movieguide

REWRITING HISTORY
TO EXCLUDE CHRISTIANITY

The producers of the John Adams mini-series evidently took great pains to achieve a gritty realism. The attention to detail on so many levels, such as clothing, uniforms, furniture and buildings, is impressive. However, it is a great pity that the mini-series has cut the Christian heart out of the central characters. If I did not know any better, and was only depending on this mini-series for my understanding of America during the momentous years leading up to and following the war for independence, and if this film series was my only source of information on America's founding fathers, I would get the impression that they were all secular humanist atheists.

And yet it is a matter of historical record that on 6 March 1799 President John Adams called for a National Day of Repentance, Fasting and Prayer: "That the citizens...abstain, as far as may be, from their secular occupation, and devote their time to the sacred duties of religion, in public and in private; that they may call to mind our numerous offenses against the Most High God, confess them before Him with the sincerest penitence, imploring His pardoning mercy, through the great Mediator and Redeemer, for our past transgressions, and that through the grace of His Holy Spirit, we may be disposed and able to yield more suitable obedience to His righteous requisitions in time to come; that He would interpose to arrest the progress of that impiety and licentiousness in principle and practice so offensive to Himself and so ruinous to mankind; that He would make us deeply sensible that "righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34).

Far from the secularist portrayed in the John Adams mini-series, the John Adams of history wrote: "The Bible is the best book in the world...The Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount contain my religion...as I understand the Christian religion, it was and is, a revelation..."

John Adams wrote: "Religion and virtue are the only foundations, not only of republicanism and of all free governments, but of social felicity..."

In a letter to Thomas Jefferson, John Adams wrote: "The general principles, on which the fathers achieved independence, were the only principles in which...gentlemen could unite...the general principles of Christianity...those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God; and that those principles of liberty are as unalterable as human nature and our terrestrial, mundane system."

In an address to the military 11 October 1798 President John Adams stated: "Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

The film also portrays Abigail Adams as a thoroughly secular person who apparently had no time for God or the Bible. However, a study of her letters and memoirs reveal a completely different person: On 18 June 1775, in the midst of their conflict with Britain, Abigail wrote to her husband: "The race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong; but the God of Israel is He that giveth strength and power unto His people. Trust in Him at all times, you people, pour out your hearts before Him; God is a refuge for us...."

The John Adams mini-series fatally fails to convey what energised and empowered these founding fathers of America. Like so many other recent "this is a true story" distortions of reality this film anachronistically projects 21 st Century secular Humanism back over 200 years in an attempt to remake the founding fathers of America in our modern image.

Yet Abigail Adams wrote: "A patriot without religion, in my estimation, is as great a paradox as an honest man without the fear of God. Is it possible that he whom no moral obligations bind, can have any goodwill towards men?...The only sure and permanent foundation of virtue is religion. Let this important truth be engraved upon your heart..."

The John Adams mini-series also fails to convey the real faith and character of other vital founding fathers of America such as its first president George Washington. George Washington's field notebook contains in his own writing prayers such as these: "Almighty and eternal Lord God, the Great Creator of Heaven and earth, and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; Look down from Heaven, in pity and compassion on me Thy servant, who humbly prostrates myself before Thee, sensible of Thy mercy and my own misery..."

In public President Washington spoke of: "The pure Spirit of Christianity..." His diary includes entries such as this: "Went to church and fasted all day."

As Commander of the Continental Forces, Washington's general orders on 4 July1775 were: "The general most earnestly requires and expects a due observance...which forbid profane cursing, swearing and drunkenness. And in like manner he requires and expects of all officers and soldiers, not engaged in actual duty, a punctual attendance of divine services, to implore the blessings of Heaven..."

The naval cruisers commissioned by General Washington flew as the ensign a white flag with a green pine tree and above it the inscription: "An appeal to Heaven."

Washington's general orders 9 July 1776 declared that: "Every officer and man, will endeavor so to live, and act, as becomes a Christian soldier defending the earnest rights and liberties of his country."

As America's first president Washington had prayers for the United States of America published, and declared National Days of Repentance and Prayer, and National Days of Thanksgiving.

How much more powerful this mini-series would have been had it been given as much attention to these details as it did to the grit and grime and torturous treatments of chickenpox and cancer.

Dr. Peter Hammond
www.frontline.org.za