Epistemic Foundation: Epistemologies and Worldviews, the Bible and Public Schools

Abstract

Confusion surrounding the correct interpretation of a letter written by Pope Gelasius I at the end of the fifth century forged a path over the next eight centuries of reliance on demonstrative logical arguments to justify the privileged position of Christianity in medieval politics. But another less-traveled path via the Greco-Islamic tradition advanced the logic and value of inductive arguments. This inductive turn laid the epistemic foundation of the religious axis and its contribution to American political architecture. Protestant worldviews emerged to challenge the epistemic foundation and argue for a return to demonstrative arguments based on presuppositional premises originating in the Bible. Influential in electoral politics of conservative evangelicals, Reformed Christianity reached back to its Calvinist roots to develop political theologies to stave off further moral degeneration of American society. Present efforts of religious conservatives include legal challenges and other political means to return the Bible to public classrooms.