Ideologically Opposed Foes: Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson
Perhaps modern Americans view George Washington as either a pioneering hero, or else as a slave-holding enabler of a wicked regime. Either way, for those who are well-versed in early American history, the common picture of Washington’s incredibly talented and utterly unique administration includes both Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, among other giants of the colonial…
Social Justice Warriors and the Religion of “Woke”
In his remarkable book American Awakening, Professor Joshua Mitchell connects identity politics and modern-day crusaders for so-called Social Justice with an underlying religious motive. Perhaps one might say that Mitchell explores the inverse relationship between a robust religious culture with “Woke” social justice warriorism. Whereas Christian doctrine teaches that man in his original estate was the crown of a…
Religious Liberty and Inalienable Rights: American public policy and human dignity
Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes the freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship…
Thomas Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence, and “Equality”
This article is an exercise in definition, and when discussing definitions and terms, it is always helpful to begin by what we do not mean. The phrase that I want to examine is Equality, particularly when we state “that all men are created equal.” In his brilliant introductory textbook Liberty, Order, and Justice, Dr. James McClellan cited a…
Relativity and Relativism in the 20th century
The magisterial history of the 20th century Modern Times opens in an unexpected way. Instead of launching into a description of New Year’s festivities or presidential addresses, British historian Paul Johnson elucidates the development of Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, the idea that time and space are relative, not absolute. “Mistakenly but perhaps inevitably, relativity…
In the Shadowlands: Remembering a Giant
“C.S. Lewis … was not a politician — indeed, he was practically apolitical. He was not a man of military prowess or valor. He was not the progenitor of a new social movement or philosophical school. He was not a populist orator or community organizer. In fact, his quiet life as a traditional English don…
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Conservative Commentary 