Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas is now a controversial term. The few who are determined to deface America of its rich religious underpinnings will be in for a big surprise when they awaken the sleeping giant sometimes known as the “moral majority.” The constitution in America protects us from the government’s imposing one religious belief on us. What will protect us from the irreligious imposing their irreligion on us? On the other hand, they are not really anti-religious, because it is OK to study the Koran or some Eastern religious dogma in publicly funded institutions—it is only Christianity that is being stifled, the religion of the majority. I have found that this Christian majority have been very tolerant of other minority religions in America. Every small or large community across America gives building permits to innumerable religious edifices and allows them free speech to propagate their beliefs. Some part of me agrees that publicly funded schools should not be allowed to teach creationism, but they should also not be allowed to teach evolution as though it were a science. Let the home teach children Origins and Faith.
On the other hand, in American history we find public schools teaching the rudimental principles of Christianity. Take a look at the “New England Primer” that was used in most American schools for over 200 years. It is only 80 pages long and was the first reader-
speller to expose the young learners to language and knowledge. Here is a brief rundown of it: The first entry is a poem/song of praise to God by Isaac Watts. Then there are two sample prayers a child can say, both morning and evening. Following are the ABC’s, capitol letters, and simple to multiple syllable words. Note the words included in the five syllable list: Abominable, Benediction, Celebration, Fornication. In the six syllable list: Abomination, Humiliation, Mortification, and Purification. Then follows a “lesson for children:”
Pray to God. Love God. Fear God. Serve God. Take not God’s Name in vain. Do not swear. Do not steal. Cheat not in your play. Play not with bad boys. Call no ill names. Use no ill words. Tell no lies. Hate lies. Speak the truth. Spend your time well. Love your school. Mind your book. Strive to learn. Be not a dunce.
The next section has a small drawing and a short sentence using a word from each letter of the alphabet. A – In Adam’s fall, we sinned all. B – Heaven to find; the Bible mind. C – Christ crucified for sinners died. D
– The Deluge drowned the Earth around. E – Elijah hid by ravens fed. F – The judgment made Felix afraid, and so on. The next lesson contains questions and answers:
“Who was the first man? Who was the first woman? Who was the first murderer? Who was the first martyr? Who was first translated? Who was the oldest man? Who build the ark? Who was the most patient man? Who was the meekest man? All of these questions were based on the Bible origin of the earth. These questions were obviously teaching points for the teacher. Next, the book teaches the child how to pray at mealtimes.
The last three sections of the book are even more directly religious, if that could be so. The first is “Advice to Children” written by John Williams shortly before he was martyred for his religious beliefs in England. The next section is a shortened Catechism containing 107 questions and answers including the Ten Commandments, baptism, and all the basics of the Christian faith. The last section is entitled, “Spiritual Milk for American Babes drawn from both Testaments for their soul’s nourishment.” This was written by John Cotton, one of the foremost preachers of colonial times.
There were several revisions through the years. The first primer came out in 1690. The one I quoted from was the 1777 edition. Most of the material remained unchanged through its use. It was abandoned in the early 1900’s.
In the current debate over what can and cannot be taught or even said in public schools today, why not look at the track record of the past to see what the founders had in mind when they established the amendments to the constitution. Apparently they did not want one Christian faith to dominate other Christian faiths. They did not want the government to sponsor any particular denomination within the Christian context. It seems that they did not have in mind doing away with the Christian context in order to give equal weight to all other potential or existing “religions.”
Just a politically incorrect thought to tickle your imaginations this Christmas season.
Dennis
www.dennispumford.com
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