Kevin:
"But why a Christian God? Why not Allah, or some other supreme deity? And what if each of these deities has a different earthly agenda? Is there a divine arbitrator?"
Since I guess I was the one who injectedthe language from the Declaration of Independence into the discussion, I feel the need to comment.
The Declaration of Independence says "... all men are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights and among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
I agree that no mention is made of a Christian God, and indeed the words were penned by Thomas Jefferson who was not a Christian, but a diest. However, most of our founding fathers were Christians. (not that it matters)
Monarchy is just a form of Dictatorship. However religion was very important to them. Indeed the philosophical basis of Monarchy was called the "Divine Right of Kings". It was a concept that the Monarch's right to rule came from God and therefore the monarch could do no wrong. Indeed, the doctrine of sovereign immunity, which exists to this day in America is founded on the English legal maxim that the King can do no wrong.
In the Declaration of Independence the founding fathers challenged this notion and said the king can do wrong. Our rights do not come from the king, but from god and the King has no right to take our rights as they are inalienable. If this idea is accepted, which of course it has been in a way, the natural implication is that the King or the State cannot take life, liberty and other rights from the people. I other words if rights came from God, the king (state) cannot take them from us.
What we take for granted today, was a radical idea at the time. Today the concept expressed in the Declaration of Independence is expressed in our Constitution in the Bill of Rights. I was simply pointing out the role Christianity played in securing our rights.
I guess I am concerned by extremists of all kinds, but when I look at the effect religion, and particularly, Christianity has played in American Society, I feel it has been mostly benevolent.
There are few examples of real abuse. If you can think of some let me know.
Little joe |
