d. C. , where he earned American Universitys highest faculty award scholar teacher of the year. His Research Interest includes constitutional law and the intersection of politics law and religion in American Public life. His most recent book is reading the bible with the Founding Fathers. I have that one myself and full of sticky tabs and i encourage you to get that and enjoy it. Please join me in welcoming dr. Driesbeck. [ applause ] well, thank you very much. It is a real pleasure and a joy to be here in this magnificent facility in this tremendous resource that we have here now in the nations capital. Let me also say its a real joy for me to share the platform with professors, both of whom i have learned from over the years and i thank kay
With daniel dreisbach. It shaped the founders political thought and rhetoric. This presentation will examine the founding generations appeal to scripture to answer political questions and to inform an emerging constitutional tradition. Daniel dreisbach is a professor in the school of Public Affairs at American University here in washington, d. C. Many he earned the highest faculty award, scholar teacher of the year. His Research Interests include constitutional law and the intersection of politics, law and religion in American Public life. His most recent book is reading the bible with the Founding Fathers. I have that one myself and its full of sticky tabs. I encourage you to get that and enjoy it. Please join me in welcoming dr. Dreisbach. Well, thank you very much. It is a real pleasure and a joy to be here in this magnificent facility in this tremendous resource that we have here now in the nations capital. Let me also say that its a real joy for me to share the platform with profe
Little bit about john. John is a professor of American History and the chair of the History Department at messiah college. He received his ph. D. From suny stonybrook in 99 and has been at messiah since 2002. His book examined the relationship between kal vannism, cosmopolitanism and enlightenment in 18th century america. He coedited the book confessing history, explorations in Christian Faith and the historians vocation with jay green and eric miller in 2010 and his book, why study history, reflecting on the importance of the past was published in 2013. Most recently hes written the bible cause, history of the American Bible Society with Oxford University press. John has published in the Christian Century and i christianity today along with the Washington Post and New York Daily News and has done article in the journal of presbyterian history and 19th american 19th century history. Tonight, dr. Fea will be speaking on material from his 2011 book, was america founded as a christian nat