Although it is the law that eventually forces More's execution, the play also makes several powerful statements in support of the rule of law. At one point More's future son-in-law, Roper, urges him to arrest Richard Rich, whose perjury will eventually lead to More's execution. More answers that Rich has broken no law, "And go he should if he were the Devil himself until he broke the law!" Roper is appalled at the idea of granting the Devil the benefit of law, but More is adamant
"What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil? ... And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned round on you - where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country is planted thick with laws from coast to coast, Man's laws, not God's, and if you cut them down -- and you're just the man to do it -- do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake!"
-St. Thomas More in “A Man for All Seasons”
The AIG thing made me think of something I saw in "A Man for All Seasons" GREAT MOVIE! Rent it....
These Attorney's General who are going after the AIG bonuses have not articulated what law these execs (who worked for $1 a year) broke! The arguement is it is "taxpayer money" and that it is wrong for "policy reasons" but no law has been broken! When Attorney's General take action outside of enforcing the law they become mere thugs and it isn't just the AIG execs who are harmed. We are all harmed. I mentioned St. Thomas More in "A Man for All Seasons" I won't give away the plot but there is one part that resounds through to today and current events.
Yes they are trying to collapse the dollar.. but that is just a means to an end. The end is we give up hope in Almighty God and put it in the Gov't or someone else. This is the opposite of what the framers wanted but since we have lost, what should be, our true focus we are scr**ed. America started as a place were we could worship God without state interference. But you ARE MOCKED FOR asserting a political opinion that might be informed by a religion or you are IMPOSING you religion, or you catechism or your God on people. We don't impose anything! WE PROPOSE! I happen to propose Christ crucified and resurrected! which leads me to value life from conception to natural death... While not all religions believe in Christ, many agree on the sanctity of life. The one thing the major religions share is that we ARE BEING ASKED TO BUT OUT!
Sally,
I am not sure whether you mean that our political/ moral choices cannot be informed by our religious beliefs. I also think we can be welcoming of other people who have different religious beliefs and still have reasonable discussion informed by our various religious convictions. I am a Catholic but would not expect non Catholics to agree with me on theological points. However, I don't see why I can't state that I believe that God created all human beings in His image which is where we get our essential human dignity... and see where that takes us. I do think that where ever the discussion goes it should be charitable.
As a Catholic family we will be homeschooling next year. We have purchased material from a Catholic Publishing company for this purpose. Originally we were sending our child to parochial schools, primarily because of the moral/religious reasons. I am sad to say that just because the school is a parochial school doesn't mean children will be free from exposure to secular influences. Catholic parochial schools are not what they once were and parents must be involved and remain vigilant because WE are the primary teachers of our children, not any school system.
The parallels between Israel inheriting (and losing) the promised land and the USA were probably not lost on the founders. It also makes for a great story. If we lose our moral compass we lose America... because America isn't the land we are standing on, it isn't the ground or exterior territory. It is the interior landscape created by our identity as free, rational and moral people. Sure we will be standing on the same dirt! But WE will have changed and thereby become dispossessed of our "inheritance" That makes the process so much more dangerous. Our external references haven't changed, only our behavior and our beliefs change until our very identity is altered.
As non-Catholic Christians, Muslims, Jews and Catholic we can agree that when we fail to have a religious and moral people casting votes then society goes off the rails. Abortion and gay marriage are clear examples of this.
Ditto on the expression of religious conviction (with charity) We may have theological differences that would make for interesting discussions, but it is our common belief in a Creator that is, currently, important. I am Roman Catholic, and I know that many are not. However, I don't think it can be denied that there is a relationship between worship of God, law and ethics. In his book The Spirit of the Liturgy, by Benedict XVI you wikk find that the first chapter mirrors and expands on your 2nd Principle "I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life." and the quote from George Washington’s first Inaugural address. “The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the external rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained.”
The parallels between Israel inheriting (and losing) the promised land and the USA were probably not lost on the founders. It also makes for a great story. If we lose our moral compass we lose America... because America isn't the land we are standing on, it isn't the ground or exterior territory. It is the interior landscape created by our identity as free, rational and moral people. Sure we will be standing on the same dirt! But WE will have changed and thereby become dispossessed of our "inheritance" That makes the process so much more dangerous. Our external references haven't changed, only our behavior and our beliefs change until our very identity is altered.
I think Non-Catholic Christian, Jews and Catholics and Muslims should be able to agree that without a belief in God, things get way off track in society. Abortion and gay marriage are clear examples of this.
We may have theological differences that would make for interesting discussions, but it is our common belief in a Creator that is, currently, important. I am Roman Catholic, and I know that many of you are not. However, it is unavoidable that there is a relationship between worship of God, law and ethics. In his book "The Spirit of the Liturgy" written by the current Pope when he was a cardinal this is explained in great detail. While the book primarily deals with liturgical activity, the first chapter mirrors and expands on the 2nd Principle "I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life." and the quote from George Washington’s first Inaugural address. “The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the external rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained.”
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Medley