I’m Canadian so the American Constitution is not something that I’ve ever studied. However, after reading endless atheist blogs one thing that I’ve heard over and over again is Thomas Jefferson’s statement that “all men are created equal.” In the Declaration of Independence he said that this is a “self-evident truth.”
That is really weird! I can think of few things that are less self-evident. In point of fact, most people and most cultures do not agree with this statement and reject it outright. Inequality is the natural order. Survival of the strongest is how most of us would live if we had the power to do so. It’s the weak, the hard-done-by, those who can’t compete that make the plea for equality.
Oh, and Christianity. I suppose that's why John Adams wrote, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any others."
Those who are the least powerful and the least “equal” we kill by the 10's of millions. As in the past, so today, human life is cheap, cheap, cheap. Only where Christianity has forged inroads have barbarous and inhuman acts of violence been banned. Only because of centuries of Christian morality do we now feel repulsed by cultures whose violence against one another compels us to feel shock and horror at what we now label atrocities.
Christianity, the one world-view that says we are to be judged by our character, our morals, our motives, and NOT by our wealth and power, beauty and status, intellect and education, this Christianity is all that stands between us and barbarism.
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Do you imagine that an innocent woman, enduring unspeakable torture to force an admission of witchcraft, the only reward for which was the generous strangulation before burning, was thankful for these Christian "inroads" against inhumanity?
Also: John Adams also signed the Alien & Sedition Acts, and is therefore (rightfully) viewed somewhat skeptically when it comes to the convergence of morality and government. Refer also to the Treaty of Tripoli, wherein is stated plainly that America is not in any sense a nation established upon Christianity, signed by George Washington (a superior touchstone than Mr. Adams, as many a Canadian would agree).
That's interesting because right by the John Adams quote I found this quote from Washington, "Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion."
I'm not interested in the whole Christian foundation of the States thing. I just saw that quote of Jefferson's and commented on it.
Neither am I saying that people haven't done disgusting and horrific things in the name of Christianity.
Fred baby! When was the last one of these witch burnings that you abhor? 300 years ago? heck, I get gigged by atheists if I cite an article from the 1980's.
I was going to link to a video of Christians burning a "witch" from earlier this year. The video is horrific. It's on a website called "Live Leak". but I thought better of it.
Gorth? I googled the information that you provided and found the following....
" Sorry, but this is more of a reflection of that REGION than it is Christianity. Unfortunately, people LOVE to use this sort of thing to BASH Christianity.
Let's reflect on what is going on in Africa at large, shall we? Various tribes jockey for political power and brutally kill people from other tribes. Women are routinely gang-raped. Young boys are taken from their homes and pressed into "military" service, used to clear areas of landmines and taught to kill others. Women are subjected to genital mutilation. Babies are raped because it's believed that having sex with a virgin will cure AIDS.
The animist religions perform often-violent rituals, particularly against women. The Muslims kill homosexuals and anyone who violates their purity codes and they routinely raid Christian areas. Is it any wonder -- in the face of all of this killing and mutilation -- that some Christians are committing their own atrocities? It's the CULTURE down there. Africa's been a mess since the colonizers left."
I was taken aback by this quote. When you conducted your research into the matter, who came out ahead insofar as number of atrocites committed in tha part of the world? Christians, muslims or pagan animists?
Mak, tell me if you've heard this before. It's more on topic to this thread....
"More than a century ago, James Russell Lowell, the great literary man who was Minister of State for the United States to England, was once at a banquet where the Christian religion (the mission enterprise, in particular) was being attacked by scoffers. He spoke up and said:
I challenge any skeptic to find a ten square mile spot on this planet where they can live their lives in peace and safety and decency, where womanhood is honored, where infancy and old age are revered, where they can educate their children, where the Gospel of Jesus Christ has not gone first to prepare the way. If they find such a place, then I would encourage them to emigrate thither and proclaim their unbelief.
D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe: WHAT IF JESUS HAD NEVER BEEN BORN? pgs 237-238
"Is it any wonder -- in the face of all of this killing and mutilation -- that some Christians are committing their own atrocities?"
Christianity stops barbarism and commits barbarism? Doesn't that defeat the premise of the original post?
"...I would encourage them to emigrate thither.."
The old "love it or leave it", hey?
Gorth, we're only fallible humans. The Bible provides a plan. If we can't adhere to a particular plan, then shame on us.
Mao Tse Tung's Little Red Book provides a plan. If we can't adhere to a particular plan, then shame on us.
Buddhists do death well.
I'm curious as to why you would say that. I've read that the Buddha’s dying words were, “Continue to work out your salvation.”
Whether you believe in millions of reincarnations or only this one life to live, for anyone who’s salvation is based on “works salvation” cannot “die well.” Why? Because you can never know if you’ve done well enough.
You are either wrong or lying about his last words.
"Think not that you have no teacher after my death.
Transient are all component things.
Is it proper to lament and weep for me when this body is passing away?
Don’t mourn at this moment of joy."
"Work out your salvation" sounds like Philippians 2:12. "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling..."
Read vese 13 and you MIGHT understand it. However if you're like Rab, understanding will be impossible.
I understand it. Of course I don't believe it.
"Don’t mourn at this moment of joy." Very beautiful sounding.
Did you see the videos of the people reading the Bible while they burned numerous people to death?
"Christianity is all that stands between us and barbarism."
Yeah, right...
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