In America, we tend to take Freedom for granted. 'We hold these truths to be self evident' is the opening argument in the Declaration of Independence, & it goes on to lay the basis for American Freedom: The equality of Man, Natural Law, & the role of collective organization (government). But where did this idea originate? Obviously, the history of Man is not filled with shining examples of freedom & self rule, but is primarily the history of man's oppression & inhumanity to his fellow man. 'Might makes right', has been the central lesson of history, so how did this get changed to 'Might FOR right'? How did a sense of Natural Law become rooted in the collective psyche of the people, & provide the basis for throwing out the old system of 'Might Makes Right'? Let's go backward in history, & see if we can follow this Thread of Freedom in humanity.
The Reformation.
This is an obvious correlation in American Freedom. The central message of the reformation is almost identical to those who wrote about freedom & Natural Law. Luther's 95 Theses is an amazing parallel to the Declaration of Independence. Each numbered point has the Reformation view equaled to the American founder's view.
1. The priesthood of believers = The equality of Man. This is a central tenet in the Reformation. There is no mediation class, but all believers have equal access to God. This concept began to erode the elite view of certain classes.. there is no 'divine right of Kings', or a special privileged class that has more access to God than anyone else. The American founders held to this same view, 'All men are created equal'.
2. Scripture as Authority, not edicts of man = Natural Law over imperial rule. Kings & priests were not above the Law, but were equally subject to the Law of God. Their whims were not the final authority, but the higher Law of God.. Natural or scriptural.
3. Money. ..to buy indulgences or to buy someone out of purgatory = No taxation without representation.
Note in Luther's list:
# 27 - There is no divine authority for preaching that the soul flies out of the purgatory immediately the money clinks in the bottom of the chest.
This is an exact parallel to the American complaint of excessive taxation. Money always takes center stage, in matters of Human Freedom, as those who take our freedom are primarily interested in our money. They want us to pay them to oppress us. Both the reformers & the American founders told the powers that be to take a hike. Our money is ours, & we're not giving it to you any more. This was the greatest crime against the status quo, & causes the most alarm. They are less interested in the basis of ideology or our eternal souls than keeping the money coming in. They are much more interested in mooching off of the working man, than helping him to be free or spiritual.
Note the similarity of Luther's theses, compared it to the American 'list' in the DOI:
Luther: #66- The treasures of the indulgences are the nets which to-day they use to fish for the wealth of men.
#86 - since the pope's income to-day is larger than that of the wealthiest of wealthy men, why does he not build this one church of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with the money of indigent believers?
DOI:For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
4. Defiance: We must obey God rather than Man = It is the right of the people to alter or abolish the Govt.
DOI:
..whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government..
But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security..
Luther:
#32- All those who believe themselves certain of their own salvation by means of letters of indulgence, will be eternally damned, together with their teachers.
#92 - Away, then, with those prophets who say to Christ's people, "Peace, peace," where in there is no peace.
5. Corruption. Both the 95 Theses & the DOI are full of complaints of corruption in the system, & past appeals to resolve them. In the DOI, remedies are clearly spelled out, while Luther stops short of calling for open rebellion. Others got the idea, & the reformation was open rebellion to the status quo of the catholic church, & their power over the people.
6. Appeal to Reason.
Luther's opening statement: Out of love and concern for the truth, and with the object of eliciting it, the following heads will be the subject of a public discussion at Wittenberg..
#90 - These questions are serious matters of conscience to the laity. To suppress them by force alone, and not to refute them by giving reasons, is to expose the church and the pope to the ridicule of their enemies, and to make Christian people unhappy.
DOI: ..a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident,
Too often events in history are portrayed as disconnected from the time-line of history, or unrelated to other causes & correlations. Modern education sneers at the religious beliefs of those in the past, & tries to present a secular view of human thinking & ideology, when their deepest religious beliefs not only were the spring from which their ideas flowed, but provided the basis for their reasoning. Freedom has its roots in Natural Law, & in the equality of Man. Those who rule by elitist privilege & decree are enemies of Human Freedom.
We are in danger of losing what has taken centuries to secure. Natural Law is once again being replaced by imperial rule, & the whims of men are elevated over the written rule of Law. Oblivious to history & how we have arrived to where we are, the elites are once again trying to drive us into paying them to oppress us. They take our hard earned money, by deceptive taxation, hidden by currency manipulation & debt. They cast aside reason & offer smooth words & propaganda. They ignore the rule of Law, & return us to imperial rule & an elite ruling class. We only repeat history, we do not learn from it.
There is little else for the working citizens to do, other than what their ancestors before did: Defy the oppressors & exploiters. They will not reason. They will not give up their power. They will not concede anything except by force. If 'We the People' do not assert our might FOR right, the elites will assert their might AS right, & will return us to exploitation & subservience.
No comments:
Post a Comment