Week after
Thanksgiving
Others,
There are those
who have conflated competition with war throughout history. Competition is
natural. War is not.
The temple at the Aereopagus was dedicated to Ares, god of war. The emperor had already been named the son of the god of war in Rome.
The temple at the Aereopagus was dedicated to Ares, god of war. The emperor had already been named the son of the god of war in Rome.
Empire started
as a confederation of kingdoms dedicated to the defense of the empire.
Neighboring kingdoms who did not join were categorized as “threats” or “enemies.”
Expansion was
equated with survival. Aggression was elevated to imperial status. Faith in god
came to be associated with fidelity to aggression by all those who burned
incense for the emperor as a living god.
A number of
translations of the following passage ascribe religiosity to the Athenians who
were present at the temple; as opposed to superstition. Did Paul appeal to
their vanity or rebuke them for it? It seems more likely that he reproved them.
The reproof was aimed at correcting belief in wars for aggression.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+17%3A22-31&version=KJV
“Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.”
----------------------------------
“Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.”
----------------------------------
Andrew, the
first called, is respected as an apostle who was willing to bring people to
meet Christ personally.
http://www.justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/294.html
“Before Jesus feeds the Five Thousand, it is Andrew who says, "Here is a lad with five barley loaves and two fish." (Jn 6:8f) And the first two disciples whom John reports as attaching themselves to Jesus (Jn 1:35-42) are Andrew and another disciple… Having met Jesus, Andrew then finds his brother Simon and brings him to Jesus. Thus, on each occasion when he is mentioned as an individual, it is because he is instrumental in bringing others to meet the Saviour.”
“Before Jesus feeds the Five Thousand, it is Andrew who says, "Here is a lad with five barley loaves and two fish." (Jn 6:8f) And the first two disciples whom John reports as attaching themselves to Jesus (Jn 1:35-42) are Andrew and another disciple… Having met Jesus, Andrew then finds his brother Simon and brings him to Jesus. Thus, on each occasion when he is mentioned as an individual, it is because he is instrumental in bringing others to meet the Saviour.”
Personal
testimony is protected as “free exercise” when it is not proselytizing.
Proselytizing is regarded as a coercive act when sanctions are imposed.
Andrew is
regarded as the patron saint for Byzantium, Russia and Scotland. There was a
time when the “official” nature of the state religion harbored coercion.
When
Christianity became an official religion, it did not stop tyrannical emperors
from rising to power. The representative nature of imperial government was
dependent upon the emperor and the leading factions who supported him.
Crucifixion was no longer used for the death penalty, but torture and the death
penalty were still employed.
While the people of the empire could not be forced
to join Christianity without risking revolt, judgments regarding criminal
behavior were still influenced by membership in the church. This was a
violation of prohibition against “establishment of religion” and “due process”
in law enforcement.
Even while
joining the official religion was not officially required, there were acts that
outlawed other forms of Christianity. Catholicism was repressed in Scotland
from the Scottish Reformation of 1560 until the Roman Catholic Relief Act of
1791.
St. Andrew’s
Roman Catholic cathedral in Glasgow, Scotland stands as one example of the testimony
that the repression did not eliminate the faith of Roman Catholics in the country.
http://www.relevantsearchscotland.co.uk/glasgow/standrewscathedral.html
http://www.relevantsearchscotland.co.uk/glasgow/standrewscathedral.html
When the
English bill of rights was documented in 1689, it made the monarchy
constitutional. It did not include freedom of religion, but it introduced the
provision against cruelty in punishment, the most important constitutional
innovation in the history of jurisprudence.
Moreover, the
constitutional form for the government did not put an end to tyranny. It
established a plan for operations. Human rights had to be respected by the
monarch and parliament to stop dictatorship.
The US ratified
the Constitution in 1789, a hundred years after the British. The bill of rights
were added as the first ten amendments in 1791. The rights were not observed in
practice when the republic eradicated the federalist party to establish a
single party government. Freedom of speech, assembly and the right to vote are
repressed when there is one party that dictates policy to the people.
