Re: Okay, what the HECK is going on in France?

"Sylvain" <sryl@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:VImdndZKVpUFyufeRVn-hw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Jay Beckman wrote:
>> But that's the simple beauty of it...
>>
>> It doesn't say which "God."
>
> but it says there is *one* of them (not zero, not many); can't
> you see how offensive it is to those who don't share this belief?
>

No I don't because it doesn't say "In One God We Trust" ... it says "In God
We Trust" and if dig into the backstory, you'll find that it as much a
cultural thing from "back in the day" as it is anything religious.

Bear in mind that the "IGWT" sentiment was originally being expressed by an
elite group of what probably was the 18th century equivalent of the Country
Club set. Not unlike the way many people view the pilot community today
(rich boys and their toys) except the "toys" of the 18th century were land
and slaves. Having said that, it should also be understood that the society
from which our constitution came was much more homogenous than today's US
population. Yes, they were breaking away from England but day to day life
was straight out of "Merry Old..." and this included the concept of
monotheism. Add to that the fact that the very creation of the United
States was (to quote another vein in this thread) a "faith-based initiative"
whose viability was completely uncertain and seen as being "in God's Hands."
Much of life in 18th century America was lived by the idea of "In God We
Trust." The Moslems have a word for it too: "Inshallah", or God's Will.

It's "funny" that the Declaration of Independence makes reference to
"Nature's God", "Creator" and "Supreme Judge of the world" But the
Constitution makes no reference to God or religion of anykind (for those who
choose to pick nits, "Freedom of Religion" is covered in the First Amendment
[aka The Bill Of Rights])

> that said, I am not sufficiently offended to not accept to use banknotes;
> actually the more the better, I am a pragmatic guy :-)

But certainly not a hipocrite, right? <Grin>

> but if the same motto appears, say, on a court house; how am I supposed
> to trust that justice is actually delivered there? it tells me up front,
> that no matter what, I will not be treated fairly there.

>Think about it.

I have thought about it and I think you're wrong. Would you rather go to
court in a society that knows nothing of mercy and/or forgiveness as it's
taught in most of the world's major religions? Me? I prefer the idea of
living in a society who "knows" that there is something out there bigger
than they are. History has shown that societies based the concept of "Man
As God" (or Man instead of God if you prefer) do not last (Romans/Ceasar,
Nazis/Hitler, Faciast Italy/Mussolini, Japan/Hirohito, France/Louis 14, 15,
16 and then Napoleon, Russia/Czar, Soviet Union/Whoever had enough people
killed...) whereas the United States has survived and flourished because we
acknowledge that we have been "endowed by our creator" with the unalienable
rights we enjoy.

I don't feel, however, that this means my Creator can beat up your Creator.

Jay Beckman
PP-ASEL
AZ Cloudbusters
Chandler, AZ


.

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