What do you all think of the fact that our rights in this country...?

Question

Are given to us because of the concept of a God? The Constitution says "we are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights." This is one of reason the Founding Fathers use to justify their rebellion. They said that since George III rules encroached upon individual rights given to them by a God higher than the government, they had to rebel. Of course, there were other contributing factors, such as the Enlightenment and the idea that George III broke the social contract, but, what do you think?
It implies God gave us our rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, the press, etc. So it would mean that because of God, or the concept of a God (if you don't believe in God) we actually have rights that the government can't take away.
I think that, without the concept of God-given rights, they become government given rights, and the government can try to take them away. What do you think? No rude responses or attacks from either thiests or atheists. Agree or not? Why?

macguyver727: You missed the point. The point was to put the question up for discussion, but to engage in a "You were wrong and I was right" debate.

Gypsy Girl: They can try. And what if they succeed? Where's our freedom of the speech and freedom of the press now? I'm not saying that the government has the right to force the idea that there is a God on us, but I'm saying that the concept of a God, whether he exists or not, is what justifies our rights that the government cannot interfere with.

Oops; sorry. I meant the Declaration. I wrote the Declaration originally.

Answer 1

I think the constitution mentions god because it was written by and/or for people and a society that believed in god. However, that does not prove there is a god (not that I am saying there is not).

Our country was started by people who wanted to have the right to believe and practice the spiritual beliefs that work for them. They did not fight for the right to start a protestant christian society. Many Americans have and do claim to be christians, but that does not give the majority the right to force religion or its values on other Americans. That would be going directly against what America means, why our constitution was written, and what many of our ancestors and fellow Americans have given their life for.

Answer 2

We the people .... Remember. We get our limited government from "We the people..." What you are quoting is the American Civil Religion that we as American share. Our government is not allow to promote any denomination, but we are allow to believe what we what. It would be helpful the next time you quote, you get the right document.

Preamble of the Constitution: We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

You will find no mention of God or creator in the US Constitution.

Answer: Disagree based on the right document.

Answer 3

The framers of the Constitution were wrong. Those rights are not given to us by God. They are given to us by the government. There are many countries whose governments have not given thier citizens those same rights. The government can try to take them away by rewriting the constitution. The key word being try. The people don't have to accept a government that takes away their rights.

Answer 4

I agree-the concept of "inalienable rights" means that the government, made up of people, can't take certain rights away. People can't take away rights that God gave, but they can certainly take away rights that other people gave. The founding fathers wrote down our rights, but they founded our country with based on Christianity. Just look at our pledge: "one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." They were establishing that God makes our country "indivisible, with liberty and justice", and sets the main rules. This isn't saying, of course, that people can't misinterpret the law or disobey God and try to take away our rights. That's called sin.

Answer 5

For all those who try to smack us in the face with "separation of church and state" this would make the Constitution itself un-Constitutional, right? Where will this debate ever end? We all know that the fore-fathers left England to find a new land where they were free to worship God as they wanted and to escape religious persecution. How sadly ironic that's exactly the place we Christians find ourselves in again today in the very country established to give us those freedoms. God have mercy on us all.

Answer 6

I believe that there are God given responsibilities. And as long as we don't observe those, we can't really claim any "rights".

On the other hand, if we ALL observe our God given responsibilities toward others, their "rights" are taken care of automaticlly.

Could you immagine, if all Jews, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Sihks, Hindus and others, who all have been given the teachings of compassion and forgiveness toward "the other", would live up to that? There would be peace on earth!!

We should really give it a try!

Answer 7

Government is already on the path to taking away our freedoms. It will happen it is prophesied!

Answer 8

Told ya GOD Raised up this Country.
I Told ya.
I Told ya.

Na na nanana, you can't Catch Me.
(I Told ya)

Answer 9

Okay , never knew all of that .

Answer 10

HOG WASH!