====================
St. Andrews Cathedral in Honolulu, Hawaii was started by King Kamekameha IV and finished in the name of Queen Emma in 1886.
http://www.ship-of-fools.com/mystery/2008/media/honolulu_st_andrew.jpg
http://www.ship-of-fools.com/mystery/2008/1540.html
http://www.ship-of-fools.com/mystery/2008/media/honolulu_st_andrew.jpg
http://www.ship-of-fools.com/mystery/2008/1540.html
Kamekameha was also known as Alexander. He was the fourth king of Hawaii. His reign was from 1855 to 1863.
http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/293.html
"He and his wife were earnest in their devotion to both the material and the spiritual welfare of their people. The King personally translated the Book of Common Prayer and much of the Hymnal into Hawaiian. Their only son died in 1863, and the King died, apparently of grief, on 30 November 1864. The Queen devoted the remainder of her life to charitable endeavors (Queen's Hospital, the largest civilian hospital in Hawaii, is largely her doing). She died in 1885."
"He and his wife were earnest in their devotion to both the material and the spiritual welfare of their people. The King personally translated the Book of Common Prayer and much of the Hymnal into Hawaiian. Their only son died in 1863, and the King died, apparently of grief, on 30 November 1864. The Queen devoted the remainder of her life to charitable endeavors (Queen's Hospital, the largest civilian hospital in Hawaii, is largely her doing). She died in 1885."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamehameha_IV
"In May 1850, the royal brothers, boarded a ship in England and sailed to the United States of America for a more extensive stay before returning. At Washington D.C., they met with President Zachary Taylor and Vice President Millard Filmore. He experienced American racism firsthand when he was almost removed from his train car for being a "nigger"."
"In May 1850, the royal brothers, boarded a ship in England and sailed to the United States of America for a more extensive stay before returning. At Washington D.C., they met with President Zachary Taylor and Vice President Millard Filmore. He experienced American racism firsthand when he was almost removed from his train car for being a "nigger"."
http://prayerbookguide.wordpress.com/2010/11/20/king-kamehameha-queen-emma/
"The new king and queen immediately established a royal lifestyle based on altruism and humility instead of pomp and power. In response to a smallpox epidemic, they established Queen’s hospital, now the largest civilian hospital in Hawaii."
"The new king and queen immediately established a royal lifestyle based on altruism and humility instead of pomp and power. In response to a smallpox epidemic, they established Queen’s hospital, now the largest civilian hospital in Hawaii."
-------------------------------------
Even charitable works are a form of establishment when state funds are used for the building. The charitable works however provided a model for civic healthcare, education and community building.
Faith is not required by law. Freedom of religion allows freedom from it. Faith has however helped to establish two of the most important provisions in political practice: the provision against cruelty in punishment and freedom of religion.
Faith
Fm Psalm 25
I lift up my soul to you, LORD.
I put my trust in you, my God.
Do not let me be humiliated.
Do not let my enemies triumph over me.
Fm Psalm 25
I lift up my soul to you, LORD.
I put my trust in you, my God.
Do not let me be humiliated.
Do not let my enemies triumph over me.
Let none who look to you be put to shame.
Let the treacherous be betrayed by their treachery.
Let the deceitful be deceived by their deceit.
Let the destructive have their dedication
to destruction destroyed.
Let restitution restore justice.
Let the treacherous be betrayed by their treachery.
Let the deceitful be deceived by their deceit.
Let the destructive have their dedication
to destruction destroyed.
Let restitution restore justice.
LORD, show me your ways.
Teach me your paths.
Lead me to truth for goodness
with justice and mercy.
Teach me the joy of living.
You are the God of my salvation.
I have put my trust in you.
Teach me your paths.
Lead me to truth for goodness
with justice and mercy.
Teach me the joy of living.
You are the God of my salvation.
I have put my trust in you.
Your love, your law and your mercy are everlasting.
Forgive the errors and transgressions of my youth.
Remember me according to your love
for the sake of your goodness.
The LORD is gracious and just.
Humility guides the humble into correction.
Respect for human rights leads the respectful
into truth for goodness with liberty and justice
for all in the law.
Remember me according to your love
for the sake of your goodness.
The LORD is gracious and just.
Humility guides the humble into correction.
Respect for human rights leads the respectful
into truth for goodness with liberty and justice
for all in the law.
All paths to the LORD require faith with love.
Joy and prosperity go to those
who honor the rule of law
with respect for human rights.
