| Patriotic Church Services |
| When Alexis de Tocqueville visited the United
States in 1831 he became so impressed with what
he saw that he went home and wrote one of the most
definitive studies on the American culture and Constitutional
system that had been published up to that time.
His book was called Democracy in America. Concerning
religion in America, de Tocqueville said: |
"On my arrival in the United States the
religious aspect of the country was the first
thing that struck my attention; and the longer
I stayed there, the more I perceived the great
political consequences resulting from this new
state of things."
|
| He described the situation as follows: |
"Religion in America takes no direct part
in the government of society, but it must be
regarded as the first of their political institutions....
I do not know whether all Americans have a sincere
faith in their religion -- for who can search
the human heart? -- but I am certain that they
hold it to be indispensable to the maintenance
of republican institutions. This opinion is
not peculiar to a class of citizens or to a
party, but it belongs to the whole nation and
to every rank of society."
|
| Americans of the Twentieth Century often fail
to realize the supreme importance which the Founding
Fathers originally attached to the role of religion
in the structure of the unique civilization which
they hoped would emerge as the first free people
in modern times. Many Americans also fail to realize
that the Founders felt the role of religion would
be as important in our own day as it was in theirs. |
| Constitution Week USA invites all faith groups
to participate in Patriotic Church Services by giving
a patriotic sermon of your choice and design to
your congregation on September 21st (or 14th). You
may choose any material you would like. For you
convenience Constitution Week USA has provide the
following material for your use. |
| Please Note: The following
material was published by the National Center for
Constitution Studies over the years. Constitution
Week USA subscribes to the principles taught in
these documents and believes them to include the
fundamental principles of liberty as discovered
and implemented by the Founding Fathers. Constitution
Week USA is in no way requiring the use of these
materials and respectfully accepts your right to
disagree with part or all of the content. If disagreement
exists, please select patriotic materials that will
fit your beliefs more closely. |
|
