A Mix-Up of Ideas about American Government @DavidBartonWB - God-Given or Man-Made?
@mythociate (21437)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
December 12, 2017 11:53am CST
I know a bunch of you will probably 'parrot out' whatever "separation of church & state"-rhetoric you've heard about, but I'm not really talking about that. The 'God' I'm talking-about is the same one mentioned in America's "Declaration of Independence."
The main 'conflicting ideas' I'm thinking of are the "God gave it to me"-ideas vs. the "I found it"- and "I made it happen"- & "I took it"-ideas.
(I know most people like to say "God gave to us" or "We found/made/took it," but ... same thing, right? right! 
)
The topic comes to my mind when I 'look at' (would 'read' it, but the human-mind can't keep believing truth if you keep feeding it myth-after-myth ... not that David Barton's "lying," but he's probably mostly 'repeating stories he's heard') president (of WallBuilders) David Barton's article "AMERICA'S GIFT OF GOVERNMENT" (quoted at the link)
I only read the 'header text' of the article: "When we stand before God at the final Judgment, He will ask for an account of what we did with all the blessings He gave us---our lives, our families, our material possessions. {I probably should've stopped reading right there ... I know Barton's talking about 'a conversation that might happen later'--the same way everyone imagines conversations they might have with others later--but it made me think of the picture anyway.} ..."
After the 'most people's reply,' God will say, "Well done. I also gave you a government---what did you do with it?"
David Barton says that most Americans will not have an answer, but I don't think that's because they don't know; it's because we 'have' the government the same way we 'have' Earth's gravitational pull. (most of us don't have "control of the gift," but it's more like "a set of rules we factor into our actions")
The Declaration of Independence firmly states what 'God' (or "His (man's) Creator") gives us---the right to life, -liberty and -the pursuit of happiness. I could start 'a whole mess of confusion' by calling that statement "America's Golden Rule" (i.e. the law which would justify breaking other laws to fulfill).
I think that's why "One Nation Under God" is featured so-prominently (on our money, in The Pledge of Allegiance to Our Flag), because 'God' is the authorization of "all humans' rights." (Maybe they should change the text there to 'one nation under Humanity's Creator'---making the writing so small that in a few decades no one will even know what it says!)
)
The topic comes to my mind when I 'look at' (would 'read' it, but the human-mind can't keep believing truth if you keep feeding it myth-after-myth ... not that David Barton's "lying," but he's probably mostly 'repeating stories he's heard') president (of WallBuilders) David Barton's article "AMERICA'S GIFT OF GOVERNMENT" (quoted at the link)
I only read the 'header text' of the article: "When we stand before God at the final Judgment, He will ask for an account of what we did with all the blessings He gave us---our lives, our families, our material possessions. {I probably should've stopped reading right there ... I know Barton's talking about 'a conversation that might happen later'--the same way everyone imagines conversations they might have with others later--but it made me think of the picture anyway.} ..."
After the 'most people's reply,' God will say, "Well done. I also gave you a government---what did you do with it?"
David Barton says that most Americans will not have an answer, but I don't think that's because they don't know; it's because we 'have' the government the same way we 'have' Earth's gravitational pull. (most of us don't have "control of the gift," but it's more like "a set of rules we factor into our actions")
The Declaration of Independence firmly states what 'God' (or "His (man's) Creator") gives us---the right to life, -liberty and -the pursuit of happiness. I could start 'a whole mess of confusion' by calling that statement "America's Golden Rule" (i.e. the law which would justify breaking other laws to fulfill).
I think that's why "One Nation Under God" is featured so-prominently (on our money, in The Pledge of Allegiance to Our Flag), because 'God' is the authorization of "all humans' rights." (Maybe they should change the text there to 'one nation under Humanity's Creator'---making the writing so small that in a few decades no one will even know what it says!)
When we stand before God at the final judgment, He will ask for an account of what we did with all the blessings He gave us—our ives, ...
2 people like this
1 response
@BearArtistLady (5382)
• United States
14 Dec 17
You brought up an interesting point. America's Constitution grants freedom of religion, yet it states that we're "one nation under God". With granting freedom of religion, how come we force people with other beliefs to accept one belief? There are many peoples with many beliefs and there are even more peoples who are intolerant and ignorant enough to del they can not only expect all peoples to accept one God, but they feel tat thy can force the ideal of one God upon people who came to a country too be free from oppression but also the same intolerance of religious beliefs. Don't get me wrong, I am an American, I was born an American, I am proud to be an American. But I would no more try to force my religious beliefs on someone than I would climb on top of the empire state building and jump off and flap my arms and fly! We all have one belief in common, and that is there is a supreme being (or beings) running our lives, and in the end we answer to them for what we do.
@mythociate (21437)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
14 Dec 17
And I also stated 'what they really mean by "God"' DIRECTLY AFTER I mentioned 'one nation under God!' I explained that they're NOT forcing anyone to believe anything except the fact that--when you feel the sinking need for help--you call for help.
That's what God means---'the called-for.' It could be better understood as 'the belief that those who can help you will help you if you ask them to.'
