Reading Questions #1
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Luke Forester
9/10/23
Survey of American Government
Professor Waller
Survey of American Government Reading Questions #1
Putting First Things First
1. Why did the authors argue that public life is not the first thing? In this light, what is the
relationship between religion and public life?
They argued that public life was not the first thing. The authors argued religion was the first
thing. The relationship between religion and public life is “first things are the last
things”. In my opinion this quote is getting at what we put first in life should not be the
first things in life. Religion should always come first before “public life”. “Public life”
in these terms are referring to everyday life activities. So for me in example I love
playing tennis, going to the gym, hanging out with friends, and spending time with my
family. These are all examples of “public life” and what we sometimes put as the “first
things” but like said above should be the “last things” behind religion.
2. What did the authors argue about the proper relationship between culture, politics, and
religion? The definition of culture is constantly changing and right now the definition
that best fits it is “the available truth claims, explanatory systems, myths, stories,
memories, loyalties, dreams, and nightmares by which a society lives”. The article
talks about the relationship of culture, politics, and religion by stating “politics is, in
largest part, is an expression to culture, and at the heart of culture is religion.”
Luke Forester
9/10/23
Survey of American Government
Professor Waller
3. What do that authors argue is the correct and incorrect way to understand pluralism?
First it states that we are a pluralistic society and that we must downplay our differences and
act if our biggest differences make no difference. In the judgment of the authors this is the
INCORRECT way to understand pluralism. The correct way to understand it is “Pluralism is a
civil engagement of our differences and disagreements about what is most importantly true.”
THE TRUTH!
Could America Survive Without Religion by Robert George:
1. What is the difference between freedom and license? What did the Founding Fathers
think was needed in order to maintain freedom responsibly?
They described “license” in the reading as true freedom and when freedom declines you
get “license”. The Founding Fathers thought in order to maintain freedom and
responsibility it would require virtue among the people. Meaning to maintain the
freedom people would need to act accordingly and have good behavior. “Good
virtue”
2. What idea does the Declaration of Independence express that Robert George argues
Luke Forester
9/10/23
Survey of American Government
Professor Waller
clearly communicates the “moral heart of the American Constitution”? What does this
idea have to do with religion? It states that the “moral heart of the American
Constitution is understanding the idea of God given natural human rights.” This idea
has everything to do with religion because it is basically saying that we don’t need a
document to tell us our rights (especially as christians) because as a christian we know
our god given rights and we know what's right and what's wrong without any
document.
3. Why are the Founding Fathers and Robert George cautious of arguments of a
transcendent-less based morality?
They are cautious of these arguments because they don’t know if they could
confidently say that “the conditions of constitutional freedom, and thus
freedom itself, would survive where the great mass of citizens had settled
into believing that human beings, supposed subjects of inalienable rights, and
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Luke Forester
9/10/23
Survey of American Government
Professor Waller
merely material beings inhabiting a universe of purely material and efficient
casualty”.
The Dead Are Not Raised By Politics (interview with Cromartie)
1. Does Cromartie think it is important for Christians to be involved and informed about
politics? How so? What is this “Augustinian sensibility” that he speaks of?
Yes he thinks it is very important for Christians to be involved and informed about
politics. He then continues to talk about how it is very important to be involved in
politics but to be involved wisely. He then goes on to say Augustinian sensibility
which means “we can be faithful in our calling and not have an overinflated
expectation from the political”.
2. What does Cromartie think of the “ready, fire, aim” strategy? How should Christians
work to do something different? The people who came into town with the “ready, fire,
aim” motto didn’t have a “working public philosophy undergoing their own personal
faith.” Christians would work to do something different by pulling back and realizing
God is at work, “were just instruments to do what were called to do”.
Luke Forester
9/10/23
Survey of American Government
Professor Waller
3. What does he think of the strategy employed by Jim Wallis? Jim Wallis’s strategy was
saying “I'm not conservative or liberal. I’m Bilical.” “Or I'm neither left nor right. I’m
Christian.” I think this strategy is a good strategy. Jim Wallis doesn’t pick sides, he just
goes with his faith.
4. What does Cromartie say about civility and the Christian who (he thinks) is politically
confused? A Christian who is politically confused doesn’t make that person any less
Christian. When you see a Christian who is politically confused you can still respect
them and have civil conversations with them because you can see they are also made in
the image of God. This is where civility comes into play. No matter who you are
dealing with as a Christian you can be civil no matter if they think the total opposite of
you because both of you were “made in the image of God”. “The need for civility right
now is more than ever”. This is a very true statement made by Cromartie.