I was pondering this question the other day and it occurred to me it might make for good (if not a little contriversial) blogs(I am going to split it up so its not too rambling). So here it goes:
With the whole holiday season it has become all the more appearant that I think this country has a lot of problems and they are very deep rooted. Obviously the economic downturn is highly discouraging and worrisome, and yet I think this is truly the tip of the iceberg. We are a nation that has always prided itself on tolerance; both ethnic and religious. We preach equality for all; and yet I don't think that we grasp the significance or perhaps even danger of such naivety? Is that possible? The fundamental issue I have with this (as in physics) you need a reference point; and that point has become blurred to the point of non-existance. Do you think it was a odd whim of our government to emblazen "In God we Trust" on our currency? The fact is that our legal system is based on the common principles of the 10 commandments and the fear of God. And that has and should continue to be for the country to be successful. In a court of law we are asked to swear on the bible or other such holy book, to tell the truth and nothing but the truth so help me God. Why? Because it assumed that the only thing worse that prison is the wrath of an angry God on our soul. Without this what do we have? How is justice supposed to happen if lying leads to... freedom? Exoneration? Perjury? pah its relatively difficult to prove and the perjury sentence is minimal often compared to the actual crime; Playing game theory economics if you are guilty and you don't fear God, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS LIE. Disagree? I challenge you to convince me; and no plea bargains don't count, and even then embellishment couldn't hurt could it? Does that scare you? Surprise you? It does me. If we have as a nation in general reached a point where the average person does not believe in God hasn't our constitution failed us? Become obsolete? Shouldn't this also signify the downfall of our nation? Doesn't it sometimes seem that way?
The economic spectacular collapse of the mortgage industry follows suit; instead of doing what was morally right, the market was allowed to become a false god; It was said bailouts were necessary because the 'market needs/requires/must happen' In God we no longer trust; we trust in the market, and the men; honest some, dishonest some we put our trust into.
Trip Dates Decided
13 years ago
4 comments:
Interesting points, my friend. I for one personally believe that believing in God has absolutely NOTHING to do with having strong morals and good values. Most religions are generally good ways of teaching those things, but are by no means a requirement to have them. Many very intelligent people, with good morals and values, who have very good reasons for not believing in a higher power still are honest and trustworthy and good Americans.
Yes, our Constitution was founded on many Christian principles, but there were many high-ranking men, such as Thomas Jefferson, who were not Christian at all, and were in fact scared of forming a country where religious beliefs could overcome or take over, such as they had in many of the European countries that our forefathers fled from. Thus, they sought out a land where they could build a nation where those principles would not be outweighed by any overpowering religious ones. Having the "fear of God" is not necessary, as long as one has the fear of his brother and his neighbor and his country. It is those people who have lost THAT fear that are causing the real problems.
Thus, yes, I'll agree that too many people have put too much faith and trust in the "goodness of mankind" and in the power of the markets, and too many have taken advantage of that. But it's not because they don't fear God - it's because they didn't fear the governing bodies that were supposed to be guiding and policing these financial markets, but were under-funded, under-staffed, and generally under-resourced. Thank goodness that's going to change very soon.
Just an FYI the first time the phrase "in God we Trust" appeared on US currency was 1864 and did not become official until 1956. Also the pledge of allegiance first created in 1892 was "I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." and remained more or less the same until 1954 when it was changed to include the phrase "under God" The said the great seal of the United States created in 1782 has instead of "in God we trust" E. Pluribus Unum (out of mean, one). The Treaty of Tripoli, passed by the U.S. Senate in 1797, read in part: "The government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion." The treaty was written during the Washington administration, and sent to the Senate during the Adams administration. It was read aloud to the Senate, and each Senator received a printed copy. This was the 339th time that a recorded vote was required by the Senate, but only the third time a vote was unanimous (the next time was to honor George Washington). There is no record of any debate or dissension on the treaty. It was reprinted in full in three newspapers - two in Philadelphia, one in New York City. There is no record of public outcry or complaint in subsequent editions of the papers. James Madison 4th President who wrote a third of the federalist papers and as the speaker of the first congress authored many of the laws that would become the Bill of Rights! Said "Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise." "During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What have been its fruits? More or less in all places, pride and indolence in the Clergy, ignorance and servility in the laity, in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution." I could write more but there is just too much and I just wanted to clear up the confusion about the founding of this country a little. I merely ask you why so many devoutly religious men from around the world and though out time have perpetrated great horror on the human race where was their fear of God? For just one example read the Spanish requirement of 1513 and its justification, it is basically a religious base (backed by the Catholic Church) reason to possess land, peoples, and other wise exploit non-Christians and kill all that oppose. Finally to take it back to financial issues that you harped on, firstly America/Europe/Islamic countries/China/India/the World has been practicing fraud and have had economic booms and bust for centuries! Religious or not some people are just bad. More to follow...
Richard, really good stuff! Thanks! Your history lesson makes me feel much more secure in my argument.
I just got a free history lesson =)
Tho I do stand by my point about the courts, I don't see any reason a guilty person should ever tell the truth in court if they have no qualms about what they have said. And truly if that got you out of jail would you even have any sense of 'societal guilt?' its just not logical- it just got you out of jail.
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