In fact, there is no -- zero, zip, nada -- "Judeo-Christian tradition" of constitutionally limited republics, guaranteeing freedom of religion, speech, press, etc.
Virtually all of Christendom then remained under the rule of centralized monarchies in alliance with their official state religions, whether those were the Catholic Church, Orthodox or Protestant.
By stark contrast, Masons were highly tolerant of all religions (including Jews), and organized along lines our Founders adapted in their Constitution.
But don't take my word for it, take those of George Washington, delivered in Rhode Island:
I conclude that masonic Founders like Washington, Franklin & John Marshall, along with non-mason kindred spirits like Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, they found the principles of American Freemasonry highly compatible with their own views on a free and virtuous republic.
Therefore, Ms boop, I utterly reject your suggestions, and those of Ms irish, that Freemasonry was somehow an evil influence on the world in general, and the United States in particular.
Of course, I'm no mason, and wouldn't make an effort to defend them, except that our Founders were largely masons or of like minds with them.
So, just can't have people on Free Republic throwing stones at the very reasons we are here.
“In fact, there is no — zero, zip, nada — “Judeo-Christian tradition” of constitutionally limited republics, guaranteeing freedom of religion, speech, press, etc.”
Spirited: Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
“We the people” are “persons” because created as the Triune God’s spiritual image-bearers. The term ‘person’ originated in Christian theologies developmental struggle to comprehend the nature and experience of the transcendent, personal Triune God:
“The derivative concept of human personhood is a gift of the Christian faith to culture…” (Stephen P. Stratton, Chapter 14, p. 247, The Self, Paul Vitz & Susan M. Felch, Editors)
Personhood is historically unique. Pantheist and materialist systems cannot account for nor even provide for personhood let alone life and consciousness. For these reasons the Founders turned against Paine as soon as he suggested that a religion of pantheism replace America’s Christian foundations.
As well, the injection of evolution into the Bible supplants creation ex nihilo thereby destroying personhood. Ideas have consequences.
As for Free Masonry, its large outside circle is but a fraternity, a social club, while it’s inner circle is a modern Mystery Religion constructed of elements from Buddhism, ancient Egyptian Hermetic magic, and Gnostic paganism resulting in the elevation of Lucifer. Yes, BroJoeK, this does mean that Masonic Mystery Religionists are Luciferians.
In “The Meaning of Masonry,” (1927) Mason W.L. Wilmhurst admits that Masonry is a modern Mystery Religion. An initiate,
“....begins his Masonic career as the natural man; he ends it by becoming through its discipline, a regenerated man... This the evolution of man into superman—was always the purpose of the ancient Mysteries, and the real purpose of modern Masonry is, not the social and charitable purposes to which so much attention is paid, but the expediting of the spiritual evolution of those who aspire to perfect their own nature and transform it into a more god-like quality” (p. 4)
Do yourself a favor BroJoeK: Please stop pretending to know what you obviously do not know.
I beg to differ: There is one constitutionally limited republic guaranteeing the freedoms you cite: It is our constitutional republic, the United States of America. It is constitutionally limited to prevent the State from trespassing on the unalienable rights of persons, vested in them as the free gifts of God Creator. We are (or at least were) a "people under God," not a people under the State. And the God whose people we are "under" is the God revealed in the Holy Scriptures.
Some time ago, I penned a little tome (which I characterized an Apple of Gold, taken after an expression by Abraham Lincoln, which he had, in turn, taken from the Holy Bible:
In part, & with a few additions:
Of The Constitution itself there is no “god” therein to be found . . . no religion, or denomination of a religion, may be established . . . no ecclesiastical dignitary is accorded, by right, a constitutional office, or other sinecure . . .
the Founding Fathers saw no need but to exercise minimum control over human behavior (their backsides, if you will), and to exercise no restraint over thought, being convinced that their charter of government should have nothing to do with issues of conscience.
