The huge preponderance of voters in the early years of the republic were Christians. They insisted on the Bill of Rights including freedom of religion. Protestant dissenters escaped persecution in Europe from Catholics and state churches, Catholics in Maryland looked around and said yah, in a majority Protestant nation, we’d like freedom of religion please. Jews agreed wholeheartedly
I addressed this in an earlier post as well, where I said: I agree, of course, that we should not outlaw all sin. From a strict perspective, outlawing all sin would require us to outlaw thoughts. In fact, I think it would be against Christian principles to do so regarding many sins, regardless of the cost/benefit involved. Christianity is not a religion of the sword, in which external compliance and forced submission is the goal, it’s an internal change, a personal relationship with Christ that is important. The “heart” not the body. That cannot be forced; it depends on God, not man.
Your trepidation is misplaced. In fact, without Christians in politics you would not have the heritage of liberty at all. Natural rights stem from a belief that God grants the inalienable rights that we enjoy.
“Your trepidation is misplaced. In fact, without Christians in politics you would not have the heritage of liberty at all. Natural rights stem from a belief that God grants the inalienable rights that we enjoy.”
Greg,
I’ve got no problem with Christians being in politics. I’ve got a problem with making politics a vehicle FOR Christianity....which is what alot of social conservatives seem bent on doing.
The Founding Fathers were wise enough to recognize that the Laws of God and the Laws of Man were entirely seperate spheres.... and new full well the dangers of trying to conflate the two.