Grant Wood, New Road, 1939
National Gallery of Art, Washington DC
National Gallery of Art, Washington DC
| In the Nation's Capital |
| HUMAN AFFAIRS Dialogues on events that shape our world |
"Certainly there were many
evils that
the men of ancient times
suffered.
But there were, however, the
men of wisdom.
These would teach to other
men the principle
of mutual cohabitation and
of mutual support.
These wise ones chose their
rulers and teachers.
They put to flight the reptiles,
serpents and wild beasts,
and they established man's
primacy.
For those who were cold,
they made clothes;
for those who were hungry,
they prepared food;
for those who lived in trees ...
or in caves ... they made
houses.
They instructed the workers
that they might make utensils;
the merchants that they
might trade things
that they had or of which
they were lacking;
the doctors who would use
the medicines ...
They inculcated recognition
toward benefactors;
they instituted norms that
would assign each to his
proper place.
They created music that
would dissipate the sadness
built up in the
heart,
the government that would
give a shock to negligence,
the punishments that would
break down obstinance.
And since men were
cheating one another
the wise ones dictated to
them...
bushels, liters, weights and
scales in order that they keep
faith in
selling.
And now there are those who
say:
"let's smash these bushels, let's
smash these scales
and then the people won't
have anything to argue
about anymore."
Han Yu (768-824 B.C.),
Fragments of Chinese Doctrine
evils that
the men of ancient times
suffered.
But there were, however, the
men of wisdom.
These would teach to other
men the principle
of mutual cohabitation and
of mutual support.
These wise ones chose their
rulers and teachers.
They put to flight the reptiles,
serpents and wild beasts,
and they established man's
primacy.
For those who were cold,
they made clothes;
for those who were hungry,
they prepared food;
for those who lived in trees ...
or in caves ... they made
houses.
They instructed the workers
that they might make utensils;
the merchants that they
might trade things
that they had or of which
they were lacking;
the doctors who would use
the medicines ...
They inculcated recognition
toward benefactors;
they instituted norms that
would assign each to his
proper place.
They created music that
would dissipate the sadness
built up in the
heart,
the government that would
give a shock to negligence,
the punishments that would
break down obstinance.
And since men were
cheating one another
the wise ones dictated to
them...
bushels, liters, weights and
scales in order that they keep
faith in
selling.
And now there are those who
say:
"let's smash these bushels, let's
smash these scales
and then the people won't
have anything to argue
about anymore."
Han Yu (768-824 B.C.),
Fragments of Chinese Doctrine
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MEETINGS AT
THE CROSSROADS
Face to face with...
THE CROSSROADS
Face to face with...
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
A place where roads meet. A time of change.
| MEMORY AND IDENTITY Exploring our heritage Testing our tradition |
| FAITH OF OUR FOUNDERS A dialogue with Michael Novak Tuesday, May 8, 2007 George Washington University Marvin Center PHOTO GALLERY Recent articles and short publications by Novak Books by Novak |
Pope Benedict XVI, then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, in his book Without Roots wrote: In America the state is little more than a free space for different religious communities to congregate; it is in its nature to recognize and permit these communities to exist in their particularity and their non-membership in the state. This is a separation conceived positively as a means to allow religion to be itself, a religion that respects and protects its own living space distinctly from the state and its ordinances. This separation has created a special relationship between the state and the private spheres that is completely different from Europe. The private sphere has an absolutely public character. America is unique among advanced democratic countries because of the role religion plays in our culture. Since its inception, the American project has been one in which there has been an attempt to guarantee freedom of religion, with the understanding that religiosity is crucial to the life of society and has a necessarily public character distinct from that of the State. In recent years, this notion has been under attack and there has been an attempt to push for a "privatizing" of religion. What often goes unnoticed is that this necessarily goes hand in hand with a progressive absorption of the public sphere into the realm of the state. If religion is denied its public character, all that is left in the public square is politics, which becomes a kind of substitute religiosity, as can be witnessed today in so many aspects of our social life. This situation causes us to raise the question of what the founding fathers exactly meant by establishing freedom of religion. In addition, a closely related question is how the secularism that has advanced in Europe in recent years, exemplified in the debate over acknowledging Europe’s Christian roots in its constitution, relates to the American tradition and compares to our founding fathers’ idea of freedom of religion. It is with this in mind that we have invited our distinguished guest in order to help us understand the experience of faith that motivated our founding fathers. We intend to embark upon this journey with Professor Novak starting from St. Paul’s dictum to “Test everything, retain what is good.” |