The philosophy that impelled the creation of the Constitution, is found in our Declaration of Independence.
Abraham Lincoln, using a biblical reference (Proverbs 25:11), called The Declaration an “Apple of Gold” adorned by a frame of silver, the frame being the Union and the Constitution. (Abraham Lincoln, “Fragment on the Constitution and the Union,” January 1861, Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, Vol. 4, Roy P. Basler, ed., New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press).
The enemies of the Constitution declare many of our Founders to be Deists, not Christians, thereby obviating any “influence” the Judeo-Christian Tradition may have had on our nation. Whether anyone chooses to call the Founding Fathers “Deists” or not, approx 156 years of religious freedom and Judeo-Christian Tradition have proved sufficient to have brought forth the grandest government ever conceived by man.
If this present generation decides to pitch it all in the trashcan, be it upon their heads.
If Jefferson for example, as many claim, was a Deist, he was very unconventional, and in blatant defiance of all the usual characteristics defining the term.
Jefferson discusses the ancient philosophers as a contrast to his most favored; “Jesus of Nazareth,” making it difficult to dismiss Jefferson as merely a conventional Deist, in a letter to William Short, October 31, 1819, The Writings of Thomas Jefferson in 19 volumes, Memorial Edition, edited by Albert Ellery Burgh.
In another letter, Jefferson writes to his namesake, addressing to him several things that might have a favorable influence on the course of his life. Jefferson starts by naming the two great commandments of the Judeo-Christian belief, going on to refer to others of the Ten Commandments, and closes by quoting the body of a Christian hymn Lord, who's the happy man. In a letter to Thomas Jefferson Smith, February 21, 1825, Ibid.
Jefferson confirms his distaste for ‘Presbyterianism’ and equally his aversion to the teachings of Calvin. He then goes on to shatter the conventional understanding of his view of the ‘separation’ of church and state, by relating the sharing of a courthouse by various Christian sects, as a common temple of worship. What is surprising is not that different Christian sects proved to be willing to share in common worship, taking turns in leading the services, but that their place of common worship was the very seat of local government itself, the court-house, and that this event was reported, with equanimity, by none other than Thomas Jefferson, himself. He then goes on to confound us further by relating how he and his fellow Visitors (directors) of the University of Virginia provided space on the university grounds and the sharing of certain facilities for formal religious instruction by various Christian sects, all this in a letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper, November 2, 1822, Ibid.
In yet another letter, Jefferson declares his faith only in Christ’s teachings of the early church. A letter to John Adams, October, 13 1813, Ibid.
And, finally, in yet another letter he declares, “To the corruptions of Christianity I am, indeed, opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself. I am a Christian (emphasis mine), in the only sense in which he wished any one to be; sincerely attached to his doctrines, in preference to all others; ascribing to himself every human excellence; and believing he never claimed any other. (Thomas Jefferson, to Doctor Benjamin Rush, April 21, 1803, Ibid).
The letters and other documents of Jefferson fixes exactly the problem you and other pretenders face in attempting to deny a Christian influence on the making of America, including The Declaration itself. To tailor the charge of Deism to any of the Founding Fathers, the critics must redefine ‘Deist’ to fit the changing characteristics of the different Founders. Franklin proclaimed “God governs in the affairs of men.” Not a belief attributable to Deists. Jefferson, on the other hand, swore fealty to Jesus Christ (“the pure gospel of Jesus Christ”). And critics will find no comfort in examining the Christian values of any of the other Founders charged with drafting The Declaration Of Independence (see John Adams, in a letter to Thomas Jefferson, dated June 28, 1813, Ibid). Nor any other Founder (Thomas Paine, for example).
Ever since that time Nihilists have sought to gain advantage of the Founders’ circumspection by insisting the documents are devoid of Judeo-Christian values (and will pitch a fit at any contrary understanding – go ahead – pitch a fit).
