booklet review
‘We hold These Truths…’
– Our Country’s Religious Roots
By the Rev. Robert S. Jungé
Reviewed by the Rev. Walter E. Orthwein
T
he fact that it was faith in God and truths drawn from His Word that
inspired and guided the founders of the United States of America, and
formed the spiritual principles from which the new nation grew, is clearly
demonstrated in We Hold These Truths…., a study of the Declaration of
Independence and the United States Constitution by the Rev. Robert S. Jungé.
The subtitle is Our Country’s Religious Roots, and the cover design of the
booklet illustrates the message very well. It shows the red-and-white stripes
of the American flag, with the blue field of stars at the upper left – 13 stars for
the original 13 colonies – arranged in a circle. In the center of this circle is a
symbol very familiar to the New Church – the open Word, with a stylized halo
representing the light of truth shining from its pages.
The purpose of the booklet is to show that the principles of government
set forth by the architects of the New American civil order rested upon faith
in God and a firm conviction that such faith was indispensable to the survival
and ongoing success of the country. Mr. Jungé supports this claim with
165 quotations from George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson,
Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Thomas Paine and
others who had a hand in the founding of the country.
Although Mr. Jungé does not refer explicitly to the doctrines of the New
Church, their teaching is clearly reflected in his comments. This sets his essay
apart from other compilations of quotations from the founders on the necessity
of religion in a free society. It also has the advantage of being reasonably short
(just over 23 pages, plus three pages of references), and highly readable.
The booklet is divided into 12 sections with a couple of pages each:
1. Appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World
2. Endowed by Our Creator
3. No Law Respecting an Establishment of Religion
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