tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19769805.post3093530044422471880..comments2023-11-02T09:14:47.151-05:00Comments on Bill's Thoughts: A RELIGIOUS TEST?Bill Ballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13573859102823530876noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19769805.post-27220526354947613592012-01-07T17:31:43.958-06:002012-01-07T17:31:43.958-06:00Thanks Ramsey.Thanks Ramsey.Bill Ballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13573859102823530876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19769805.post-25714260630993434702012-01-07T17:11:23.959-06:002012-01-07T17:11:23.959-06:00Enjoyable read. I have often thought that our poli...Enjoyable read. I have often thought that our politicians show-boat their faith in order to gain support from the evangelical voting bloc--cheapening their faith in the process (Matthew 6:5). However, I must contest that atheistic beliefs in political office cause tremendous problems for the cause of liberty (though I concede that theocracy does as well). Our Declaration of Independence states, "WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness--That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men..." This means that our rights come from God, not from government. Rather, the government is here only to ensure that the rights received are to be secured. Someone who has no belief in a higher being cannot logically stand on the principle of God-endowed rights. Thus, forcing the question, where do our rights originate if not from God? It would not then be illogical to assume that government (the keeper and protector of our rights) was the source of our unalienable rights. This transfer of authority from God to government is one that allows for the most extreme devaluation of human life--as government, not God, determines the value and extent of Life, Liberty, and one's Pursuit of Happiness. This leads me to believe that an atheist (self-proclaimed or otherwise) is not a choice for moving a nation towards greater freedom. As for the faith of the candidate, that is much more negotiable--as I would not oppose a Christian fundamentalist who desired America to be a theocracy, just as I would oppose any leader who wished to inject any other religion into restrictive legislation that binds the liberty of man anymore than the extent of using government to provide protection to the people from the harm brought on by other people (not protection from myself, or to uphold a religious code). And yes, I am a Libertarian. Ron Paul 2012! See you Sunday, Bill!Ramseynoreply@blogger.com