The Divine role of Emperor or King seems to be making a comeback. The Return of Sacral Rulership?: Ancients would learn, and our Founders too, that the language of sacral rulership is incompatible with a functioning democracy or republic. In 1787 Ben Franklin famously declared that with the Constitution, the founders had given America “a Republic, if you can keep it.” Franklin knew well the perils faced by republics because he had an extensive understanding […]
An Update on Haiti – The Episcopal Church: First and foremost, we call on all Episcopalians throughout the Church to pray for the Diocese of Haiti and for Haitians everywhere. Pray for peace and stability in the diocese, that a way forward may be found towards clear and healthy leadership. Pray for peace and stability in the country, that there may be a peaceful resolution to the governance crisis. Pray for all the institutions and […]
If you haven’t read “American Schism” by Seth David Radwell and Jonathan Israel, I recommend that you do. It’s been a popular recent choice for book groups. It’s a study of the different currents present in the Enlightenment movement and how those were present in the shaping American Politics in the 18th century. I came across this quote this morning when I reviewing my notes: Democracy isn’t easy and there are historical forces that oppose […]
My statement regarding the statute of the Rev. William Blackstone in Pawtucket RI: It was with surprise that we learned today of the William Blackstone statue erected in Pawtucket. It is regrettable that such a monument would be approved and given municipal funding without seeking more input from our Indigenous neighbors. Colonizers like Blackstone are a troubling feature of our American history, and we would do well to reflect on the opinions of those who were on this land […]
