As I understand the American Founders, the most brilliant and daring idea they had was that it's possible to create a free society that could stay free forever. Os Guinness More Quotes by Os Guinness More Quotes From Os Guinness American democracy in the past has always been known for its large middle class and its relatively few very wealthy people and very few very poor people, but that is gone to today and the middle class is shrinking. Os Guinness democracy today people past Like a precious family heirloom, freedom is not just ours to enjoy, but to treasure, protect, and pass on to future generations. Os Guinness future enjoy family freedom Beyond any question, the way the American founders consistently linked faith and freedom, republicanism and religion, was not only deliberate and thoughtful, it was also surprising and anything but routine. Os Guinness freedom faith way religion Augustine says that you don't understand a nation by the throw weight of its military or the strength of its research universities or the size of its population, but by looking at what it loves in common. To assess a nation, you look at the health and strength of its ideals. And there's no question that the common love in America is freedom. Os Guinness freedom health strength love The Christian church in the U.S. is still strong numerically, but it has lost its decisive influence both in American public life and in American culture as a whole, especially in the major elite institutions of society. Os Guinness society church life culture The American 'unum' has been lost since the Sixties. If this continues, there will soon be no unifying American identity and vision to balance the 'pluribus,' and the days of the Republic will be numbered. Os Guinness will balance vision identity I'm obviously not an advocate of Christian America or a simplistic view of America as 'a city on a hill.' Os Guinness city view hill america I give lectures on globalization. I have lived on three continents. I have no quarrel with a global consciousness. Os Guinness quarrel give globalization three There are lots of people depending on the government who are good, honest citizens who have worked all their lives. Os Guinness who good government people I have lived under totalitarian Communism, so I prize freedom as much as anyone and have long fought for freedom of conscience and speech. Os Guinness communism speech freedom long
