America Must 'Remythologize' its Founders, Says Philosopher Jacob Needleman at Samford Forum

Philosopher and bestselling author Jacob Needleman called for a deeper appreciation of the meaning of America in a public forum held recently at Samford University.  We must "remythologize" the nation's founders and history, he argued, for America is in danger of losing its soul by forgetting its larger purpose in the world.

"The founding fathers were moral figures in our history, and if you tear them down, then you must have something just as good to put in their place.” American democracy, he said, was never conceived primarily as an external form of government or an economic system, but was rooted in the world's need for a place where people are free to develop themselves according to their own consciences. "The world needs America," he asserted.

New York Times columnist David Brooks made a similar point this week in a commentary on the consequences of other nations achieving economic parity with the United States.  "In a world of relative equals, the U.S. will have to learn to define itself not by its rank, but by its values. It will be important to have the right story to tell, the right purpose and the right aura. It will be more important to know who you are."  He added, "Americans seem uncertain about how to answer that question."

The Samford forum, "Rediscovering the American Soul," was one of two appearances by Needleman in the Mann Center's ongoing series of A. Gerow Hodges Lectures in Ethics and Leadership.  During his visit he was interviewed by center Director John Knapp for the video series, "Conversations on Ethics and Leadership":