[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12657-12658]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       THE WAR OF PRINCIPALITIES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Jordan) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JORDAN of Ohio. I thank the Speaker for his patience this 
evening. I want to thank Congressman Forbes for putting the previous 
Special Order together on our religious history here in this country.
  Mr. Speaker, make no mistake about it. There is a debate going on 
today in our culture over whose set of principles, whose set of values 
are going to prevail. There are those of us who understand the 
significance of faith, the importance of faith in public life, the 
importance of faith in America and our entire history and our entire 
experience, those of us who understand that faith has been central to 
making us the greatest Nation in human history versus those on the 
secular side who think we need a more secular culture. That is the 
debate.
  And it is important that we weigh in on that debate. It is important 
that as we wage that debate and argue for the importance of faith in 
our culture and our public life that we recognize the religious history 
in the entire American experience that we have so enjoyed. I

[[Page 12658]]

believe the American people get it. I believe the vast majority of 
families understand what the Founders understood, that faith is central 
to who we are as a people and to the great place we have as the 
greatest country in history.
  It has been said many times already by previous speakers, but I think 
when you think about some of the things the Founders said, I love what 
Franklin said when they were in the midst of debate, and he was 
advocating for prayer before, so they could get through this impasse 
that they found themselves, he made the statement that if a sparrow 
can't fall without His knowledge, is it likely an empire can rise 
without His assistance? The Founders understood the importance of 
prayer. They understood the importance of faith.
  And as many speakers have also referenced that document that I would 
argue next to Scripture, second only to Scripture, the greatest words 
ever put on paper, the Declaration of Independence, where the Founders 
wrote, ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, all men are created 
equal, endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that 
among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,'' fabulous 
language, this almost romantic vision that the Founders had about what 
this country would offer to its people. They understood that we did, in 
fact, get our rights from the Almighty, and it is government's job not 
to grant us privileges, not to grant us rights, but to protect the 
rights we have by the very fact we were created in God's image.
  And that fundamental principle is different from any other country in 
history. And again, it sets us apart. And so it is important that we 
recognize this history and recognize this debate that is going on and 
not be afraid to stand up and defend those principles that make us 
special.
  I think it is appropriate that I end with one of my favorite 
Scriptures in II Timothy where Paul writes to Timothy. He says, ``I 
fought the good fight, I finished the course, I have kept the faith.'' 
And that is our charge as Americans, to fight the fight, to finish the 
course and to keep the faith that the Founders understood was central 
to making us the greatest nation ever.

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