At least not in public. While our enlightened age takes great pride in its willingness to tolerate most any idea, the most prominent theme of the West 's cultural heritage is seldom, if ever, discussed. M. Stanton Evans' book, The Theme is Freedom , documents the profound influence the Bible and Christianity had on the shaping of Western institutions. According to this lesson, history teaches that belief in religious absolutes leads to repression and authoritarianism. Yes, we're absolutely sure.
History shows that freedom has been uncommon.
Very uncommon, actually. The norm in these societies was an all-powerful kingship. Faith and freedom not only can go together, they must go together. According to the Bible, each man, being created in the image of God, is deserving of the protections and liberties afforded by God's laws. As we are often reminded, Christian cultures have imperfectly fleshed out this principle.