Happy Independence Week to my fellow Americans! Heres one of my 82 Facebook wall posts this week to acknowledge its passage. This patriotic Sunday, Im reposting this Facebook that endeavors to explain how both Christianity and libertarianism interrelate, as best as I presently understand this matter. Libertarianism was first expounded by John Locke, who derived his political positions from Biblical doctrine, and later implemented by Americas founders via the U.S. Constitution. I believe, much as they did, that both Christian religious doctrine and libertarian political doctrine are both entirely compatible and innately harmonious with each other. I also believe that, for a seemingly-complex variety of reasons, virtuous societies tend to be free societies, whereas corrupt societies tend to be oppressed societies. I furthermore believe that both virtue and freedom are essential foundations of any civilization---and that any civilization will advance to the extent that it embraces these dual foundations, but decline to the extent that it rejects these dual foundations. I feel grateful that American society has enjoyed such an exemplary heritage in both these regards, not only religiously of commonplace virtue influenced by Biblical Christianity, which I believe is most important, but also politically of rightful liberty under Constitutional law. But I also feel worried that, if modern American civilization continues to increasingly reject its dual foundations then, like its classical Roman counterpart, it will ultimately dwindle away back into feudal barbarism. Lets please help to both preserve and, as needed, restore American societys fidelity to both virtue and freedom. I hope that this Facebook note will help others to better understand such matters, so that they will better understand what they should uphold, both religiously and politically.
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 01:28:16 +0000