Biblical illiteracy IS a huge problem, but it cannot be laid at the feet of our schools. It is squarely the Church's failure. Teaching people to read at all, and to think in a sophisticated way about what they read, is a problem for which schools own part of the blame, but if every church took seriously its task to teach people how to read the complex and artful ancient text that is our Holy Scripture--and it really can be taught, but not casually or in an unintentional way--the decline of Christianity would be slowed. There is more wisdom in our Holy Scripture than we can possibly absorb in a single lifetime. "What more shall He say than to you He has said?" Politics can only be as good as the hearts engaging in it.
Isn’t one of the problems with invoking Lewis here is that he doesn’t start with a first amendment as part of his governmental structure?
I think Miller does start with that understanding. I haven’t listened to Haznoy’s interview, but while we as Christian’s can disagree with the laws as being unjust or against a Christian political theology, we do have to engage the reality of the laws in place. And I think those that are aiming for a return of Christendom of some sort in the US have to work through what that means with the legal structure that we have. That means if we are attempting to make some sort of Christendom attempt that we have to actually advocate for a repeal of the 1st amendment not pretending that it was only intended to apply to Christians.
The distinction you draw in Hazony is the right one: I'm less skeptical than extremely nervous about Hazony's use of the concept as a coded apologetic for Israel's relation with the Palestinians.
Biblical illiteracy IS a huge problem, but it cannot be laid at the feet of our schools. It is squarely the Church's failure. Teaching people to read at all, and to think in a sophisticated way about what they read, is a problem for which schools own part of the blame, but if every church took seriously its task to teach people how to read the complex and artful ancient text that is our Holy Scripture--and it really can be taught, but not casually or in an unintentional way--the decline of Christianity would be slowed. There is more wisdom in our Holy Scripture than we can possibly absorb in a single lifetime. "What more shall He say than to you He has said?" Politics can only be as good as the hearts engaging in it.
Isn’t one of the problems with invoking Lewis here is that he doesn’t start with a first amendment as part of his governmental structure?
I think Miller does start with that understanding. I haven’t listened to Haznoy’s interview, but while we as Christian’s can disagree with the laws as being unjust or against a Christian political theology, we do have to engage the reality of the laws in place. And I think those that are aiming for a return of Christendom of some sort in the US have to work through what that means with the legal structure that we have. That means if we are attempting to make some sort of Christendom attempt that we have to actually advocate for a repeal of the 1st amendment not pretending that it was only intended to apply to Christians.
The distinction you draw in Hazony is the right one: I'm less skeptical than extremely nervous about Hazony's use of the concept as a coded apologetic for Israel's relation with the Palestinians.
Helpful perspective. I’m eager to see what’s in store for the newsletter!