When the founders looked to Moses
Did Moses influence the founding of the United States? This historical question has generated controversy in Texas, where politicians, historians, and educators have recently debated whether Moses should be listed as an American founder in new social studies textbooks.
It all began in 2010, when the Texas State Board of Education said that students needed to "identify the individuals whose principles of laws and government institutions informed the American founding documents, including those of Moses.” Not surprisingly, many people have taken issue with the statement, claiming that it is a blatant attempt to insert Christianity into the public education system.
The real issue here is not only about Moses; it is about the place of religion, specifically Christianity and the Bible, in American politics. On this issue the founders are notoriously difficult to pin down. It is true that the founders were cautious about inserting religion into politics. But that did not mean they ignored the Bible, even Moses in particular, in their political discussions.
