our country’s bible?
I’ve been listening to news coverage on the discussion about the right to bear arms in our country. It struck me that our Constitution and discussions about it is very similar to the Bible and discussions about it. I wonder if hard line literalist fundamentalist Christians also tend to be hard line literalists about the Constitution.
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Tags: constitution, bible, right to bear arms
2008
18
Mar
- Posted by Mak at 02:15 pm
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You betcha….
absolutely…fundamentalist literalists are almost always strict constructionists. At least that was what I saw in the circles I used to roll in…good connection!
-jeremy
Strict constructionists, much like fundamentalists, refuse to consider that the Founding fathers could not foresee semi-automatic weapons, the internet or technology in general and the impact they would have on society. Much like fundamentalists refuse to consider that Paul didn’t know about the industrial revolution or a world without slavery, or a world where women could be educated.
I’ve never thought of the parallel before…but it seems to make sense. My recollection of my constitutional debates with friends and others seem remarkably similar to the debates I’ve had with fundamentalists regarding scripture. Those same feelings of frustration seems to be in common with both.
It does make sense, and my constructionist leanings from my fundamentalist upbringing had their foundations there.
I think there was a good point though…the books/newspapers catch in the flaw in logic in their argument. It’s not for the constitution to forsee automatic weapons, etc; it’s for lawmakers to make laws to regulate the people’s right to bear firearms.
It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out.
Yes…you nailed it. It is in the very way a fundamentalist sees the world and authority. Both are are strictly closed texts as far as they are concerned. There is a fundamentalist that comes and does the chapel services one night a week at the homeless shelter where I work. he cannot stop talking about the Constitution in the same way he talks about the Bible—literal/historical intent of the original authors. I hated to point out to him that our chapel is full of many folks from across the border who are here illegally! They could care less about th right to bear arms!! Great post!
it’s a bizarre argument because the stats show that countries with less guns have less shootings….I would think that common sense might one day prevail over the hardline support for the constitution. But I think you’re right, the bible is prob a similar parralel. We’re getting a European constitution (sort of) and there was almost a rebellion…..
This post brings it to mind an interesting interchange when I was involved with BSF a few years back, as it seems that American Christianity hass morphed iteself with the political system. At the time there was an election and I was asked if I voted, and I said no as I’m not a citizen of this country, whereas my friend asked, jokingly, how then can I be a Christian - I bet a great percentage of American Christians feel that way; but the fact is that the Bride of Christ is not American.
Growing up in Brazil in a christian home we and other such kids were not even aloud to play with guns; when I was 7-9 I had bartered a toy gun so I could play cowboy and Indians w/my friends (Roy Rogers and the Lone Ranger where my favorites) and kept it hidden from my parents.
G. Boyd’s “the Myth of A christian Nation” is pretty much on the money and a must read.
Cheers…
carlos
semper amending?
my apologies..one of my daughter in laws clued me in…
I second the recommendation of Myth of a Christian Nation. Thanks everyone for your thoughts