Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Kevin Rose who wrote (133559)	3/26/2001 8:24:25 PM
From: Little Joe	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769667

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

To: Kevin Rose who wrote (133559)	3/26/2001 11:23:44 PM
From: ManyMoose	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 769667

Most of the framers of this country were Christians. The Constitution uses the term "Creator." Our money says "In God We Trust." Muslims call God Allah, Jews call Him YHVH, Christians call him God. It's the same God. If you are not in one of those groups, your Creator is still the same God. What you call Him and how you worship Him is between you and Him; how you relate to others of different faiths is between you and them. We will find out whether <<there is a divine arbitrator?>> soon enough. Of course if you are talking politics, the mainly Christian framers of the constitution made it possible for all religions to coexist, but only if their followers choose to do so peacefully. As for engineers, they are an overpaid nuisance for foresters, nothing more. Lawyers, but a necessary evil. Sorry, Tastes Like Chicken and our other attorney friends, that's just the way it is. <g>