Bring a hardcopy to class Wednesday 29th. REQUIRED For best paper contest.
Use the sources provided below (you are not limited to these). Your name and page number should be at the top right hand corner of each page. Single space. You may print front and back.
Christianity is based on God’s Divine Right to rule his creation, this implies hierarchy. Civil society, on the other hand, is based on “Natural Law” in which (all things being equal) persons are equal. Natural law is the origin of the political theory called Liberal Democracy upon which the republic of the United States of America is based.
Focusing Question: Is Christianity uncongenial to Liberal Democracy? If not, then how are the two reconciled? Can they be reconciled?
- The essay should summarize and analyze the two views on this question.
- The essay should contain quoted or paraphrased material from the 15 citations provided below. The material should be well integrated with your own thoughts.
- Show how you have wrestled with the different perspectives on the question and have synthesized these ideas to arrive at your own new view of the question.
- The essay should contain no grammatical or mechanical errors.
A guideline to writing and organizing:
1. Summarize the two views. {Paragraphs 1-2}
2. Analyze: in what way does each text handle purpose, audience, angle of vision, appeals to logic, ethos, pathos, evidence? {Paragraphs 3-4}
3. Identify themes, similarities, differences in the ideas{Paragraphs 5-6}
4. In light of what you read, explore your own views on “liberty.” {Paragraph 7}
Hierarchy & Class proofs: View 1
Divine Right of Kings
Christian political doctrine that hereditary monarchy is the system approved by God, hereditary right cannot be forfeited, monarchs are accountable to God alone for the actions, and rebellion against the lawful sovereign is therefore blasphemous.
The doctrine had its origins in the anointing of Pepin in 751 by the pope after Pepin had usurped the throne of the Franks. It was at its peak in 16th- and 17th-century Europe as a weapon against claims of the papacy – the court of Louis XIV of France pushed this to the limit—and was in 17th-century England maintained by the supporters of the Stuarts in opposition to the democratic theories the Puritans and Whigs.
—QPB Dictionary of Ideas, 1994.[1]
The book The True Law of Free Monarchies by King James lays out the doctrine known as the “divine right of kings”—a doctrine of political absolutism. James wrote his treatise to rebut the puritan ideas of the day that would ultimately give rise to the American Revolution. The ‘divine right of kings’ doctrine is closely linked to the concept of ‘apostolic succession’ that underpins much of the Christian church’s claim to authority over its subjects. In short, it is the belief that Bishops, etc. ‘reign’ in the unbroken lineage of Peter and the other Apostles. The crossover between political and religious ‘absolutism’ is seen to this day in the ‘ordination’ of royalty in the United Kingdom, and in genealogical attempts to link modern monarchs (modern monarchs?) to King David, appointed by God.
—Alister L. Hunt Ph.D [2]
A Christian’s Duties to the State
13 Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God. 2So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do good and you will have its approval. 4For government is God’s servant to you for good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For government is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. 5Thereforre, you must submit, not only because of wrath, but also because of your conscience. 6And for this reason you pay taxes, since the [authorities] are God’s public servants, continually attending to these tasks. 7Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.
—The Holman Christian Standard Bible, 2004; Romans 13 [3]
Obey Rulers
2I say, “Keep the command of the king because of the oath before God. 3“Do not be in a hurry to leave him. Do not join in an evil matter, for he will do whatever he pleases.” 4Since the word of the king is authoritative, who will say to him, “What are you doing?” 5He who keeps a royal command experiences no trouble, for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure. 6For there is a proper time and procedure for every delight, though a man’s trouble is heavy upon him. 7If no one knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen? 8No man has authority to restrain the wind with the wind, or authority over the day of death; and there is no discharge in the time of war, and evil will not deliver those who practice it. 9All this I have seen and applied my mind to every deed that has been done under the sun wherein a man has exercised authority over another man to his hurt.
