"Without Religion the Government of a Free People Cannot be Maintained."
Many people today fail to realize the importance that the Founding Fathers felt religion played in the structure of the American Civilization that they hoped would emerge as the first free people of modern times. They felt that religion would be as important to us today, as it was to them then.
In 1787, the same year that the Constitution was written and approved by congress, they passed the Northwest Ordinance, which emphasized the essential need to teach religion and Morality in schools. Here is how they worded it:
"Article 3: religion, Morality, and Knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encourage."
George Washington, in his farewell address said, "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports... And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion...Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail to the exclusion of religious principle. It is substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government."
In order to avoid divisive religious teachings, Jefferson wrote a bill for Establishing Elementary Schools in Virginia that made religion a unifying cultural adhesive. It stated, "No religious reading, instruction, or exercise shall be prescribed or practiced inconsistent with any religious sect or denomination." So, the religious tenets in public schools would have been what was universally accepted by all faiths and fundamental in their premises.
Benjamin Franklin gave five fundamental points to be taught in the schools.
1. There is a Creator who made all things and mankind should recognize and worship Him.
2. The Creator revealed a moral code of behavior for happy living that distinguishes right from wrong.
3. The Creator will hold us accountable for how we treat each other.
4. All mankind live beyond this life.
5. In the next life mankind are judged for their conduct in this one.
The Founders often referred to these five fundamentals as the religion of America. Samuel Adams said that is group of basic beliefs constitute 'the religion of America and is the religion of all mankind." John Adams called these tenets the general principles on which the American Civilization was founded. America became great, because America was good. When America is no longer good then we can expect that the nation will cease to be great.
(The 28 Principles of Liberty are adapted from the book "The 5000 Year Leap" by W. Cleon Skousen. This article is also published at www.Myspace.com/angelsings www.LDSFreemen.com and the Cape Fair Cryer newspaper in Missouri.)
I give my permission for anyone who wants to share the content within this blog to do so. All I ask is that you link back to the original source. The articles on the 28 principles of liberty I also give permission to be shared in your own blogs. What I create in any of the blogs that I write, is for the purpose of sharing with others.
Showing posts with label liberty 5000 year leap. Show all posts
Showing posts with label liberty 5000 year leap. Show all posts
28 Principles of Liberty-Principle #3
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A wise Samuel Adams once stated “But neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and the happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. He therefore is the truest friend to the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue, and who, so far as his power and influence extend, will not suffer a man to be chosen into any office of power and trust who is not a wise and virtuous man.”
Samuel further states that they need to have proven virtue and proven wisdom. One of the most quoted scriptures of that time period was Proverbs 29:2 “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn”.
The founders were keenly aware of the short comings of human nature. Knowing that they could not create a utopian society, they created a system that would help bring forward the most promising element of society and then be able to draft them into service. They hoped to develop a spirit of public virtue by having leaders that have a strong private virtue. It would be a new kind of freemen aristocracy or natural aristocracy, which would be open to all, but inheritable by none. Every leader would have to rise to office by merit, not by wealth or reputation of his ancestors. They firmly believed that the best of private citizens should accept major roles in the public life.
John Adams believed that we must prepare for service in politics. He said “The science of government is my duty to study, more than all other sciences; the arts of legislation and administration and negotiation ought to take place of, indeed to exclude, in a manner, all other arts. I must study politics and war, that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.”
Benjamin Franklin taught that it was important that public office was viewed as an honor rather then a position of profit. He gave the example of how there was a violent struggle to be appointed to office in Europe due to the amount of pay for the position. He felt that it was of utmost importance that service would attract men of public virtue and repeal scoundrels scrambling for a soft job. He stated that although the founders set low pay, throughout time this would change and the rulers would return to the political warfare that occurs between the governed and the governing. Those who govern always seek for their own personal benefit and have an appetite that is never satisfied.
Franklin foretold the potential of America returning to a monarchy. Not called a monarchy, of course, since the people would never allow it but rather a president that would be given monarchial powers. He stated that if given the chance, this executive power would follow the example of Pharaoh. First get all the people’s money, then all their lands, and then make them and their children servants forever.
(The 28 Principles of Liberty are adapted from the book "The 5000 Year Leap" by W. Cleon Skousen. This article is also published at www.Myspace.com/angelsings www.LDSFreemen.com and the Cape Fair Cryer newspaper in Missouri.)
I give my permission for anyone who wants to share the content within this blog to do so. All I ask is that you link back to the original source. The articles on the 28 principles of liberty I also give permission to be shared in your own blogs. What I create in any of the blogs that I write, is for the purpose of sharing with others.
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