MrDarwin

Accoring to <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55614-2002Jun27.html" target="_blank">this article</a>,

So I wonder if anybody out there agrees with him? If so, how do we know this? Just what are these God-given rights, and how has God indicated that we have been granted them?

The Declaration of Independence refers to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Well, where do we find any of these "rights" in the Bible? Furthermore, where do we find a biblical basis for any of the rights enumerated in the United States Constitution, specifically the Bill of Rights? For example, is the right to free speech a God-given right? How about the right to free assocation? The right to a jury trial? Or the right against self-incrimination?

I think it's fair to demand a biblical justification for these rights as President Bush is Christian, as are virtually all of our senators and representatives, who apparently agree with him.

[ June 27, 2002: Message edited by: MrDarwin ]</p>

MrDarwin

Just to make things easier, here's a link to the <a href="http://www.archives.gov/exhibit_hall/charters_of_freedom/bill_of_rights/amendments_1-10.html" target="_blank">Bill of Rights</a>.

[ June 27, 2002: Message edited by: MrDarwin ]</p>

MOJO-JOJO

Interesting....so what is his response to those Americans who "feel" that their rights come from Allah?

I think our rights should come from Bacchus...the God of wine and drunken good times

bluefugue

How about appointing "common-sense" judges who can READ THE FRICKIN' FIRST AMENDMENT?

bluefugue

To be fair, "Allah" and "God" mean basically the same thing. I don't think the phrase "Under God" discriminates against Muslims or Jews or any other monotheists. It arguably discriminates against polytheists, and certainly discriminates against nontheists.

RufusAtticus

I find it amazing that the fundy conservatives are shouting for Judges to be appointed who will up hold the pledge. I have yet to see them ask for Judges to be appointed who will uphold the constitution, because all the pro-theocracy rhetoric will disappear.

Eldy

From Eldy: I speak as a theist. A believer. If your rights did not come from God, then you have no rights at all. This was the thinking of Marx, Lenin, Mao-tse-Dungpile, and Castro, to name a few who did not think God gave anyone rights. Why are you assuming you have rights if they did not come from anywhere? Or perhaps you don't think you have any.

Godless government leaders always kill their own citizens in the name of some "greater good."

Godless leaders establish hell-holes and call them nations. I think of the USSR, Cuba, China, Zimbabwe, and the other little African dictatorships.

If rights don't come from God, then you don't have any. Perhaps, according to the atheistic view of rights, Christians could destroy all infidels "in the name of God," and be doing properly. "For freedom did Christ set us free."

He did set me free. I will assume that you will accept the same right to fredom?

RufusAtticus

Eldy,

"Rights" come from philosophy influenced by our natural capacity to make rules to keep society together. Morals are cultural and biological behaviors that exist because we are social animals. If you want to beleive that they are granted by God, go ahead. But it is short-sited to declare that it is impossible to have them with out a divine law-giver.


~~RvFvS~~

MOJO-JOJO

Good point in terms of the common perception; however....when one speaks of God from a christian perspective, they are speaking of the Triune God which includes God, Jesus and the Holeeeeee Ghost (Georgie's god). When one speaks of the Allah of the Koran, this is a completely different cat that isn't melded with ol' Hey-zeus.

But I still vote for Bacchus

MOJO-JOJO

....unbelievable.....and people actually have to ask what's wrong with this country???