Dennis Prager believes that Judeo-Christian values are the moral foundation of Western Civilization. He notes that while there are theological differences between Jews and Christians, they are aligned on questions of moral values that are foundational to creating and maintaining a healthy society. Prager outlined a non-exhaustive list of their basic propositions, which include the belief in one God, objective moral truths rooted in God, and the human being being created in the image of God, among others. He argues that these propositions are necessary for a moral and functioning society and are absent in secular movements.
Prager also notes the importance of the Ten Commandments of the Mosaic Law as a framework for a moral society. He proposes that if everyone lived by them, there would be no need for armies or police. He also argues that the Judeo-Christian tradition is the bedrock of the American experiment citing that America’s founders were primarily Christian, some theologically and some culturally, who were rooted in the Old Testament. Prager notes that even non-Christian founders such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson proposed a national seal of the United States that depicted God leading the Israelites out of Egypt.
Prager asserts that there is a need to articulate and understand Judeo-Christian values as they are critical to a functioning society. These values are the foundation of Western Civilization and were instrumental in shaping American values. They promote objective moral truths and place an emphasis on the dignity of the human person. The importance of these values cannot be overstated, and understanding them is crucial to the future of Western society.
Discussion about this post