American History

The challenge for the historian is to locate the greater truth when confronted with multiple explanations of matters in history. Greater truth is derived after analyzing various perspectives for how much or how little they tell us about the issue(s) at hand. While there can be outright lies, half truths and several lesser truths, there is only one greater truth which is based on the preponderance of evidence and logical reasoning. The religion debate revolves around disputed issues, the main one being the authenticity of the revivals that occurred in New England.

This debate matters because it has a direct bearing on the credibility of the Christian faith pitted against atheism which is growing in opposition to the Christian religion upon which the United States of America was founded. Moreover, the American constitution was established upon the principles found in the Bible and therefore any American needs to be aware of this truth since a belief in the Bible greatly determines the value system an American citizen ascribes to.

The greater truth of the American debate is that religion should have a significant bearing on the lives of individual Americans based on the Assembly of Pastors of Churches in New England in their defense PRO-REVIVAL The Great Awakening Is a Welcome Religious Revival (1743).According to the pro revivalists, there was a widespread outpouring of the Spirit of God upon the people of New England characterized by physical and emotional transformations. People began to speak in tongues and to sing in an unusually excited manner.

It has been asserted, however, that this was but a case of euphoric enthusiasm coupled with a temporary derangement that manifested itself in convulsions and great shakings. Charles Chauncy further underpinned that this case of emotions running amok, was to be tempered with sober employment of reason which has been endowed upon all human beings. While there is a truth in this assertion since often times events lead to the swaying of people or even getting fired up, in response to a fiery oration, to wholly rely on reason as a basis for argument is in itself self defeating.

Charles Chauncy himself a Bible believer, contradicts his belief since to reason out on biblical truths would mean a denial of the doctrine of faith. In Christianity, faith is a strong belief in that which cannot be seen nor experienced yet expressly stated in the Bible as a fundamental truth. The criticism of speaking in tongues as mere babbling occasioned by a momentary delusion contradicts the bible which states that these tongues shall be seen in those who believe.

He further maintains that a great emphasis should not be placed on the emotions as believers and this in part true. In fact during these conversions, it is recorded that some people exhibited a kind of exaggerated demeanor such as barking. It is necessary for the Christian not to heavily rely on his emotions in the course of his life. On the other hand a religious experience draws heavily on the emotions to a point of making grown men cry and even jump up and down. In such an instance to declare that such a man is in effect exhibiting behavior contradictory to biblical teachings again is in itself a fallacy.

Criticism of the Christian religion even occurs on an even greater level by the argument aimed at its pivotal point, the very existence of God. Atheists unequivocally deny the existence of God in favor of the evolution theory. They are Darwinians who believe that human beings find their origin in microscopic organisms and are in a constant state of evolution. The earth they further postulate emerged from a big bang in the cosmos. This sets the argument for the dominant theme of universality found in science.

The theme of universality posits that the universe is governed by a series of laws and patterns. Everything in the solar system functions not haphazardly, but obeys rules that lead to a balance and uninterrupted harmony in the universe. Dinesh Dsouza, a prominent creationist points out however that this premise originates in Christianity. This is a poignant example of the patterning of facts and theories after the bible. This theory borrows from the established truth of a universal God who monitors and controls everything in the solar system. It is noteworthy to highlight that some of the greatest scientists such as Copernicus and Galileo Galilei were not just Christians but also priests.

The concept that religion is the single most divisive factor of conflict is at best fundamentally flawed. This concept further assumes that countries in the Middle East have not fully developed owing to religious tension. While it is true that religion is and will continue to be a bone of contention, it is simplistic to argue that without any religion the world would almost certainly become a better place to live in. Propagators of this assumption fail to consider that some of the greatest crimes ever committed were carried out by people who did not subscribe to any form of religion.

Indoctrinated by Karl Marxs notion that religion is the opium of the masses, a non religious Hitler vehemently agitated for the destruction of the Jewish race and pygmies in favor of a pure Aryan race of untainted Germanic descent. The pogroms carried out in Russia and Ukraine against Jews were carried out by a people that had no concept of God. Granted, there have massacres carried out in the name of religion e.g. the crusaders killing of all non Christians, Islamic jihads etc.

Religion however as has been proven by sociologists is one of the pillars upon which many societies thrive. It has even been proven that research serves to cement people together and give them a meaning in life. The concept of democracy finds its roots in Christianity which strongly advocates for fairness and right of expression by all and sundry. As pertains to slavery, it is largely due to Christian leanings that the foundation of slavery was finally crushed. It is a truth that slavery existed even in the face of Christianity, however it fizzled out due to the erosion it underwent with the gradual application of Christian doctrines.