The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1958-07-05
Reliance On Providence

Continues from Beck Psgs)
This spiritual priority they guarded in two eonspevov.
..v. They projected limited government specifically
.,,Ivicc rulers Of absolute authority over human life
rsbv they reserved right 10 dsered civil
m witness their rebellion against the English sovereon
.birsrv and tyrsnnies As safeguards against central
ed federal power ths founding fathers established three
h.nehss Of government iwopsrty system states RIGHTS
and Bill Of Rights 10 protect individual liberties Moreover
me very First Amendment they prohibited an established
state religion thereby insvsvrstns form Of separation
q Church and State TO preserve religious freedom
By these policies they did not intend exclude religion
son significant social and political influence Rather thew
hooed 10 both the responsibility Of government TO
me Ultimate and the prevention Of seearian monopoly Of
hs political order They guarding against both poI
M and ecclesiastical sbtrarness They prized limited gov
.rnment and religious freedom because they themselves
had experienced that earthly which exercises
eompvIsve power human conscience, ieopardres
The dignity and responsibility Of the individual and nves
mans opportunity 70 eonseentiousIy both God and
The governing powers he has ordained
This does not that they minnized therefore the
importance Of supernatural religion and morality The Dec.
srstion Of Independence spoke Of endowment "by their
Creator" With certain vnaensbIs rights and Of firm
reliance the protection Of Divine Providence"
Supernatural religion and morality were recognized not
only indirect but indispensable supports Of the
public Only within this spiritual and moral framework
from which confidence in limited civil government and
religious freedom derived could the American mission and
The national purpose be eomprehended
-. Confidence IN the divine endowment Of human rights
furnished the dynamic to rebvke the kings EARTH Reliance
on divine Providence made these forebears adequate TO
pledge their lives their fortunes and their sacred honor
where both ruler and ruled answered to the rights
and duties derived from the Ruler Of all.
decisive significance Of revealed religion
In shaping American outlook is ndspvtsble Unfortunately
The importance Of JvdaeoChrstan conviction in forging
The American outlook has paIed in generation because
hee philosophy has detected from biblical supernatural
ism and has joined hvmanstic philosophy in identifying the
thought BY doing this the Of the American heritage
Interpreted In such broad emphasizes respect for the
dignity Of the individual and freedom develop ntvve
Intellectual and spiritual faculties to the maximum of his
abilities u Is often added that for the individual
h direct heritage Of chrss teaching. incentive TO the
doctrine Of the brotherhood Of To thus state the
places the mainsprnss Of American beginnings rather
dsdy in crseeoRoan speevations rather than in Judseo
Christian sanctions in Renaissance rather than in Reorma
lion traditions Consequently the American perspective be-
comes secular and hides those spiritual elements that be-
long rightly and ineradiesbIy in the forefront.
The beliefs that sustain the Western world today
doubtless classical and biblical eongomerste Europe
had lis Dark Ages when revealed religion lost It's social
significance and the speculative traditions Of ancient phil
oophy shaped the cultural climate Of the day More than
one scholar has noted The similar tendency in the early
twentieth century TO dspreeste Christian traditions TO
prize them only for their affinity TO craeeoRomsn learning
such as assessment however, nvers the historical situation
N respect TO early American traditions Recommendation OF
genuinely American theology recognizes the essentially
Christian outlook not only Of the Pilgrims and Purifsns
u OF the masses generally Even where the people lacked
dedication to H. they acknowledged the validity OF the
.nrsan view and permitted It's presvppostions to shape
me accepted virtues Of the times Deisfs remained soPhs-
esfe minority however influential in intellectual AFFAIRS
~ that they often viewed Providence and the connection
0sween Deity and mans dignity and destiny with warmth
o"w'nsY reflective Of the inherited religious tradition.
earlier centuries the Of community life was not the
philosopher and his podiv but the clergyman and his
"oreh Churches. In turn inspired schools and colleges
s"u the religious awskennss among the popusee lifted the
P0"f'ea morality Of the day.
Their knowledge Of biblical truth maintained !ne
decisive pivofpont Of human history TO be Person. ror
mem special rsdempfve history emsxed In the fe suer
ivy ana resurrection Of Jesus Christ The American destiny
' 70 radsie borrowed glow; had no set'sume'en'
IVORY OF It's Modern notions Of evolution and progress
"sver. together with Americas rise as world power