Mark Small

On his website - Wednesday, yesterday and this morning - were portraits of two men and a quote from each. Everyone knows one such person, Washington - who led the Continental Army and who presided over the 1787 Constitutional Convention. 4/29

Washington also was the first President, and rejected the notion of a monarchy. He could have been king, but thought the notion bad. He also claimed ownership over other human beings - i.e., he was a slave holder - but at least freed those people by terms of his will. 5/29

Rev Beckwith quotes Washington: “The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained.” 6/29

One is left with the distinct impression Washington invoked “Heaven” - of the same origins and location as that in which Rev Beckwith believes; after all, an upper-case “H” is at the start of each “Heaven.” 7/29

Consensus of scholars: Washington was deist Holmes, “The Faiths of the Founding Fathers,” pp. 50-51 Believe in existence of supreme being who doesnt intervene in universe; rejected belief in supernatural deity who interacts with humankind 8/29

Given other statements on Rev Beckwith’s website, I infer that the deist rejection of a supernatural deity who interacts with humankind would not be Rev Beckwith’s belief. 9/29

Beckwith’s quotes Charles Finney: Time has come that Christians must vote for honest men and take consistent ground in politics or the Lord will curse them. Christians seemed to act as if they thought God did not see what they do in politics. ... 10/29

But I tell you he (sic) does see it - and He will bless this nation according to the course they take in politics. 11/29

Finney, a Nineteenth Century Presbyterian minister, slipped irony into his stmnt: pronoun “he,” to refer to the supreme deity, starts with a lower-case “h” then an upper-case “h.” That is not “consistent ground.” 12/29

Mr Finney was credited with inspiring John Humphrey Noyes, who went on to found the Oneida community in upstate New York. Hillebrand, “The Shakers/Oneida Community, Part Two.” 13/29

The Oneida community manufactured and marketed a variety of things, perhaps the most memorable of which was flatware, still manufactured under the Oneida brand name. Noyes did not confine his thoughts to great designs of forks to prick things. 14/29

Noyes preached “perfectionism” - as did Finney - but also “rejected monogamy and the idea that one man and one woman should become closely attached to one another.” Oneida Community, Britannica Online Encyclopedia. 15/29

Noyes advanced a concept of “complex marriage,” in which “every woman was the wife of every man and every man was the husband of every woman.” Id. The community denied rumors about orgies or sexual promiscuity in the community. 16/29

One can misinterpret a situation. Finney, who inspired Noyes, advocated social reforms, such as abolition of slavery and equal education for women and African Americans. “Presidents of Oberlin College,” Oberlin College Archives. 17/29

Finney taught @/president of Oberlin College: students were accepted w/o regard 2 race/sex Faculty & students :activists 4 abolition, Underground Railroad, & universal education. Hambrick-Stowe, “Charles G. Finney and the Spirit of American Evangelicalism,” 1996, p. 199. 18/29

Oberlin College mere name - “the concept, the notional idea of it seems to represent something deeply evil and threatening to the right-wing commentariat.” Spencer, “Why do conservatives hate Oberlin so much?” Salon, 06/18/19. 19/29

Rev Beckwith quotes Finney - who inspired a community accused by regressive people of having orgies - on the website of what I infer is Rev Beckwith’s pro-trump candidacy. 20/29

I cite GOP leaders for specific stands, but never have adopted every point of each. During his fourth debate with Stephen Douglas, in 1858 Lincoln made grossly racist statements. 21/29

Theodore Roosevelt busted monopolies and favored progressive income taxes, yet also was a militarist; he created the national parks, but blew away beautiful wild creatures. 22/29

USA was founded on gross hypocrisies. Constitution speaks of “Justice” & “Liberty” yet protected the most vile of institutions, slavery. Inconsistency between stated values and conduct is American as chop suey. 23/29

Rev Beckwith should clarify. To quote Washington, a deist, to advance a political agenda steeped in religion is inconsistent with Washington’s beliefs and misconstrues the first President’s use of the term “Heaven.” 24/29

Finney’s more consistent w/Oberlin College today than with Rev Beckwith’s & his alma mater, Huntington U.: students should reflect Christ in appearance and behavior/behavior may B different fr societal laws and norms.... 25/29

Huntington wants students 2 maintain “high standards of sexual purity. Sexual relations are reserved for the institution of marriage between a man and a woman.” Sexual purity & the GOP do not go hand in condom, so to speak. 26/29

Rev Beckwith really needs 2 clarify: Oneida community advocated marriage between a man and a woman - but a whole bunch of marriages. In context of college, campus-wide orgies might appeal to millennials. 27/29

Perhaps that is a demographic to whom Rev Beckwith seeks to appeal. Otherwise, Rev Beckwith should not quote people, such as Washington and Finney out of context.This is especially true when a candidate states positions consistent with dominionism and theocracy. 28/29