The Magna Carta of Humanity

Sinai’s Revolutionary Faith and the Future of Freedom

De: Os Guinness

Narrado por: Os Guinness

In these stormy times, loud voices from all fronts call for revolution and change.

But what kind of revolution brings true freedom to both society and the human soul? Cultural observer Os Guinness explores the nature of revolutionary faith, contrasting between secular revolutions such as the French Revolution and the faith-led revolution of ancient Israel. He argues that the story of Exodus is the highest, richest, and deepest vision for freedom in human history. It serves as the master story of human freedom and provides the greatest sustained critique of the abuse of power. His contrast between “Paris” and “Sinai” offers a framework for discerning between two kinds of revolution and their different views of human nature, equality, and liberty.

Drawing on the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, Guinness develops Exodus as the Magna Carta of humanity, with a constructive vision of a morally responsible society of independent free people who are covenanted to each other and to justice, peace, stability, and the common good of the community. This is the model from the past that charts our path to the future.

“There are two revolutionary faiths bidding to take the world forward”, Guinness writes. “There is no choice facing America and the West that is more urgent and consequential than the choice between Sinai and Paris. Will the coming generation return to faith in God and to humility, or continue to trust in the all sufficiency of Enlightenment reason, punditry, and technocracy? Will its politics be led by principles or by power?” While Guinness cannot predict our ultimate fate, he warns that we must recognize the crisis of our time and debate the issues openly. As individuals and as a people, we must choose between the revolutions, between faith in God and faith in reason alone, between freedom and despotism, and between life and death.

©2021 Originally published by InterVarsity Press as The Magna Carta of Humanity by Os Guinness. © 2021 by Os Guinness (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing

Compelling

His ability to present such a compelling and comprehensive description of American founding ideals. I wholeheartedly recommend this work!

Christian perspective on American politics

Never a dull moment. Very informative. His call for Americans to remember the Sinai covenant was persuasive.

Most Important Book of our Generation!

Schools, civics courses and churches should establish classes and start teaching the truths of this book to all children and young adults.

Full of wisdom masked in religion.

There is so much wisdom in this book. If you don’t believe in god, it can be off pudding hearing so much about Exodus and the “proof” that is encapsulated in it. But if you keep an open mind at the propositions he makes, there is brilliance in his words.

The outcome will last centuries.

Anyone concerned about the future of freedom should listen to this book. It will challenge you to see where your ideas of freedom lead and help you to understand the true mission of freedom. The true mission of the founding fathers. Far from perfect but an attempt at bringing true freedom to the world was there aim.

A must read

A must read for any American! We need to return to the exodus and back to God.

an insightful diagnosis

It's an insightful diagnosis by Os Guinness who lived with Francis & Edith Schaeffer in their L'Abri community in Switzerland. Schaeffer often compared and contrasted the 17 century English revolution & the American revolution on the one hand with French, Russian, and Chinese revolutions on the other. Guinness expands on this theme connecting the English and American revolutions to the "Sinai revolution" and the others to later postmodern developments plaguing the West today. Guinness quotes Rabbis Jonathan Sacks and Abraham Joshua Heschel extensively. In fact, it's almost a if Rabbi Sacks is his co-author even though he had passed before the book was written.

Must read

Important and critical for our times! Everyone who is concerned about what we are witnessing across the globe need to read this ASAP 

Revival or revolution

Although sometimes loosely spoken, but just of the book is clear, and it is true. We face a choice. Freedom is not simply the ability to do what I can or what I want, but rather to do what I ought. Without God everything is permissible.

A sound warning

General biblical principles brought in to everyday life and how it affects the world around us.