lagunabeachindy . com MARCH 31 , 2023 17

GUEST OPINION : FINDING MEANING

a persecuted minority — the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount , after all , were antithetical to everything the Roman Empire stood for — the steadfast example of early Christians attracted other followers until Emperor Constantine embraced this rising faith . Christianity survived the fall of the Roman Empire , the Middle Ages , and the Industrial Revolution to become the major world religion , now surpassing two billion followers . The history of our world offers no precedent to the appeal and exponential growth of Christianity .

Following the fall of the Roman Empire , medieval monasteries copied manuscripts , preserved libraries , organized schools , then invented colleges and universities . The Christian emphasis on education , aided by the printing press , laid the foundation for the Scientific Revolution . What would the discoveries of Newton , Faraday , Darwin and Pasteur and many others matter without an educational system to preserve and teach this knowledge ?

Christianity ennobled humanity by teaching the equality of all , working to end slavery , emancipate women and resist exploitation of the weak by the strong . Indeed , religion can be considered the first American institution , beginning with the Pilgrims and Puritans . The rise of democracy in America began with the Pilgrim ’ s Mayflower Compact , envisioned by the Puritan John Winthrop ’ s call for a shining “ city on a hill ” built on Bible teachings . Later , the religious revivals called Great Awakenings played a role in America ’ s greatest moments : The First Great Awakening can be seen as preparatory to the Revolutionary War that founded our democracy , and the Second Great Awakening a moral preparation for the Civil War that ended slavery while preserving the Union .

The First Amendment to our Constitution properly separated church and state : “ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion , or prohibiting the free exercise thereof .” The founders knew the dangers of state involvement in religion . Yet our second president , John Adams , famously noted that the Constitution was written : “ only for a moral and religious people and is wholly inadequate to the government of any other .” The liberties the Constitution grants are dangerous without a people capable of moral self-restraint . It ’ s ironic that democracy separates church and state , yet each depends on the

strength of the other .

We observe Easter differently now . Back when I was working my way through college , I worked Friday night and Saturday in a lady ’ s shoe store called Leeds . ( The store , like many then , was closed on Sunday .) At that time , it was the custom for women of all ages to buy a new outfit for Easter , something special to wear to church on Sunday . Spring break was called Easter vacation then , and the shoe store would be packed because a spring outfit called for new shoes and perhaps a new purse . I still remember my exhaustion at the end of the week . I suggested to the Beautiful Wife this morning that she might like to get a new outfit for Easter , like in the old days . She perked up ; it was one of my better ideas .

Celebrate Easter week , and attend your church ’ s events , especially if you haven ’ t been there for a while . Be part of the glory of Easter , and receive the grace offered by Christ . There ’ s meaning in that .

Skip fell in love with Laguna on a ‘ 50s surfing trip . He ’ s a student of Laguna history and the author of “ Loving Laguna : A Local ’ s Guide to Laguna Beach .” Email : skip @ lovinglaguna . com .

The event grossed over $ 220,000 to benefit Laguna Beach students . Funds raised will go toward the key programs that SchoolPower supports in close partnership with Laguna Beach Unified School District : SchoolPower Grants , After School Program , and the Family Resource Center .