Atheists who attack Christianity

"... by definition since they are speaking for God anyone who disagrees with them is inherently wrong. And the next step is: Those who disagree with them are inherently inferior, and in extreme cases -- as is the case with some fundamentalists around the world -- it makes your opponents sub-humans, so that their lives are not significant. Another thing is that a fundamentalist can't bring himself or herself to negotiate with people who disagree with them because the negotiating process itself is an indication of implied equality."

-- Jimmy Carter.

Shitty President on the whole, but a very smart man.

(on Archives.gov) The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It was engrossed on parchment and on August 2, 1776, delegates began signing it.

....... Finally, in the afternoon of July 4th, the Declaration was adopted.''

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=2

"The Declaration of Independence and the liberties recognized in it are grounded in a higher law to which all human laws are answerable. This higher law can be understood to derive from reason--the truths of the Declaration are held to be "self-evident"--but also revelation. There are four references to God in the document: to "the laws of nature and nature's God"; to all men being "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights"; to "the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions"; and to "the protection of Divine Providence." The first term suggests a deity that is knowable by human reason, but the others--God as creator, as judge, and as providence--are more biblical, and add a theological context to the document. "And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift of God?" Jefferson asked in his Notes on the State of Virginia.

The true significance of the Declaration lies in its trans-historical meaning. Its appeal was not to any conventional law or political contract but to the equal rights possessed by all men and "the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and nature's God" entitled them. What is revolutionary about the Declaration of Independence is not that a particular group of Americans declared their independence under particular circumstances but that they did so by appealing to--and promising to base their particular government on--a universal standard of justice. It is in this sense that Abraham Lincoln praised "the man who, in the concrete pressure of a struggle for national independence by a single people, had the coolness, forecast, and capacity to introduce into a merely revolutionary document, an abstract truth, applicable to all men and all times."

http://www.heritage.org/Research/AmericanFoundingandHistory/BG1451.cfm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_United_States

"On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress, still meeting in Philadelphia declared the independence of the United States in a remarkable document, the Declaration of Independence, primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson. Morocco was the first country in the World to recognize the newly sovereign United States in 1777. The Moroccan-American Treaty of Friendship stands as the U.S.'s oldest non-broken friendship treaty. Signed by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, it has been in continuous effect since 1783.

The United States celebrates its founding date as July 4, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress—representing thirteen British colonies—adopted the Declaration of Independence that rejected British authority in favor of self-determination. The structure of the government was profoundly changed on March 4, 1789, when the states replaced the Articles of Confederation with the United States Constitution. The new government reflected a radical break from the normative governmental structures of the time, favoring representative, elective government with a weak executive, rather than the existing monarchial structures common within the western traditions of the time. The system borrowed heavily from enlightenment age ideas and classical western philosophy, in that a primacy was placed upon individual liberty and upon constraining the power of government through division of powers and a system of checks and balances."

US Constitution, Article VI. - Debts, Supremacy, Oaths

"This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding."

The Treaty of Tripoli, Article 11

"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Musselmen; and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."

Emphasis added for clarity.

The Declaration of Independence was not a governmental document. It provided no framework. That is what the Articles of Confederation provided, /later/. The Declaration of Independence merely declared a separation from King George's England. Our country was founded on the Constitution.

Now, Kevn - when you're finished reposting misleading sound bites, and can actually address what I just posted, then you might get some respect.

There would be no "US" Constitution without the Declaration of Independence. There would be no USA at all.

I go by history, not currently. More people were killed in the Crusades in the name of christianity than have been killed for islam.

Of course without paranoia and the cold war there wouldn't be a 'under god' in the pledge either.

I said when you can address /what I just posted/, not "make revisionist historical conjectures that are untestable".

If Judaism wasn't the one true religion of the deity of Abraham, there would be no Christianity at all.

See? How do you like them apples?

Next I'll be talking about a dollar fifty in late charges at the public library, so I'll rest my case.

Yes, I like those apples as revised.

"THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!"
-Captain Piccard

Remember earlier when I said that I post my opinions because I hold copyright to the expression of them, and you don't - ?

Remember how I said that you fundamentally misunderstand copyright?

I wonder if you comprehend precisely what the implications are of inserting your own words and intent into someone else's works and then attributing that as a direct quote to them?

Wait - I've already answered my question - you don't.

Let me help you.

It's called the Right of Attribution and Integrity, and it means that you should not cherry-pick, edit, eisegesise, twist, mangle, mutiliate, spindle, fold, - the words and works of others, and then attribute the changed /thing/ back to the original author.

You can't address my arguments - you can only resort to ignoring me because you find me and the way I debunk your claims to be inconvenient. When you feel pressed by - I dunno, pride - to retort, you have to resort to something that's not only a logical fallacy, but also unethical and arguably both illegal and libelous.

