Homogeneous v. Composite

Perhaps the most unique thing about the United States is the 1^st Amendment.  Never before in human history has any nation forbidden any “law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..”  In fact, the Constantinian Hybrid was, for more than a millenia, just the opposite:  the Roman Catholic faith was the established religion and everyone was prohibited from exercising any other.Although there was always this smoldering flame of rebellion throughout Europe that Roman Catholicism could never quite stamp out.For an excellent explanation of this dissent from Constantine to the Reformers I highly recommend The Reformers and Their Stepchildren by Verduin.

The homogeneity of the Constantinian Hybrid was nothing new.  All nations, historically, were homogeneous until the 1^st Amendment of the United States.  For instance, if you had been born an Apache prior to the arrival of Europeans, you would have been a member of a homogeneous people.  All the Apaches worshipped the same gods and participated in the same festivals led by the same medicine man.  Or if you were born a Philistine in 1000 BC, you would have participated in a homogeneous society where everyone worshipped Dagon.  And yes, even if you were born an Israelite, about the same time, you would have also been a part of a homogeneous society where everyone worshipped Yahweh.  Dissent was notallowed and the Civil authorities were more than willing to punish any dissent with death.  The newest addition to the Hybrid homogeneity model is of course Islam. According to the Koran, when Islam conquers a foreign country there are only 3 possible choices for the conquered 1.  Convert to Islam 2.  Pay the Jizyah (infidel tax) or 3. Death (Sura 9:29).  In all these Kingdoms throughout human history, homogeneity was required and the penalty for disobedience was severe.

Until the U.S. and the 1^st Amendment, a composite country had never been attempted.  The reason for the 1^st Amendment is a long tale, too long for this letter, but the centuries of religious war in Europe after the Protestant Reformation along with the blatant hypocrisy required in England as their Royalty alternated between Catholic and Protestant and with each vacillation expected the entire English population to homogeneously vacillate with them, could not have provided a better example of the Hybrid’s shortcomings and the need for a composite society.

Christianity is unique.  For it is the first religion intended to be composite.  Jesus said “my Kingdom Is not of this world, if my Kingdom was of the world then would my servants fight”  (Jn 18:36).Even more strikingly, when the Jews attempted to make Jesus King by force, He escaped by walking on water (Jn 6:15).  In every society where Christianity went during the early centuries there was never any attempt to gain civil power.  Never once did Christians take up swords or attempt to use military power to kill their enemies.  They preached the word to those who were willing to listen.  Converts all understood that Jesus’ Kingdom could not be defined by geographical boundaries, but encompassed the whole earth.  You were born into Hybrid societies and had no choice in your religion.  But in Jesus’ Kingdom, you are born again by choice into a new citizenship.  The early Christians all understood they were to submit to the civil authorities (ie taxes, respect of authority) unless and until the civil authorities required disobedience to Jesus (ie service in the military, making a sacrifice to the gods) Rom 13.  They were concerned with the administration of Jesus’ Kingdom, but almost completely unconcerned with the Civil Kingdoms in which they lived.