Posted on 08/16/2006 12:58:48 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Bookmark to read later.
Another wooden stake in the heart of lieberals.
If religion were the source of democracy we should be hailing the Greek gods.
It follows that democracy is a product of polytheism.
Hail
I think it is understood better in a Christian sense. This makes sense with regards to beliefs and ideals our fore fathers were thinking about. I believe the "Pursuit of Happiness" is the seeking of heaven and the freedom to choose from different "goods" not evils.
Just my two cents.
Democracy works best under Judeo-Christian values and morals. The more those values and morals are washed away the more the American system of democracy suffers.
You're confused.
The correct terminology is this:
The biblical worldview is the source of republicanism.
Click my screen name and scroll almost half way down the page to get up to speed.
Democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have, in general, been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths. - James Madison
Okay, should the day come when we live in a democracy, you can hail the pagans.
Rhode Island:
Providence, was founded in 1636 as a settlement by English clergyman Roger Williams, after he was banished by the Massachusetts Great and General Court. Williams selected the name in gratitude for "God's merciful providence" that the Narragansett have granted him title to the site. Anne Hutchinson was exiled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1638 and brought more settlers who were attracted to the colony by the promise of religious freedom
http://www.rootsweb.com/~rigenweb/history.html
Maryland:
George Calvert died in April 1632, but a charter for "Maryland Colony" (in Latin, "Terra Maria") was granted to his son, Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, on June 20, 1632. Some historians view this as a form of compensation for his father's being stripped of his title of Secretary of State upon announcing his Roman Catholicism in 1625. The colony was named in honour of Queen Henrietta Maria[1].
Lord Baltimore was a staunch Catholic, which was extremely stigmatic for a nobleman in 17th century England, where Roman Catholics were widely regarded as enemies of the crown and of the country. Baltimore's two goals were to create a haven for British Catholics but at the same time turn a profit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Maryland#Colonial_Maryland
This country did NOT start with a premise we would have a particular religious denomination shoved down our throats.
At our founding it was a local issue. Massachusetts didn't disestablish until 1820. It wasn't a matter of it being "shoved down our throats" in the way secular humanism is now. People could move to places more attuned to their personal beliefs.
Good for you, Tailgunner Joe, for telling it as it was.
That and the true story of the witch trials needs to be brought back to light to counter the sick propaganda that's trying to destroy this nation.
A work on the influence of Judeo-Christian sensibilities on the
founding of the USA:
On Two Wings: Humble Faith and Common Sense at the American Founding
by Michael Novak
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1893554341/qid=1155762983/sr=2-3/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_3/002-9564349-3853600?s=books&v=glance&n=283155
The original phrase was "Life, Liberty, and Property," but was altered in revision to "Pursuit of Happiness". Presumably to (not be only limited to property and)include things such as property but also other things besides property which one could do (perhaps voting, religious freedom, etc.) Later more enumerated in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
So what is the "denomination" which you think someone has tried to force down anyone's throat in this country? Aren't you really speaking of the Christian religion, which was in fact adhered to by almost the entire population of colonial America? If not, what are you referring to?
I always thought we got some inspiration from the Indians, as Benjamin Franklin was impressed with the multiple tribes uniting for common good and defense in the Iroquois Nation.
A Democratic Republic is a form of Democracy, as opposed to a form of Dictatorship or Hereditary or Military rule, or a Theocracy.
Other forms of Democracy are Palimentary and Direct. Our Republican form is better, but it's still a Democracy.
People who beat up on other posters when they say we are a Democracy are incorrect, in my opinion, or playing silly word games.
"So what is the "denomination" which you think someone has tried to force down anyone's throat in this country? Aren't you really speaking of the Christian religion, which was in fact adhered to by almost the entire population of colonial America? If not, what are you referring to?"
No, I said nothing of the kind.
The implication of the article is that "puritanism" holds, or should hold, a dominant position in this country, since it was the basis for the start of the country.
I mentioned two examples where puritanism was not the basis. The Quakers later, would be another example.
I further contend the earliest colonists included people searching for religious freedom, as well as searchers of wealth, adventurers, etc.
No single denomination ran the whole place. And over 150 years later, the country wrote a rule to prevent that, in the Constitution (amendment).
So today, as a descendant of colonials, including puritans and others, I am not interested in having anybody's particular religious interpretation shoved down my throat.
That applies to various Christian interpretations, as well as non-Christian.
Obviously the overwhelming majority of early Americans were Christians. But from the start, and equally true today, not all Christians agree on many issues.
So if we were to try to use church teachings, doctrines, to set public policy, we would start off with disagreements. That is probably why there are so many denominations.
That, and the need for a place for all the ambitious, pious preacher types. And don't forget fundraisers, chapels to the television gods, parsonages fit for movie stars.
Oh, yeah. The preachers are like movie stars, now, aren't they?
Most churches don't impress me much, anyway. Did you know Elvis wore a cross and a star of david? Said he didn't want to get shut out, on a technicality.
By the way. By the writing of our Constitution, there were several influential Jews in America. I believe if our founders wanted Christianity to be crowned as the state religion, they would have mentioned it, in the documents. They didn't.
If they had intended portions of the Bible to be writ of law, they would have referenced them, by section or copied verbatim. They didn't.
And so the laws of this country do not xerox copy the Bible (or the Torah, the Quran, etc.) That is how they intended, IMO.
So as a civil citizen, you can shove the written laws of the country down my throat, but not the laws of the Bible.
Now if I happen to become a member of your particular denomination, you and the preacher can visit me, and try to shove the denomination's laws down my throat.
And if I revolt from that, the civil laws protect my right to go about my business, free from further harrassment from you and the preacher.
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