Posted on 03/20/2011 10:01:20 AM PDT by Truelove
Okay, so today I got another of those emails. You know the kind, the If-you-don't-forward-this-you're-unpatriotic type of chain mails. This one involved the fact that, according to the email, many US Courts are taking the “so help me God” out of the swearing in statement for witnesses. Also, according to the email, NBC News took a poll and had an “overwhelming” show of support for leaving it in. The implication here is that good Christians everywhere should be outraged. I'm not. That's the problem. I have no intention of forwarding this to anyone and I won't even turn a hair if they take it out completely. Whoa! What kind of liberal socialist Nazi are you?! Well, let me tell you ....
First, this country was founded by Masons, not “Christians” and they put things like that into our founding documents to keep the majority of puritanical Calvinists residing here at the time happy. Second, making a vow to God only means anything if you believe in Him. If I were in a court of canon law and a Bishop or Cardinal asked me to make a vow to God, I would know that he knows what it means and that he knows that I know what it means and we would both take it very seriously. Sacred Scripture says “Make vows to your God and keep them”. Breaking a vow to God is a mortal offense for a Catholic. It is sometimes taken seriously by Protestants and never at all by agnostics, atheists and others. The only thing that makes anyone tell the truth in a US Court of law is the fear of punishment for perjury. Yes, that hurts, but it is the truth. The only people that are seriously effected by taking an oath to God are the ones that are already going to tell the truth anyway because they know that lying is a sin and wouldn't ever want to miscarry justice by doing so. Ergo the “preaching to the choir” syndrome.
As far as the email and my patriotism and christian identity are concerned, don't worry I've got it covered. Yes, I'm still as patriotic as the next guy, but I don't consider patriotism to be one of the hallmark virtues of the Faith, nor a gift of the Holy Spirit. Patriotism to me is simply a concern for and consideration of the country in which I live. I have served and continue to serve in my country's military and will defend her with my life....but not my soul. My soul belongs to God alone.
Most of these “if you don’t forward this” emails are bogus at best and a tool for hackers to collect email addresses at worst.
Really? I thought George Washington added those words to the end of his swearing in on his own volition. I didn't know it was in The Constitution.
I'll have to do some research.
Most Freemasons in this country are Christian as were most of the Freemason founders. To join the Freemasons, one must believe in God, and for western countries, that is overwhelmingly Christian.
My yes means yes and my no means no.
Who needs an oath.
An oath removes the ambiguity under the law. It starts a line in which one can’t play semantics or argue they may be sarcastic or when or when it isn’t a crime to lie (claiming free speech).
Dr John Mason preached that Jefferson was "a confirmed infidel."
Jefferson wrote in a letter to William Short: [the above royalheir link and copycat links were not exact]:
"The Presbyterian clergy are the loudest; the most intolerant of all sects; " the most tyrannical and ambitious.They pant to re-establish by law, that holy inquisition, which they can now only infuse into public opinion."
You can, of course, practice your religion elsewhere (if they let you), but you might want to consider that this country is different. Here your freedom to practice your religion is guaranteed, and your fellow citizens back up that guarantee with the guns to enforce it.
Maybe you should reconsider the value of patriotism.
But as for me, don't worry, I will always defend your right to disagree. Thanks for making me think! Semper Fi.
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