—The New American Standard Bible, 1995; Ecclesiastes 8:2-9 [4]
This selection printed here [From A Dialogue Concerning Heresies] tackles the fundamental issues of biblical interpretation. Who decides on the meaning of Scripture: the Church or individual readers? More’s interlocutor is in no doubt: Scripture is for the most part entirely plain; individual readers have no trouble interpreting it. More strongly counters such simple faith in the plain and literal sense. Everything, he argues (in a passage playing with the consonance of “goose” and “gloss”), requires a commentary. Even to compare one text with another is to gloss it. If commentary is always necessary, then some stable ground for establishing authority over that commentary also becomes necessary. For More that ground is the Catholic Church, whose authority is established by the many centuries of its continued existence and by the consensus of the Church’s Councils. More casts the young Lutheran’s position as that of a single opinionated reader perversely resisting the “common faith” of Christendom.
—The Norton Anthology: English Literature, Eighth Edition, page 623 [5]
BOOK OF HOMILIES
The Protestant archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, was responsible in 1547 for the publication of the Book of Homilies. Hoping to curb the influence of “ignorant preachers” and fearing the spread of unauthorized beliefs, Cranmer brought together twelve sermons that were, by royal and ecclesiastical decree, to be read over and over, in the order in which they were set forth, in parish churches throughout the realm. The Homilies, revised and reissued during the reign of Elizabeth, are political as well as religious documents. As the “Homily Against Disobedience” (added in 1 570 in the aftermath of a Catholic uprising the preceding year) amply demonstrates, the intention was to teach the English people “to honor God and to serve their king with all humility and subjection, and godly and honestly to behave themselves toward all men.” Artfully crafted and tirelessly reiterated, these sermons would have been familiar to almost everyone in the latter half of the sixteenth century.
—The Norton Anthology: English Literature, Eighth Edition, page 623 [6]
From An Homily Against Disobedience and Willful Rebellion
* * * How horrible a sin against God and man rebellion is cannot possibly be expressed according unto the greatness thereof. For he that nameth rebellion nameth not a singular, or one only sin, as is theft, robbery, murder, and suchlike, but he nameth the whole puddle and sink of all sins against God and man, against his prince, his country, his countrymen, his parents, his children, his kinfolks, his friends, and against all men universally: all sins, I say, against God and all men heaped together nameth he that nameth rebellion. For concerning the offense of God’s majesty, who seeth not that rebellion riseth first by contempt of God and of his holy ordinances and laws, wherein he so straitly commandeth obedience, forbiddeth disobedience and rebellion? And besides the dishonor done by rebels unto God’s holy name by their breaking of the oath made to their prince with the attestation of God’s name and calling of his majesty to witness, who heareth not the horrible oaths and blasphemies of God’s holy name that are used daily amongst rebels, that is either amongst them or heareth the truth of their behavior? Who knoweth not that rebels do not only themselves leave all works necessary to be done upon workdays undone, whiles they accomplish their abominable work of rebellion. [7]
THE BOOK OF HOMILIES
From An Exhortation Concerning Good Order and Obedienceto Rulers and Magistrates
Almighty God hath created and appointed all things, in heaven, earth, and waters, in a most excellent and perfect order. In heaven he hath appointed distinct orders and states of archangels and angels. In earth he hath assigned kings, princes, and other governors under them, all in good and necessary order. The water above is kept and raineth down in due time and season. The sun, moon, stars, rainbow, thunder, lightning, clouds, and all birds of the air do keep their order. The earth, trees, seeds, plants, herbs, corn, grass, and all manner of beasts keep them in their order. All parts of the whole year, as winter, summer, months, nights, and days, continue in their order. All kinds of fishes in the sea, rivers, and waters, with all fountains, springs, yea, the seas themselves, keep their comely course and order. And man himself also, hath all his parts, both within and without, as soul, heart, mind, memory, understanding, reason, speech withal, and singular corporal members of his body in a profitable, necessary, and pleasant order. Every degree of people in their vocation, calling, and office hath appointed to them their duty