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The Progression of Liberalism

 

            The predominant concepts of liberalism swept throughout Europe and America during the 18th Century. It was popular in many segments of society, yet was also seen as a great threat to the existing order. The ideas of liberalism were especially popular amongst American colonists. The success of the Revolution had furnished Americans with the opportunity to execute their political ideals as expressed in their idea of a new kind of government structure which associated with the freedom - the American liberal state.
             The American liberal state was different from previous classical and Christian state. During the colonial era, the Christian state emphasized the faith in God. Jonathan Boucher, an Anglican clergyman, represented for the ideals and values of the Christian states. In his view, government was the product of God, the power of government was given by God. Furthermore, Boucher believed that religion and states had to become a part of under God's hand. It saw the state's purpose as to execute God's moral laws, to protect God's faith, and to further of God's truth. God had given a revealed law through scripture and enjoined his creatures to live the lives of virtue and morality. Boucher also emphasized that the states' mission was to guide people to live the virtuous life, while punishing sin and immorality. In my view, the purpose of the State Church was to propagandize the moral life and to encourage people to live by specific ethical standards, and to promote humanitarian and humanistic causes.
             On the other hand, the American liberal state opposed the ideals of the traditional Christian state model. In the American Founders' opinion, the separation between the government and the church was necessary. Base on John Locke's liberalism principles, the American Founders rejected the notion that the power of the government was given by God. "The state's origin was not shrouded in the impenetrable mystery of divine gift or dispensation", Locke said.


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