...shouldn't atheists just be willing to give up all their rights? I mean, wouldn't it be hypocritical of them to claim God-given rights?
2007-01-22 15:04:29 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I've got 3 arguments for your consideration...
1. Ideas about "rights" have changed over the years. In the beginning of the rights discussion, people thought certain things were "natural" or "self-evident", and the way they explained this was that they were god-given. This could have simply been a turn of phrase more than anything else.
Even if they did believe such rights came from god, this is no longer the case in a legal sense. These days the belief is that something is only a right if it's written down in law, so those constitutional rights, though attributed to God, are no longer considered by the courts to be god-given, but given by law. If the constitution was written today it might not use those words.
2. It's a logical absurdity to expect someone who is a non-believer to reject certain rights because they were made by god. If a person doesn't believe in god, they dont believe god made the rights, so it's not wrong to accept them.
3. Finally, those rights cant be waived, a court cant allow it. The constitution gives them to everybody, and the court must enforce them whether a person wants to use them or not.
you make a nice argument, though...
2007-01-22 15:32:23 · answer #1 · answered by dave_eee 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, but they did profess some of our right were endowed on us by the Creator. And I think the founding Fathers were all Christian, so I would say they were talking about GOD. So I think they had a different view of the First Amendment than what the Libs of today would have you believe. They didn't want an official religion, like the Church of England. And they said there should be no prohibiting the free exercise of your right to practice your religion. But today I can't pray in school or say God on TV. So sad.
2016-05-23 23:42:39 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with this other guy that you have gotten the Bill of Rights confused with the Constitution. The Constitution does not mention rights as being God-given.
2007-01-22 15:16:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
THERE IS NO MENTION OF GOD in the Constitution. Or any reference real or implied. Read Jefferson.
And the insertion in the Decl. of Independence was a compromise.
History 102
2007-01-22 21:25:54 · answer #4 · answered by emiliosailez 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are confusing the Constitution and Bill of Rights with the Declaration of Independence. In the Dec of Ind, they said, We hold these truths to be .......endowed by our Creator......certain inalienable rights, the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If you compare that to the Bill of Rights, the Bill of Rights does not specifically mention any of the three.
2007-01-22 15:14:22 · answer #5 · answered by forgivebutdonotforget911 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
ooohhh mmmyyy goddd
peanuts would make for better brains then some of you people's current brains...
atheists are generally republican, (to be atheist you hafta be intelligent, to be republican you hafta be intelligent, notice the similiarities) therefore, they arent strict followers of the constitution. In history, those extremists who followed the constitution word-for-word eventually started riots and murders. Now we call them liberals..
What would we gain from giving up our constitutional rights? we wouldnt make a point, we wouldnt live a more 'pure' life because we dont believe in having to be 'pure' we believe in being ourselves and living a life in which your body changes and dies, and only lasts a short time.. no time to be worrying about some random spirit that doesnt exist.
that doesnt make since pal! are you one of those morons who like to say powerful statements that other people with brains just lauf about.. like... "We Should Impeach BUSH!! rawr!"
will you all move to gitmo? plz. lets see if god saves you there...
2007-01-22 15:18:42 · answer #6 · answered by Corey 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The ***PRAYNOGRAPHER*** gets up early to answer this one. god did not give, or grant any rights, or freedoms.They were given to you by dead brave soldiers. They fought and died for your right to be stupid, and cowardly, as your question attests to.To those that are ready to willingly give up some of those rights just to feel a little safer are as cowards in the field of battle where we send brave men and women to secure those rights. I am ashamed of my fellow Americans for allowing their rights to trampled upon out of fear. It is a slap in the face of those whom died for these same rights, that you are now willing to discard. " AMERICA" Land of the lost, and home of the brave less (COWARDS)..The ***PRAYNOGRAPHER*** has spoken, food for thought,if you can still think for yourself .....
2007-01-22 20:54:17 · answer #7 · answered by Praynographer ! 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
correct. In God We Trust !!
2007-01-22 15:17:18 · answer #8 · answered by ValleyR 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Bravo!
2007-01-22 15:11:04 · answer #9 · answered by Karen 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Excellent question! ROFL
2007-01-22 15:13:37 · answer #10 · answered by celebduath 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