Musings: Notes From My Daybook

Reading Mark Noll's America's God. Since I am a long way from the end I really can't offer a complete response or review of his thesis. Published by Oxford in 2002, Noll's work is probing and exploring the intricate way in which traditional Christian theology became infused with republican ideology that gave rise to America. When Christians in Europe and in Canada were recoiling from republican ideas because of their faith, American Christians were often appropriating republican ideas into their faith.

As I said, I'm not even half way through Noll's book, so I don't have a complete picture. However, it does give cause to think about our present day attempts to accept or reject current political ideas based on our particular theology. And I think, with Noll's help, I hope to have a better handle on such ideas as the separation of church and state--even when we declared our independence we did so on ideals that were at least partially rooted in Christian theology.

One thing is for certain. We all are very much a product on not merely our identified theological frameworks, but we also bring to the table a whole basket load of social, political, and ideological experiences and beliefs that inform (directly or indirectly) our faith and lives.

It gives cause for humility.