The Theme is Freedom: Religion, Politics, and the American Tradition

by M. Stanton Evans

Author M. Stanton Evans challenges nearly every concept you've learned in history classes from elementary school to college: that our liberties stem from secular doctrines, that religious absolutes endanger freedom, that the Bill of Rights created a "wall of separation" between religion and our public institution. Evans argues that all of these teachings and more are refuted by historical record.

Genres: Politics, History, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Political Science, American History

366 pages, Paperback

First published October 13, 1994

About the author

American journalist, author and educator. As an undergraduate, Evans was an editor for the Yale Daily News. Upon graduation, Evans became assistant editor of The Freeman, where Chodorov was editor. The following year, he joined the staff of William F. Buckley's fledgling National Review (where he served as associate editor from 1960 to 1973)and became managing editor of Human Events, where he is currently a contributing editor. In 1959, Evans became head editorial writer of The Indianapolis News, rising to editor the following year. In 1971, Evans became a commentator for the CBS Television and Radio Networks, and in 1980 became a commentator for National Public Radio, the Voice of America, Radio America and WGMS-FM in Washington, D.C. In 1974, he became a nationally syndicated columnist for the Los Angeles Times syndicate. In 1977, Evans founded the National Journalism Center, where he served as director until 2002. In 1980, he became an adjunct professor of journalism at Troy University in Troy, Alabama, where he currently holds the Buchanan Chair of Journalism. In 1981-2002, he was publisher of Consumers' Research magazine. In 1971-1977, Evans served as chairman of the American Conservative Union (ACU). In 1974, Evans founded the Education and Research Institute, of which he is still chairman. He has also served as president of the Philadelphia Society, a member of the Council for National Policy and Young Americans for Freedom National Advisory Board, and a trustee of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI), and is a member of the Board of Advisers of the National Tax Limitation Committee.
Evans became a proponent of National Review co-editor Frank Meyer's "fusionism," a political philosophy reconciling the traditionalist and libertarian tendencies of the conservative movement.

Reviews

[Mark K. Vogl · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book that discusses the domestic threats to the foundation of America's government and culture. Published in 1994 it provides a longer range look at the movement against America and Christianity. Evans was a renowned journalist who had served as the Director of the National Journalist Center. A columnist for the Los Angeles Times, he had been a commentator for CBS and the Voice of America. This is an easy read...but one that will certainly turn on new lights for people who have little knowledge of the impact of Christianity on the formation of this nation.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evans makes a decent case for the Judeo-Christian religious tradition actually opening the way to human rights. [Quite a different take than the view I got from public education and the pervasive, prevailing media opinion, that religion is simply a tool of oppression.] Now I've actually got some arguments and understanding to back up my instincts and flesh out my opinion that the media-popular view is not the real story.

It's not that religion has never been used as a tool of oppression, but rather that the moral rights and wrongs of the Judeo-Christian religions imbued rights to everyone, regardless of their station in life, and also responsibilities - even the king was accountable to God for his actions. The idea of rights and responsibilities coming from God was what spurred the human rights LEAP of the American Revolution, as well. Pretty nifty.

The reason the book only got 3 stars from me is that it keeps making the same point over and over - and it's very much on the academic, wordy side... it would probably be good to have for reference, though, since my memory's not photographic and I can't absorb every argument.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly researched & well-supported ""counterhistory"" to the mistaken notions we are taught today as to the ideas and principles upon which this country, its freedoms and its institutions were founded. Stanton traces our founding principles back to Medieval Europe before Magna Carta and makes the case that our founding is rooted in Christian theology and centuries of established common law which was at odds with the power of kings and Parliament. If you are willing to have your assumptions challenged or are interested in the idea of economic vs. theological determinism, classic vs. contemporary liberalism, this is a great read!

[NDH · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book (and another by MSE) after having a series of encounters with a number of invincibly ignorant (yet know-it-all) Europeans who, fundamentally, had no reference points by which they might begin to understand American Conservatism. I might as well having been speaking Swahili to them. Quite illogically I blamed myself for not having at my fingertips arguments and examples to better illustrate what I was trying to convey. In any case, MSE’s writings on this topic have been quite useful in providing me such illustrations, as well as in helping me articulate (if only to myself) many of the beliefs and principles which have been fundamental to my worldview since childhood. I have also come to remember what a waste of time it is to argue with or try to teach people anything. To hell with them.

Be that as it may, this is a fine book. It should be required reading for everyone everywhere.

I would, however, comment that I think Roger Scruton in his ‘Elegy for England’ does a somewhat better job of sketching the development and essential role of English Common Law in Conservative Thought generally, as being a higher law to which all temporal power (at least in England proper and, after 1688 excluding Parliament) is subject. For Scruton, the Common Law is an almost mystical incarnation of the wisdom of the centuries, and his Elegy is a useful companion to MSE’s writing.

While I accept MSE’s assertion regarding the Biblical and specifically Judeo-Christian origins of Conservative conceptions of liberty and restraint on power, I am curious as to why such concepts took root in English Common Law yet failed to do so in, say, France which was once known as “the eldest daughter of the Church.” Clearly something else is at work.

Also, while I accept MSE’s position that resistance to increased centralization of power in Washington is wise, I wonder what, under our Federal system, is the solution to unchecked tyranny at the State level? Slavery is the obvious example of the dilemma.

My guess is that such questions merit another book, and perhaps I shall find it among MSE’s other writings.

Meanwhile, read this book. Not much has changed since it came out in the mid-90s except that things have gotten worse. Don’t worry; we’ll win, eventually, at least for a while.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but a bit out-of-date, and after about 25% I chose not to finish.

[DúviAurvandil Ericsson e Pereira · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gave up about a fifth of the way in. Pretty interesting topic and good, though rather bombastic, writing style, but no references, sources, evidence for the claims made therein. I would perhaps attempt a read again with a second edition, updated with some "proof".