and order. Some are in high degree, some in low, some kings and princes, some inferiors and subjects, priests and laymen, masters and servants, fathers and children, husbands and wives, rich and poor, and everyone have need of other; so that in all things is to be lauded and praised the goodly order of God, without the which no house, no city, no commonwealth can continue and endure. For where there is no right order, there reigneth all abuse, carnal liberty, enormity, sin, and Babylonical confusion. Take away kings, princes, rulers, magistrates, judges, and such states of God's order, no man shall ride or go by the highway unrobbed, no man shall sleep in his own house or bed unkilled, no man shall keep his wife, children, and possessions in quietness; all things shall be common, and there must needs follow all mischief and utter destruction, both of souls, bodies, goods, and commonwealths. But blessed be God, that we in this realm of England feel not the horrible calamities, miseries, and wretchedness which all they undoubtedly feel and suffer that lack this goodly order. And praised be God that we know the great excellent benefit of God showed towards us in this behalf. God hath sent us his high gift, our most dear sovereign lord King Edward the Sixth, with godly, wise and, honorable council, with other superiors and inferiors in a beautiful order. Wherefore, let us subjects do our bounden duties, giving hearty thanks to God and praying for the preservation of this godly order. Let us all obey even from the bottom of our hearts all their godly proceedings, laws, statutes, proclamations, and injunctions, with all other godly orders. Let us consider the scriptures of the Holy Ghost which persuade and command us all obediently to be subject, first and chiefly, to the King's majesty, supreme head over all, and next, to his honorable council, and to all other noblemen, magistrates, and officers which by God's goodness be placed and ordered; for Almighty God is the only author and provider of this forenamed state and order, as it is written of God in the book of Proverbs: “Through me, kings do reign; through me councilors make just laws; through me do princes bear rule and all judges of the earth execute judgment. I am loving to them that love me.—Proverbs 8. 15-17 [8]
Natural Rights proofs: View 2
Liberalism
political and social theory that favours representative government, freedom of the press, speech, and worship, the abolition of class privileges, the use of state resources to protect the welfare f the individual, and international free trade.
Liberalism developed during the17th-19th centuries as the distinctive theory of the industrial and commercial classes in their struggle against the power of the monarchy, the church, and the feudal landowners. Economically it was associated with laissez faire, or nonintervention.
The classical statement of liberal principles is found On Liberty and other works of the British philosopher JS Mill.
—QPB Dictionary of Ideas, 1994. [9]
Civil rights
A civil right is an enforceable right or privilege, which if interfered with by another gives rise to an action for injury. Examples of civil rights are freedom of speech, press, and assembly; the right to vote; freedom from involuntary servitude; and the right to equality in public places. Discrimination occurs when the civil rights of an individual are denied or interfered with because of their membership in a particular group or class. Statutes have been enacted to prevent discrimination based on a person’s race, sex, religion, age, previous condition of servitude, physical limitation, national origin, and in some instances sexual preference.
—Cornell University Law School [10]
The Declaration of Independence
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. [11]
The Western movement of “natural man” and “natural society” is generally understood as a historical development, men and women of middle-class background struggling against the “unnatural” oppression of their societies. American society was born of this movement.
Americans are now ready to be a “natural” as they wish to be. As it has always been since the beginning of this nation, people demand “Leave me alone” from one another and from society.
—Jon Huer, The Dead End: the Psychology and Survival of the American Creed [12]
The notion that the balance of nature could be emulated in political society runs through the writings of Thomas Jefferson. The whole conception of natural rights against society fade in relative importance.
—political science professor Mulford Sibley, University of Minnesota [13]
Not Shown
See “Liberty”
—The Norton Anthology: English Literature, Eighth Edition, page 2828 [14]
From Two Treatises of Government, John Locke
—The Norton Anthology: English Literature, Eighth Edition, page 2830 [15]
