Some decades ago, the famous Christian scholar Harry Emerson Fosdick was invited to speak to the American University student body in Beirut, Lebanon. His listeners represented at least 27 different religious affiliations.
Fosdick silently studied his audience and then asked them all: “What is your religion doing for your character?”
That inquiry concurs with Thomas Paine, that virtue is not hereditary. Integrity, honesty, courage of convictions must be instilled. Goodness is not a matter of law, but of inner integrity. It does not happen automatically. Strength of character must be taught.
We have neglected the encouragement of honesty and integrity, to the point that former Secretary of Education William Bennett concludes that “we have become the kind of society that civilized countries used to send missionaries to.”
Even governing officials often demonstrate a barrenness of integrity and honesty. And therein dwells a wide spread but mistaken notion, that law (especially American law) and religion (especially Christianity) will automatically generate fineness of character within elected leaders.
Perhaps it is time for us to identify four of the myths relating both to law and religion — false assumptions that actually hinder us from becoming and maintaining a just and caring society.