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Has the US ever been a Christian nation.

Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by Bunyon, Oct 16, 2005.

  1. Bunyon

    Bunyon New Member

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    "Not completely Biblically Based. As I pointed out earlier, there are things with the Constitution that go in direct opposition to the Bible."-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    What was in dircect opposistion? I can't think of anything.
     
  2. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

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    How about slavery and the Constitution's endorsement of it? Or, perhaps, you might consider the hypocrisy of stating that all men are created equal while treating blacks as 3rd class citizens?

    Joseph Botwinick
     
  3. Bunyon

    Bunyon New Member

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    Well I agree with the hypocrisy, but all nations had routinely practices slavery then, so I see what was acheieved here and what the original vison was and am proud of the English speaking nations. I am not sure where you say the constitution endorsed it. Where is that?
     
  4. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

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    Section 1, Article 9:

    Section 1, Article 9 of the United States Constitution

    I believe the key word here is importation. It seems that human slaves were imported from other countries sort of like we would import any commodity today. And the Constitution said that was ok.

    Joseph Botwinick
     
  5. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

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    My argument is not that it was not better than what we had before. My argument is that it cannot be said to be wholly Biblical. That, IMO, would be an insult to the Bible if we tried to say that it was.

    Joseph Botwinick
     
  6. Bunyon

    Bunyon New Member

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    Well indirectly. Just because the constitution reconized the commerce that was going on in some states and that it included slaves does not mean it endoresed slavery. And notice, it sets aside a time when congress will be able to force the states to stop slavery. So the founders had to compromise on the slave issue to create a union, but they left open a date to be free to deal with it in the future. It says "now existing", so they even left open the oportunity to prevent new states from doing it. And they taxed it, which is not promoting it but makin it costly. Respectfully Joseph, I think you just proved my point about the vision in the constitution.
     
  7. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

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    1. It does more than recognize that it is going on. Go back and read it again. It says:

    2. The fact that they compromised on this issue shows hypocrisy and a non-Biblical attitude. I don't think God would have compromised. He would have either said "All men are created equal" or "some men are 3rd class citizens to be bought, sold, and taxed like a commodity on the open market".

    3. The fact that they were taxed is an insult. And it certainly did not discourage slavery.

    4. To call the Constitution Biblical would be an insult to the Bible.

    Joseph Botwinick
     
  8. Bunyon

    Bunyon New Member

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    I really appreciated talking with you tonight, Joseph. I appreciate your mind, you got a sharp one. Good night pal.
     
  9. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

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    Yes...it is getting very late. I appreciate talking with you as well. I look forward to further discussions with you in the future. Good Night. [​IMG]

    Joseph Botwinick
     
  10. Gold Dragon

    Gold Dragon Well-Known Member

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    Yep. I see many other ideas repeated from the other thread here as well, so I didn't think that would be a problem.

    My point is that having a "Biblically based government" whether it is a democracy, monarchy, totalitarian dictatorship, theocracy, whatever is exactly what the founders didn't want and they made the first amendment in the constitution to prevent that from happening.
     
  11. gb93433

    gb93433 Active Member
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    Several of the founders were not Christians. Some were deists. Jefferson was a liberal. He did not believe in the miracles. A Bible with the miracles gone is named after him.
     
  12. Gold Dragon

    Gold Dragon Well-Known Member

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    The aim of the Jefferson bible compiled by Jefferson was to extract the moral precepts of Jesus found in the gospels. But yes, Jefferson's clear Deism would have lead to a distrust of the supernatural.
     
  13. Bunyon

    Bunyon New Member

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    "Yep. I see many other ideas repeated from the other thread here as well, so I didn't think that would be a problem."

    No Problem. Glad to hear from you.

    "My point is that having a "Biblically based government" whether it is a democracy, monarchy, totalitarian dictatorship, theocracy, whatever is exactly what the founders didn't want and they made the first amendment in the constitution to prevent that from happening. "
    -----------------------------------------------

    If you are saying we don't have a theocracy, everyone agrees with you I am sure.
     
  14. Gold Dragon

    Gold Dragon Well-Known Member

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    I am also saying that the US founders would never have wanted a "biblically based democracy" which is why they created the first amendment.
     
  15. Bunyon

    Bunyon New Member

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    "I am also saying that the US founders would never have wanted a "biblically based democracy" which is why they created the first amendment"----------------------------------------------------

    I am not sure what you mean by Biblically based. If you man we would have to stone adulteres' or something, or course not. But when you read the founders papers, the mayflower compact, the state charters, etc. You realize this is a Biblically based constitution. Unless you think the Constitution was a sudden repudiation of all of this. Remember Franklin said, that "our gov was wholly inadequate for any but a Christian people" Or somehting to that effect.
     
  16. LadyEagle

    LadyEagle <b>Moderator</b> <img src =/israel.gif>

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    Slavery is in the Bible in both the Old & New Testaments. The Bible doesn't say anything about it being wrong to own slaves.

    Paul even goes so far as to say he is a "slave of Jesus Christ."

    At any rate, today, the average American is a slave to the tax system.
     
  17. KenH

    KenH Well-Known Member

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    How is slavery in opposition to the Bible, Joseph?

    True, freedom is much better. And I am opposed to slavery, but not because is it banned in the Bible.

    Why did God not command masters to release their slaves in the New Testament?
     
  18. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

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    Slavery is in the Bible in both the Old & New Testaments. The Bible doesn't say anything about it being wrong to own slaves.

    Paul even goes so far as to say he is a "slave of Jesus Christ."

    At any rate, today, the average American is a slave to the tax system.
    </font>[/QUOTE]If slavery is Biblical, then the idea that all men are created equal is not. Either way you want to go with this argument, the principles on which this nation were founded are hypocritical and unBiblical.

    Joseph Botwinick
     
  19. LadyEagle

    LadyEagle <b>Moderator</b> <img src =/israel.gif>

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    You left out women, Joseph.

    And I disagree with your position.
     
  20. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

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    Indeed I did leave them out. Allow me to add them: Women also. I don't care if you disagree with my position. Lately, that is actually something I would consider a positive thing. :D

    The facts remain: Either all people are created equal or it is ok to buy and sell some people like you would cattle. Either way, the principles on which this nation is founded are hypocritical and not althogether Biblical.

    Joseph Botwinick
     
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