You can't even acknowledge that you might be wrong. I have many guesses as to your motives for that, but honestly, I don't actually care what your motives are. I've already, as someone put it - and I paraphrase - 'fscked you up real good via el biblay', and you couldn't even begin to engage the arguments made there. I've demonstrated how ridiculous your claims are regarding the secular versus religious nature of the United States Government, and you can't even begin to engage those arguments.

I don't take you seriously. I'm sure you would /like/ to be taken seriously, but you've never mustered anything beyond Internet Gossip.

Is there not something more fulfilling you could be doing with your life than fighting a battle of wits and academics unarmed?

Hehehheheheheheheheeheheheh that rules.

The Declaration of Independence

A Bill of Indictment Against a King

The Declaration of Independence is arguably one of the most influential documents in American History. Other countries and organizations have adopted its tone and manner in their own documents and declarations. For example, France wrote its 'Declaration of the Rights of Man' and the Women's Rights movement wrote its 'Declaration of Sentiments'. However, the Declaration of Independence was actually not technically necessary in proclaiming independence from Great Britain.



The Need for a Written Declaration
A resolution of independence passed the Philadelphia Convention on July 2. This was all that was needed to break away from Britain. The colonists had been fighting Great Britain for 14 months while proclaiming their allegiance to the crown. Now they were breaking away. Obviously, they wanted to make clear exactly why they decided to take this action. Hence, they presented the world with the 'Declaration of Independence' drafted by thirty-three year old Thomas Jefferson.

The Lawyer's Brief
The text of the Declaration has been compared to a 'Lawyer's Brief'. It presents a long list of grievances against King George III including such items as taxation without representation, maintaining a standing army in peacetime, dissolving houses of representatives, and hiring "large armies of foreign mercenaries." The analogy is that Jefferson is an attorney presenting his case before the world court. Not everything that Jefferson wrote was exactly correct. However, it is important to remember that he was writing a persuasive essay, not a historical text. The formal break from Great Britain was complete with the adoption of this document on July 4, 1776.

Resources for Study
Following are numerous resources to aid in studying the causes of this important document.

Events Leading to the Declaration

Mercantilism

Mercantilism is the idea that colonies existed for the benefit of the Mother Country. In other words, the American colonists could be compared to tenants. As tenants, the colonies were expected to 'pay rent', i.e., provide materials for export to Great Britain. The goal of the British was to have a greater number of exports than imports thereby allowing them to store up material wealth in the form of bullion. Material wealth was important because of one of the central tenets of mercantilism: the idea that the wealth of the world was fixed. In order to increase wealth, a country had two options: explore or make war. By colonizing America, Great Britain greatly increased its base of wealth. This idea of a fixed amount of wealth in the world was the target of Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations (1776). Smith's work had a profound effect on the American founding fathers and the nation's economic system.

Further Information:
Columbia Encyclopedia Entry: Mercantilism

Royal Proclamation of 1763

This document prohibited settlement by colonists beyond the Appalachian Mountains. While Britain did not intend this to harm the colonists, many colonists took offense at this order.

Further Information:
The Royal Proclamation of October 7, 1763

Sugar Act of 1764

Parliament passed this act to raise revenue for the Crown. It included increasing duties on foreign sugar imported from the West Indies.

Further Information:
Sugar Act
Currency Act of 1764

Parliament argued that the numerous paper currency that had been issued in America had caused a devaluation harmful to British trade. Therefore, they ordered that no assembly in America would be allowed to issue any paper bills or bills of credit.

Further Information:
The Currency Act of 1764
Quartering Act of 1765

Britain ordered that if there was no room for British soldiers in the normal barracks then they were to be housed by civilians. This housing would include providing food and drink. Americans resented this imposition.

Further Information:
The Quartering Act
Stamp Act

This act required stamps certifying payments of taxes on many different trade items and certain documents including playing cards, legal papers, newspapers and marriage licenses. The purpose according to the British Prime Minister, George Grenville, was for the American colonies to pay for colonial defense. These new taxes, however, were direct taxes. Previous taxes imposed by Great Britain had been indirect, or hidden. The consumers did not see the taxes they paid.

Further Information:
The Stamp Act

Stamp Act Congress

In 1765, 27 delegates representing nine colonies met in New York City and drew up a statement of rights and grievances. Its major importance was that it brought colonies together in opposition to Great Britain.

Further Information:
Resolutions of the Stamp Act Congress
Sons and Daughters of Liberty

The colonists tried to fight back against the British by imposing non-importation agreements. The Sons of Liberty often took the law into their own hands enforcing these 'agreements'. Many who broke them were tarred and feathered.

