Declaration of Independence (1951, Fellowship Church, San Francisco, CA)

Description

In this series, Howard Thurman discusses the Declaration of Independence along four key ideas: Created Equal, Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness. Each of the four sermons explores one of these ideas.

These sermons are also available at Expanding Common Ground, Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University

Date

1951-07-19/1951-08-26

Collection Items

Declaration of Independence: Created Equal, 1951 July 29
"Thurman roots the idea of American equality in the historical and religious teaching of old Israel. He examines the temple tax as a symbolic tribute to all men being equal in the eyes of God before returning to the Declaration of Independence. He discusses how equality is weighted by each individual based on their understanding of their own worth." Description from Expanding Common Ground, Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University

Declaration of Independence: Life, 1951 August 12
"For Thurman, life, as a natural and universal right, is a combination of the mind and spirit balanced together in the body. He discusses protecting life thru self-defense and the rationalizing that occurs in times of war. He states that the sacrifice of one's own life, done to aid wrongs and help others, ensures spirit and life continue to the next generation. As long as that spirit continues, the soul continues to exist even though physical life ends." Description from Expanding Common…

Declaration of Independence: Liberty, 1951 August 19
"Thurman examines the Declaration of Independence and the significance of Locke's thinking that government is linked to all people being free and equal. This spiritual equality and liberty help government exist. Freedom means having a sense of alternative to the options in one's life. " Description from Expanding Common Ground, Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University

Declaration of Independence: Pursuit of Happiness, 1951 August 26
"Thurman examines the pursuit of happiness. Life is both existence as well as the outreach of our human spirit and values and meanings. This outreach is so important that, in some cases, we may sacrifice our own existence to protect others. Happiness is something everybody wants. Thurman examines the wording of "pursuit of happiness." Note: the recording ends abruptly. " Description from Expanding Common Ground, Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University
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Collection Tree

  • Declaration of Independence (1951, Fellowship Church, San Francisco, CA)