“Oh, we are weary pilgrims; to this wilderness we bring
A Church without a bishop, a State without a King.”
. . . . . anonymous poem, The Puritans’ Mistake, published by Oliver Ditson in 1844
deism noun
belief in the existence of a supreme being, specifically of a creator who does not intervene in the universe. The term is used chiefly of an intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th centuries that accepted the existence of a creator on the basis of reason but rejected belief in a supernatural deity who interacts with humankind. Compare with theism.
(from my MAC OSX dictionary)
To merely declare Jefferson, or any of the other Founders, a “Deist” without going into specifics, simply allows Christian Deniers (like you) the opportunity to declare that America was not founded on Judeo-Christian belief and principles.
We, of course, can address the same point to many of the “friends” of the Founding Fathers.
“I write with freedom, because while I claim a right to believe in one God, if so my reason tells me, I yield as freely to others that of believing in three. Both religions, I find, make honest men, and that is the only point society has any right to look to. Although this mutual freedom should produce mutual indulgence, yet I wish not to be brought in question before the public on this or any other subject, and I pray you to consider me as writing under that trust. I take no part in controversies, religious or political. At the age of eighty, tranquility is the greatest good of life, and the strongest of our desires that of dying in the good will of all mankind. And with the assurance of all my good will to Unitarian and Trinitarian, to Whig and Tory, accept for yourself that of my entire respect.”
. . . . . Thomas Jefferson, letter to James Smith, December 8, 1822
Misconstrue that, Pretender.
Do you recognize the following?
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness . . .”
A Creator. A Christian name for God. The product of the KJV Bible of 1611, only recently completed before the founding of America.
It began with the Pilgrims (1620).
The pilgrims were English separatist Christians, fleeing Europe in order to escape religious persecution, and they literally began their stay in a new land with the words, “In the name of God, Amen.”
Determined to live their lives and govern themselves based on Biblical principles, but ignorant of the harsh conditions of a northern wilderness, the Pilgrims lost half their number the first winter when they attempted to install a communist-style system of resource allocation (see William Bradford).
When they overcame their initial mistake by following a more free enterprise form of resource allocation (see 2 Thessalonians 3:10-11), thanks to the judgment of that same William Bradford, the colonists, to celebrate their transition from severe want to a bountiful plenty, chose Leviticus 23:33-34 (The Feast of Tabernacles – see also Deuteronomy 16:13) as their guide. That celebration tradition continues today as Thanksgiving (although some would like to forget to Whom it is we are giving thanks).
The pilgrims were followed to New England by the Puritans, who likewise sought to establish bible-based commonwealths (New Haven and the Massachusetts Bay colonies). Roger Williams founded the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, based on the principle of freedom of conscience. Pennsylvania was established by William Penn as a Quaker colony. Maryland was a haven from Protestant England for Roman Catholics.
These commonwealths, and subsequent ones, practiced the same sort of representative government as their church covenants, and whether or not others can see the cause in the Bible and Christianity, they did see that cause. Those governmental covenants and compacts came to number more than 100, and were the foundation for our Constitution.
“Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage (emphasis mine), and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:” Exodus 6:6 (see also Deut. 26:8).
Our American forebears likened their journey to the New World (“the land of their pilgrimage (emphasis mine), wherein they were strangers”) as unto Exodus and likened their distance from Britain to God’s deliverance of Israel from the Egyptians. They were very much adherents of the OT, fully as much as were they of the NT.
In the New World, being 150 years’ removed from King and homeland, they learned self-reliance and, more importantly, self-governance in their civil affairs and in their religious affairs, and acquired the ability to select their own leaders (leaders, not masters). Having a great measure of independence gave them a huge advantage over their cousins of a French Revolution, that started badly and ended worse.
Being left largely to their own devices, our forebears did not react well to kingly oppression or parliamentary arrogance when it did come down on them. Therefore was the powder keg of independence rather easily lit.
