<p>greg7: I hope you’re a ■■■■■ because you clearly have no idea what you’re talking about. </p>
<p>Most of our laws/ideals in this country are based on both the greco-roman age and the enligtenment era of the 18th century.
Are you familiar with Lady Justice, for instance? She’s the allegorical personification of the morals that guide the legal system in most western countries. Her double-edge sword represents the value of reason and justice, her blindfold represents that the law favors no man over another and her scale shows that judgements are based on the abundance of evidence on each side and not on preconceived notions. This figure, which is iconic of law and order in the western world developed in ANCIENT ROME and has no relationship to judeo-christianity. </p>
<p>Furthermore, the concept of “inalienable rights” grew out of the secular enlightenment, which questioned religious dogma. This was the age of such great thinkers as John Locke, Rousseau, Voltaire, Payne and many many others. The ideas put forth from these philosophers are what INSPIRED the founding fathers of the US when they were writing the constitution. It wasn’t Christianity, it wasn’t God, it was these European thinkers who had begun to challenge the centuries year old tradition of the church. When these philosophers mentioned things like our “god-given rights” they’re not refering to the bible or christianity, they’re referring to the natural forces that guide the universe and in the nature of mankind itself. “God” in this case is much more of an allegorical concept than it is in christianity. </p>
<p>If life, liberty and justice were indeed judeo-christian values then clearly Europe would have seen democracy flourish as early as the 3rd century when in reality Europe had a long history of feudalism, catholic oppression of free thought and other things. If christianity really encouraged liberty, history woudn’t have had to wait until the 18th century to see those concepts finally begin to play out.</p>
<p>ps-most founding fathers were in fact deists, not Christian. Any reputable history book of America will back up this claim.</p>
<p>From what I’ve noticed, the term “Judeo-Christian values” as used by politicians are synonymous with and assigned to explicit Republican programs, such as right-to-life. I can’t say that the term applies to all programs, because the Republican stance on the death penalty is usually positive, something against modern Christian teaching. </p>
<p>So the term is usually only used in propaganda-style public speaking. Remember that this is in regards to how I believe politicians use the phrase.</p>
<p>“So any Christian who believes in equal rights is actually disobeying the Bible.”
“You said equal rights for both genders. The Bible clearly shows that this is not the case.”</p>
<p>umm yea…if you honestly believe that, then you know nothing about christianity…</p>
<p>I’ve always thought of Judeo-Christian values as loving your neighbor, doing unto others as you would want others to do unto you. Just basically being a good person and caring about people other than yourself. Having a will to service.</p>
<p>Hippo724-
The story about Lady Justice is interesting. However, to downplay the influence of Judeo-Christian values on our justice system doesn’t seem proper. The U.S. Supreme Court building top/center has a sculpture of Moses holding the 10 Commandments. Also, the 10 Commandments image is engraved on the doors to the courtroom. </p>
<p>You claim that “most founding fathers were in fact deists, not Christian”. Why try to downplay the influence of Judeo-Christian values in shaping our nation? Of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, only three (Jefferson, Franklin, Hopkins) are classified as Deists. Who are the rest of the Deists? </p>
<p>From the booklet, “Signers of the Declaration” published by the U.S. Department of the Interior, pages 27-28: “Except for Charles Carroll, a Roman Catholic, and a few Deists, every one subscribed to Protestentism.”</p>
<p>The thing about the bible being the word of God is that Jesus didn’t speak English. So at the very best, everyone is reading a translation. Even if we accept a perfectly accurate translation by people with no ulterior motives, if the whole thing is the word of god, how can people pick and choose what parts are important?</p>
<p>Religious pandering at best, kind of like how “God” was forced into the Pledge of Allegiance.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Whether the Founding Fathers were Christian or Deist is not the point. What matters is what they intended the country to be. Does America harbor and favour explicitly Christian values? And if so, what are these values and how are they absent from non-Christian societies?</p>
<p>As the term is used today, having Judeo-Christian values generally means being pro-life, opposing gay marriage, supporting creationism in public schools, etc.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>As opposed to other religions, which are about being a bad person?</p>
<p>To be fair, some people of other faiths would say the same (aside from maybe Buddhists).</p>
<p>Anyway, “Judeo-Christian values” should really be “Judeo-Christian-Muslim” values since they are all Abrahamic religions (in some ways, Islam is closer to Christianity than Judaism).</p>
<p>The only big difference is that more of the Judeo-Christian pop. have become “secularized” and modernized and hence, done away w/ the old, traditional practices from a millennia ago.</p>
<p>“Anyway, “Judeo-Christian values” should really be “Judeo-Christian-Muslim” values since they are all Abrahamic religions (in some ways, Islam is closer to Christianity than Judaism).”</p>
<p>EXACTLY. Also my god is right and all you heathen pagans are going to hell which unites these faiths.</p>
<p>Hmm how did Native Americans lose all their land again? Aww that’s right God and Country. (and Genocide)</p>
<p>It’s kinda funny how people think that these monotheist faiths are the only ones to have those “Values” as I recall many forms of spirituality express similar “Values”</p>
<p>Whoa. I just caught this post again. I in no way said that only Jews and Christians were good people, and that other religions were bad people.</p>
<p>I meant that Judeo-Christian is now a generic term for being a good person.</p>
<p>I know many people who are good people, and I have no idea, and don’t care, what their religion is.</p>
<p>And there are some who I do know what their religion is, and it’s neither Jewish nor Christian, and I still think they are good people.</p>
<p>Jesus said to do unto others as others would do unto you, and to love your neighbor as yourself. He didn’t say that only Christians or Jews should do this. He said that everyone should do this. </p>
<p>Moses presented the Jews with the Ten Commandments, which pretty much told us to be good people.</p>
<p>Thus, the term, Judeo-Christian values.</p>
<p>I’m sure the other religions have their own dogma that teach people to be good to one another. Just because they don’t have the label of Judeo-Christian doesn’t mean that they are less worthy of respect.</p>
<p>Of course, Christians follow the principle of non-violence, right? They never start wars, do they? </p>
<p>Matthew 5:38-42
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.”</p>
<p>Matthew 5:43-46
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and do good for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?”</p>
<p>It seems that rather than following these principles, Christians just like to create a lot of reasons why they don’t have to follow it, or develop exemptions for nearly every situation.</p>