Further Information:
Sons of Liberty: Patriots or Terrorists?
Townshend Acts (1767)

These taxes were imposed on the colonists with the idea that they would make the colonial officials independent of the colonists. They included duties on glass, white lead, paper and tea. It was an indirect tax. Smugglers increased their activities to avoid the tax leading to more troops being landed in Boston.

Further Information:
Townshend Duties

Boston Massacre

The colonists and British soldiers openly clashed on Boston green. This event became an example of British cruelty despite questions concerning how it actually occurred. My article, The Boston Massacre discusses these questions in greater detail.

Further Information:
American Revolution: Boston Massacre
Committees of Correspondence

Originally organized by Samuel Adams, these committees helped spread propaganda and information through letters. Thus, the flames of opposition to British policy were fanned.

Further Information:
The Sons of Liberty and the Committees of Correspondence
Tea Act of 1773

The British East India Company was in danger of going bankrupt which would have been detrimental to the tax base of Great Britain. To combat this, the British government gave the Company a monopoly to trade tea in America.

Further Information:
The Tea Act
Boston Tea Party

A group of colonists disguised as Indians boarded three tea ships in Boston Harbor on December 16, 1773 and dumped the tea onboard into the harbor. This brought almost immediate response from the British Parliament.

Further Information:
The Boston Tea Party
Intolerable Acts of 1774

The "Intolerable Acts" as they were called in America were passed in response to the Boston Tea Party. They placed numerous restrictions on the colonists including outlawing town meetings and the closing of Boston Harbor.

First Continental Congress

In response to the "Intolerable Acts," the colonists called together a meeting in Philadelphia. 12 of the 13 colonies were represented. This body deliberated from September to October of 1774. One of the main results of the Congress was the creation of The Association calling for a boycott of British goods.

Further Information:
Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress
Lexington and Concord

In April, 1775, a detachment of British troops was ordered to Lexington and Concord to seize some stores of colonial gunpowder and to capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock. When the British reached Lexington, open conflict occurred and eight Americans were killed. At Concord, these British troops were forced to retreat. 70 of their number were killed. This first event of open warfare set into motion what would later become the Revolutionary War.
Second Continental Congress

All 13 colonies were represented at the Second Continental Congress that met in Philadelphia. The meeting began in May, 1775. No real talk occurred of declaring independence. The colonists still hoped that their grievances would be met by King George III. George Washington was selected to head the Continental Army.

Further Information:
The Second Continental Congress
Bunker Hill

This major victory for the American Colonists resulted in King George III formally proclaiming the colonies in rebellion.

Further Information:
The Battle of Bunker/Breed's Hill
Hessian Mercenaries

King George III hired thousands of German troops after the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Further Information:
The Hessians and the American Revolution
Thomas Paine's "Common Sense"

Thomas Paine wrote one of the most influential pamphlets ever. Up until now, the colonists had been fighting Great Britain with the hope of reconciling their differences. Paine argued that America should control itself and become independent.

Further Information:
Common Sense


http://americanhistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.bartleby.com/65/me/mercanti.html

http://americanhistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.bloorstreet.com/200block/rp1763.htm

http://americanhistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://ahp.gatech.edu/sugar%5Fact%5Fbp%5F1764.html

http://americanhistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://ahp.gatech.edu/currency%5Fact%5F1764.html

http://americanhistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.lexrex.com/enlightened/laws/quartering.htm

http://americanhistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.lexrex.com/enlightened/laws/stampact.htm

http://americanhistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://odur.let.rug.nl/%257Eusa/D/1751%2D1775/stampact/sa.htm

http://americanhistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/fall96/sons.html

http://americanhistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://odur.let.rug.nl/%257Eusa/E/townshend/dutiesxx.htm

http://712educators.about.com/od/historyarboston/

http://americanhistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.motherbedford.com/Liberty.htm

http://americanhistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://ahp.gatech.edu/tea%5Fact%5Fbp%5F1773.html

http://americanhistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/teaparty.htm

http://americanhistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://odur.let.rug.nl/%257Eusa/D/1751%2D1775/independence/decres.htm

http://americanhistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle%5Fphiladelphia1776.html

http://americanhistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.masshist.org/bh/

http://americanhistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.americanrevolution.org/hessindex.html

http://americanhistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/milestones/commonsense/index.html

Now do a little reading and see that the declaration of independence wasn't a nessacary document

*bangs head against keyboard*

hehe I am still the fun loving no seriousness guy you fell in love with

There is what I saw in your post. What a waste of time even reading it. I imagine you must have a lot of free time to be scribbling such rubbish.

its not worth hurting that pretty face

admirable attempt Billybob, but an exercise in futility

Do you have any other source than about.com?

YES!

I'd be willing to bet a history teacher might just have a few books around

There are five lights. - Madred

Yes, a grammer and speling book to.

Where's your spelling book?