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1. “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13. “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” John 8: 31-32.
“And he (Peter) said unto them, Ye know that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” Acts 10:28.
“Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof:” Leviticus 25:10 (deniers claim they don’t see the connection with our liberty, but the Founding Fathers saw enough connection to put the passage on our Liberty Bell).
“Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands; happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.” Psalm 128:1-2. “The labourer is worthy of his reward.” I Timothy 5:18. (These passages fairly cry out in every part of the Constitution).
“But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” I Timothy 6:11. (A passage that surely must be detested by our Courageous Young President and all his acolytes).
In defiance of the “fact” that there is supposedly nothing in the Bible to show that God created all men equal, nevertheless, the Founding Fathers (and their forebears) saw themselves as equals in the sight of God. “Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.” Deuteronomy 1:17.
“Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God: for I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 25:17. “Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?” Malachi 2:10. “Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.” Romans 2:9-11.
If anyone sees fit to question the Founding Fathers’ Biblical judgment in thinking themselves free men and equals, then they will otherwise have to question the Founders for the reasons. The questioners will need to pack for an extended trip. Start packing.
The plain fact is that the philosophy of government the Founding Fathers developed over some 150 years was inspired by their Christian values. What is it that Twenty First Century tyrants abhor? Justice? That as you sow, so shall you reap? Which word is it that they do not understand?
Did not the Lord bring the people of Israel out from Egypt and free them from the hand of Pharaoh? Whether Twenty First Century tyrants approve of their vision, or not, our forebears saw a precise parallel in the Israelites coming out of Egypt and the Pilgrims coming to America. And though they first wished to retain their loyalties to the king of their homeland, did they not see being freed from the hand of a tyrant king as the same as being freed from the hand of Pharaoh? Nor could they tolerate anymore the hands of the tyrant princes of the Church. Nor would they tolerate the oppression of the Twenty First Century tyrants if they were alive today.
“Oh, we are weary pilgrims; to this wilderness we bring
A Church without a bishop, a State without a King.”
“Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great;” (Deuteronomy 1:17)
“We know no King but Jesus.”
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:26-29). See also Romans 8:17.
“Proclaim liberty through all the land and to all the inhabitants thereof”
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8:16-17)
“And this be our motto: “In God is our trust!”
“Thou shat not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither that a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.” (Deuteronomy 16:19)
“A spring will cease to flow if its source be dried up; a tree will wither if its roots be destroyed. In its main features the Declaration of Independence is a great spiritual document. It is a declaration not of material but of spiritual conceptions. Equality, liberty, popular sovereignty, the rights of man these are not elements which we can see and touch. They are ideals. They have their source and their roots in the religious convictions. They belong to the unseen world. Unless the faith of the American people in these religious convictions is to endure, the principles of our Declaration will perish. We can not continue to enjoy the result if we neglect and abandon the cause.”
. . . . . Calvin Coolidge, “The Inspiration of the Declaration,” Speech at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, July 5, 1926.
“I told you before. I tell you again: “And what were these general principles? I answer, the general principles of Christianity (emphasis mine), in which all those sects were united; and the general principles of English and American liberty, in which all these young men united, and which had united all parties in America, in majorities sufficient to assert and maintain her independence.”
. . . . . John Adams, letter to Thomas Jefferson, dated June 28, 1813, Ibid
“We can not continue to enjoy the result if we neglect and abandon the cause.”
”If this present generation does indeed decide to pitch it all in the trashcan, be it upon their heads.”
If this “present generation” does decide to throw off The Judeo-Christian Tradition and it’s most precious political offering, may they (and others of their ilk) oft be reminded of the words of Jacob Marley, as penned by Charles Dickens;
“I wear the chain I forged in life. I made it link by link and yard by yard.”
Do not suppose this is written for your benefit. Being an old pump jockey, I know the futility of drilling a dry hole. Any more than I think that boop & co. drill dry holes.