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absolute power

Discussion in '2004 Archive' started by sharpSword, Apr 15, 2004.

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  1. sharpSword

    sharpSword Guest

    The old saying that 'power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely" ...I was trying to remember who said it, when and why. I think it was political, but I am wondering if there is a Biblical application or source for it? If so, what does it mean to us as Believers?

    So far all I am finding is in Proverbs like 29: 4 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever...
    14 The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.

    But they don't even seem to apply.
     
    #1 sharpSword, Apr 15, 2004
  2. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    Actually the person who said this was Lord Acton. The phrase is, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Lord Acton said it in the context of speaking to Catholic priests about church structure as they were going through Vatican II.

    I believe whole-heartedly (primarily because I've read a ton of Acton's stuff) that this phrase in intended primarily for the Church and believers. Often we can view our denominations as places of political will and power, rather than using them to advance the Kingdom.
     
    #2 preachinjesus, Apr 15, 2004
  3. sharpSword

    sharpSword Guest

    PreachinJesus...thank you. I had no idea that was the source, nor the application. For some reason I was thinking FDR said it or someone American, with regards to Hitler or similar.

    Really appreciate that info. [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
    #3 sharpSword, Apr 15, 2004
  4. Frogman

    Frogman <img src="http://www.churches.net/churches/fubc/Fr

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    So, what did Lord Acton mean by his statement? Did he mean an atmosphere where difference of opinion was permitted was dangerous, or did he mean that an atmosphere where all opposition is quelled was dangerous?

    Bro. Dallas [​IMG]
     
    #4 Frogman, Apr 15, 2004
  5. sharpSword

    sharpSword Guest

    Dallas "So, what did Lord Acton mean by his statement? Did he mean an atmosphere where difference of opinion was permitted was dangerous, or did he mean that an atmosphere where all opposition is quelled was dangerous?"

    I am getting mixed up in my history. Was Lord Acton referring to the 1950's--isn't that when Vatican 2 was??-- or does it apply to then, but he was referring to a prior time...and is that what you are referring to Dallas? :confused:
     
    #5 sharpSword, Apr 15, 2004
  6. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    I need to amend a former statement. I had accidently pressed "I" once too many times and not caught it in my review of the post. The proper council would be Vatican I which lasted from 1869-70.
     
    #6 preachinjesus, Apr 15, 2004
  7. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    To answer Dallas' question, Lord Acton was speaking to the possibility of using one's power for evil because of the tendency for power to....

    I think that answers it...

    again apologies for the former extra numeral
     
    #7 preachinjesus, Apr 15, 2004
  8. sharpSword

    sharpSword Guest

    PreachinJesus "I need to amend a former statement. I had accidently pressed "I" once too many times and not caught it in my review of the post. The proper council would be Vatican I which lasted from 1869-70. "

    ROFL. I thought I had really lost it. Because I thought Lord Acton was around early to mid 1900's...

    The reason I had been thinking of that statement was due to a conversation my husband and I were having a couple of evenings ago concerning Iraq, and the continual in-fighting. We were discussing why there was always fighting going on, even despite the current situation. Some might suggest its due to religion, but I thought maybe it boils down to a continual power struggle, and the thirst for absolute power and control.
    Then I just had to know if that saying was a Biblical precept. Inquiring minds :D

    Thanks again. [​IMG]
     
    #8 sharpSword, Apr 15, 2004
  9. Frogman

    Frogman <img src="http://www.churches.net/churches/fubc/Fr

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    Real Politik

    Kinda like what Western Europeans and Anglo-America did after WWI and WWII, to establish 'siblings' in the middle east, and to play upon the jealousies and rivalries of that region to weaken Germany, Russia, Eastern European ethnicities and the inhabitants of the middle East themselves, thereby creating a 'world' order which establishes superiority of the 'western' Greco-Roman traditions and propogates itself through every means available, thereby justifiable by the 'ends'.

    It is the reason for the precarious predicament we are in now. While I am in support of the present administration, I do not believe either this, nor any other will be able to see this war on terror to a successful end result.

    Bro. Dallas
     
    #9 Frogman, Apr 15, 2004
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