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Introduction

The purpose of this site is to explore the question of what it means to apply a Biblical (or Judeo-Christian) worldview to some of the most important political issues facing America today.  My hope is to promote reasoned discussion that will both educate the public and help refine the site.

Throughout the remainder of this site, quotations from the Bible will be bolded in blue at the top of each section of the site, and quotations from America's Founding Fathers (or occasionally other political leaders or political commentators) will be bolded in black.  That way, whether or not each reader agrees with my opinions or conclusions, at least it will be clear where I am getting my material.

“The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time."   - Thomas Jefferson

"And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God?" - Thomas Jefferson

“For here we are not afraid to follow the truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error as long as reason is left free to combat it."  - Thomas Jefferson

 "I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion. - Thomas Jefferson

“There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand:  the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden.”  - Proverbs 30:181

Early Christian tradition held that “the way of an eagle in the sky” in Proverbs 30:18 referred to man’s spiritual journey with God. Since the eagle has also always been a symbol of America, and since I believe that the Judeo-Christian moral and spiritual traditions are vital parts of America’s heritage, I have chosen “the way of an eagle” as the theme for this site.

Although this site is written from a Christian perspective, and is intended to present a Biblical worldview (with references to both the Old and New Testaments), it is my hope and expectation that Jews will find much here that they can agree with, since the scriptures that Jews refer to as “the Law and the Prophets” (and Christians refer to as the Old Testament) make up about 70 percent of the Christian Bible.

I also hope that many libertarians (and other independent or liberal voters) will read this site with an open mind. Although we will disagree on some social issues, I think that Christian principles, libertarian principles, and America’s founding documents all agree on the importance of federalism, and above all on the importance of a limited central government. One of the proposals of this site is that social issues should be dealt with primarily on a state and local level (by state and local legislatures and the American people) rather than by the federal government. As Justice Holmes once put it, the Constitution “is made for people with fundamentally differing views.” And I hope that even those who disagree most with my views will come away with an increased understanding of why I hold them, which will promote reasoned discussion.

Although this site is intended to be written in clear and candid language, and careful thought has been given to the content presented, it is not intended to be “the last word” on the subjects discussed. It is merely the best effort of one ordinary citizen to provide a brief and readable overview of the admittedly large and complex issues being discussed.

One of the things that makes America unique among the nations of the world (and in my opinion the primary reason America has often been a source of hope and inspiration to people of other nations) is that America’s founding documents share many principles in common with the Judeo-Christian moral and spiritual traditions, and are clearly intended to allow the free exercise of all forms of religion to play a vital role in our public life2. Specifically, the Declaration of Independence gives the following definition of what it means to be an American:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness…and for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”

Thus, to deny our spiritual heritage is to deny the very essence of what it means to be an American. And as a patriotic American deeply concerned for the future of our nation, it both grieves and disturbs me that in America today religion is being systematically excluded from the public square based on what I believe to be a false understanding of the meaning of the Constitution and the true sources of our freedom. Only God can give us “inalienable” rights.

And I find it very ironic that religion is being excluded from the public square in the name of “tolerance.” In America today, because we are systematically excluding religion from the public square, reason is increasingly less free to combat the errors into which we have fallen, and our political discussion is increasingly polarized and less tolerant as a result.

Despite the problems America is facing today, America remains the freest and wealthiest large nation in the world today.  And therefore, although this site is intended to be forthright in its discussion of America's current problems, it is also written from a point of view of fundamental optimism.  I believe that both many of America's past successes, and the solutions to many of our current problems, are rooted in our adherence to the Judeo-Christian moral and spiritual traditions, which show America at its best. 

1Throughout this site, scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV), unless otherwise noted. The NIV is copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publisher.

2Both the parallels between the Declaration of Independence and the Bible, and the role that the Founding Fathers intended for religion to play in our public life, are discussed in more detail in later sections of this site.

 

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