Joy and prosperity go to those
who honor the rule of law
with respect for human rights.
==================
The LORD is good. Support is given to those who show respect for human rights.
http://bible.cc/psalms/25-8.htm
http://bible.cc/psalms/25-8.htm
Protesters in Egypt are angry with Morsi’s decree of exemption from Supreme Court judgment.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/27/world/meast/egypt-protests/index.html
“On Monday, his office clarified the edict, saying it only applied to "sovereign matters." Morsy "did not give himself judicial power" but did provide "immunity for his presidential decisions," said Jihad Haddad, a senior adviser in the Freedom and Justice Party.”
http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/27/world/meast/egypt-protests/index.html
“On Monday, his office clarified the edict, saying it only applied to "sovereign matters." Morsy "did not give himself judicial power" but did provide "immunity for his presidential decisions," said Jihad Haddad, a senior adviser in the Freedom and Justice Party.”
------------------------------
The statement affirming exemption from judicial judgment in “sovereign matters” still qualifies as a declaration of intent. The plan is to keep Morsi or a Muslim Brotherhood candidate in power indefinitely.
There was an affirmation for an eight year term limit in the articles of the new constitution. It is likely that the absence of unanimity will be used to declare a state of crisis. The crisis will employ the president’s power in sovereign matters to override the term limit.
The constitution of Egypt shows favor for the Islamists in general and for the Muslim Brotherhood in particular as the majority party.
Minorities protested the speedy ratification.
http://news.yahoo.com/opposition-cries-foul-egypt-constitution-finalized-002340246.html
“Tens of thousands gathered across the country, filling Tahrir Square and hitting the streets in Alexandria and other cities, responding to opposition calls for a big turnout.”
http://news.yahoo.com/opposition-cries-foul-egypt-constitution-finalized-002340246.html
“Tens of thousands gathered across the country, filling Tahrir Square and hitting the streets in Alexandria and other cities, responding to opposition calls for a big turnout.”
“"We fundamentally reject the referendum and constituent assembly because the assembly does not represent all sections of society," said Sayed el-Erian, 43, a protester in Tahrir and member of a party set up by opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei.”
---------------------------------------
A provision for freedom of religion is included but it is limited to Muslims, Jews and Christians with distinct favor for Muslims.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/30/world/meast/egypt-protests/index.html
"Moving a flawed and contradictory draft to a vote is not the right way to guarantee fundamental rights or to promote respect for the rule of law," said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch.
"He told CNN on Friday that key rights are ignored in the draft.
""It guarantees 'freedom of expression,' but you cannot insult the Prophet. You cannot defame the Prophet," Stork said.
"While it might be all right for such action to be considered a civil offense, it should not be "a criminal one as this document suggests," he said.
"The draft addresses freedom of religion, Stork notes, "but you have to be a Christian, Jew (or) Muslim."
"It doesn't address the Baha'is, he said, a group that has been persecuted in various countries for their faith."
"Moving a flawed and contradictory draft to a vote is not the right way to guarantee fundamental rights or to promote respect for the rule of law," said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch.
"He told CNN on Friday that key rights are ignored in the draft.
""It guarantees 'freedom of expression,' but you cannot insult the Prophet. You cannot defame the Prophet," Stork said.
"While it might be all right for such action to be considered a civil offense, it should not be "a criminal one as this document suggests," he said.
"The draft addresses freedom of religion, Stork notes, "but you have to be a Christian, Jew (or) Muslim."
"It doesn't address the Baha'is, he said, a group that has been persecuted in various countries for their faith."
-------------------------------------------------
Egypt is on the other side of the Atlantic for those of us in the US. They are a different country on a different continent. Nevertheless, that which is happening there affects that which is happening here. It is important to view their efforts in implementing a constitution from the perspective of our experience.
30 Seconds to Mars - Kings and Queens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTMrlHHVx8A
30 Seconds to Mars - Kings and Queens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTMrlHHVx8A
"We were the kings and queens of promise.
We were the victims of ourselves;
Maybe the children of a lesser God
Between heaven and hell;
Heaven and hell"
We were the victims of ourselves;
Maybe the children of a lesser God
Between heaven and hell;
Heaven and hell"
We are the citizens of promise.
Steve K.
No comments:
Post a Comment