tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452399934493075430.post2670845896419168141..comments2010-07-16T20:48:03.347-07:00Comments on Andy's random thoughts: Scripture in contextAndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08863391569457814011noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452399934493075430.post-66309478669146559092008-09-03T22:19:00.000-07:002008-09-03T22:19:00.000-07:00On the fading of history... scriptural criticism w...On the fading of history... scriptural criticism wasn't really even that acceptable till the French Enlightenment came along. And just because it became more possible to do without dying doesn't mean that it was something a religion would listen to. Didn't leave much wiggle room for acknowledging that certain non revealed assumptions might just be that, assumptions. At the time of the founding as well the 30 years war, probably the biggest religious war in all history aside the crusades, was still living if fading memory about like World War II is for us now.<BR/><BR/>Americans finally made their peace with all this by making a firm decision that to avoid inflicting doubt in the inspiration of any given church preachers would both stay out of political office and wouldn't comment on public policy. That sort of suggestion is quite abhorrent to modern conservative Christians because they like how biblically influenced early speeches are. But Tocqueville makes it very clear, early American's were proud of their religious leaders habit to stay away from politics because they knew if preacher preached too much public policy he might get proved wrong and damage the people's faith. Joseph Smith may have run for President, but he was an oddball for doing it. Oh and then there's the treaty Jefferson signed with the pirates talking about how the US isn't a Christian nation therefore we can't be considered to be at war with the pirates because of their muslim faith. America was kind of wierd then and still is now. Proud of its religiosity and its secular aspects at the same time.<BR/><BR/>Interesting point on reading Jewish perspectives on Messianic prophesy. There's so much to learn by studying from people with different perspectivess than ones own.CrouchingOwlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11487490296599614185noreply@blogger.com