[betty boop]

"We have no government armed in power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our Constitution was made only for a religious and moral people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other."

John Adams' insight is neither sectarian nor doctrinal. What it represents is a deep insight into human nature shared by all the Framers regardless of religious confession. It has deep roots in history, philosophy, and culture, and was a major concern for Plato, who saw that no political order could be any better than the general moral "tone" of the people who compose it.

The Constitution was designed for a free people who are morally responsible for their actions. When we speak of a system of self-government, which is what we in America supposedly have, we have to recognize that "self-government" begins in the good order of the individual citizen: Personal morality is the foundation of the system. If the people are "disordered," then so will be the society. And the Constitution itself eventually will come under attack.

I believe that is the point that John Adams was asserting.

[tacticalogic]

John Adams' insight is neither sectarian nor doctrinal.

It might not have been to Adams, but the tendency is to apply it in the context of the religious beliefs of the person who is using it as an argument.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for all of your illuminating posts, dearest sister in Christ!

The Constitution was designed for a free people who are morally responsible for their actions. When we speak of a system of self-government, which is what we in America supposedly have, we have to recognize that "self-government" begins in the good order of the individual citizen: Personal morality is the foundation of the system. If the people are "disordered," then so will be the society. And the Constitution itself eventually will come under attack.

I believe that is the point that John Adams was asserting.

Indeed. And as an example, I offer the judicial oath.

"The belief of a future state of rewards and punishments, the entertaining just ideas of the main attributes of the Supreme Being, and a firm persuasion that He superintends and will finally compensate every action in human life (all revealed in the doctrines of our Savior, Christ), these are the grand foundations of all judicial oaths, which call God to witness the truth of those facts which perhaps may only be known to Him and the party attesting; all moral evidences, therefore, all confidence in human veracity, must be weakened by apostasy, and overthrown by total infidelity."

- Sir William Blackstone (1723-1780)

Blackstone's Commentaries

More on Blackstone:

William Blackstone (wikipedia)

U.S. courts frequently quote Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England as the definitive pre-Revolutionary War source of common law; in particular, the United States Supreme Court quotes from Blackstone's work whenever they wish to engage in historical discussion that goes back that far, or further (for example, when discussing the intent of the Framers of the Constitution). His work has been used most forcefully as of late by Justice Clarence Thomas. U.S. and other common law courts mention with strong approval Blackstone's formulation also known as Blackstone's ratio popularly stated as "Better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer" — although he did not first express the principle.

[weston]

self-government" begins in the good order of the individual citizen: Personal morality is the foundation of the system. If the people are "disordered," then so will be the society.

This is the heart of the matter. Read Daniel 9:8. A people who live in disobedience are a confused people.
And as de Tocqueville reminds us "Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith."