#2 The Judeo-Christian Moral Tradition is Necessary for Liberty

The values that have made the West a free and open society where all people can flourish did not emerge in a vacuum, but from the fundamental moral commitments of the Judeo-Christian tradition.

The argument: One need not believe that the religious claims of Judaism or Christianity are true to recognize that the unique anthropology at the center of these great religions is a necessary prerequisite for liberty.

WHY IT MATTERS

We did not arrive at the 250^th anniversary of the American Republic by accident. The values that have informed America’s imperfect pursuit of liberty and justice for all are not unique to the still relatively young nation, but they were necessary prerequisites for America’s economic and political success. The Judeo-Christian tradition’s most innovative contribution to political philosophy is the inherent dignity of each individual, which is the fundamental concept that informs any nation governed by the consent of the governed.