The American Crises - Pt 5
from Plausibly Live - The Dave Bowman Show Podcast Hosted by Dave Bowman
Thomas Paine wasn’t what you’d call a religious man, but he couldn’t escape the language of faith. In The American Crisis, he wrote of Providence—the hand of God guiding history—and he believed that God favored the cause of liberty over tyranny. He saw divine justice not in miracles, but in moments: a sudden fog that saved the army, a storm that protected Washington’s retreat. He called these signs of Providence, the quiet proof that Heaven stands with those who fight for what’s right. As a Chassid, I see it a little differently, but I understand him. Paine’s Providence is what we call hashgacha pratis, divine supervision—the belief that nothing happens by accident. Every hardship, every victory, every candle burning in the dark has purpose. Faith in divine justice isn’t passive. It’s trust that God works through those who act with courage and righteousness. Paine believed it, and so do I.
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