Why the Constitution is a Holy Document
The truth is that if someone were to read history with the idea that there is a God in Heaven and that that same God will at times intervene in earthly affairs, they would come to the conclusion that this God has directly involved Himself in the founding of the United States of America. Perhaps the earliest example of this is the defeat of the Spanish Armada. At the actual Battle of Gravelines, the Spanish Armada suffered few casualties and retreated more because of having broken formation than because of an actual defeat. After the battle, the Armada attempted to sail around the British Isles and return to Spain, where they could prepare for a second attack. However, the Armada suffered heavy losses due to storms. When what remained of the once-proud Spanish Armada returned to the Iberian Peninsula, it was clear that a second attempt was completely infeasible. With the defeat of the Armada, England emerged as a naval superpower, opening up the door to English settlement in the New World. In honor of the weather's effects on the Armada, Queen Elizabeth ordered that one of the medals bear the words "God breathed and the enemy was defeated".
Skip forward a couple centuries, and you find yourself at the next major point of divine intervention in the French and Indian War. George Washington had recently suffered a humiliating defeat in the Ohio Valley, where he had inadvertently started the war. Now, he was commanding a small force alongside General Edward Braddock. Washington and his men were attacked in the Battle of Monongahela, resulting in the death of Braddock and general chaos among the troops. Washington managed to regain control of the troops and organize a retreat with minimal casualties. Later, the future president found bullet fragments not only in his clothing, but also in his hair! The native who had commanded the attack later told Washington that he had ordered his men to fire specifically at the men in charge and that he himself had fired on Washington at least four times. As the commander of American troops in the Revolutionary War, the man who stopped the Newburgh Conspiracy, the man who presided over the Constitutional Convention, and the first president under the Constitution, Washington played an essential role in the founding of America.
Also, it must be noted that God played a role in the actual writing of the Constitution. The Constitutional Convention had been on the brink of failure due to heated arguments between those who supported a strong central government and those who supported a strong state government when Benjamin Franklin stood up and delivered a speech proposing that hey begin each meeting in prayer. The Convention followed his advice and after that day, the Constitution made a comeback. As representatives turned to the word of God to deal with the issues they faced, the future of the United States was finally made secure.
If there is any doubt as to God's interest in the Constitution, one has only to turn to the War of 1812. Most people know that during the war, the British troops burned the Capitol of the U.S., however, you will be somewhat more hard-pressed to find someone who knows what happened afterward. The truth of the matter is that after the British burned the Capitol, a freak hurricane traveled up the Chesapeake Bay and put out the fires! Not only that, but the hurricane then caused tornadoes that devastated the British troops without wrecking the Capitol! Ask any meteorologist how any of this is possible and chances are, they will tell you that they weren't aware it was.
Recently, I have been reading from "Discourses on Livy" by Niccolo Machiavelli. As one history's foremost political geniuses, Machiavelli had a lot to say about democracy and he outlined quite a few rules about how a free nation had to function. The Constitution broke at least half of them. With that on my mind, I eventually reached the conclusion that the Constitution had essentially changed democracy. With the founding of the U.S., a precedent was set that has now led to a new age of freedom. Perhaps that is why God spent so much time and effort making sure that the United States came into existence under just the right circumstances with just the right background. Or maybe I'm just some poor fool suffering from some kind of mass delusion...that has afflicted the greatest figures in history.
Published by Brett Davison
My name is Brett and I was born on October 12, 1991. I'm a Christian, a history geek, a philosopher, an otaku, and a writer. View profile
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35 Comments
Post a CommentAs in all things related to faith, we tend to look at the same objective occurrences in the world that is, and interpret them in ways that support our personal beliefs. Brett looks at history and sees the obvious fingerprint of God's intervention. Others would simply see the random occurrences that come out of an immensely complicated chaotic system. Which is right? No way to tell, and no need either. There is no way to convince the faithful to stop believing, nor to convince the atheist to start. The article is well thought out, and assuming the history is correct (which I will not take the time to establish) the thesis is nicely supported. This does not mean everyone reading it will (or should) take out a bible and start praying. Part of the wonder of our society is that we do not need to agree on our beliefs to be able to live in the same place and act together when needed.
Interesting piece...you know what you're talking about, whether you're right or wrong.
Oh, and I don't consider you and Jeff "opponents". That term implies that we are in some sort of contest that can be won. The beliefs that you and Jeff hold are no more provable in the physical realm than mine. So in reality you are not opponents just fellow searchers.
I go away for a little while and I miss Jack's response to my discussion with Jeff. I apologize for that last sentence, Jack and Jeff sounds like the title of a bad children's book. So I just want to clarify, so as not to misunderstand your post. Are you calling me personally close-minded, unintelligent and insane or just everyone who believes in a God? The first I can forgive because, let's face it you and I have never met, so maybe I am all those things. However, if you are giving those definitions to anyone who believes in God then I believe a study of history puts you on very shaky if not completely crumbling ground. And let's at least be honest. Everything on this site is presumptuos. One could very easily say that you and Jeff's belief that there is no God is presumptuos. We all have presuppositions. That is the nature of this site.
Very good post Brett. I must say, however, I was disappointed that those who disagree with your ideas could not bring up any concrete evidence, no historical quotes. A nice chat on opinions but Jeff, you really should read more on what Christians believe and then use refrences such as the Bible to back your claims on their belief system, it gives stronger foundation to your currently flawed claims. Also, Jack, I don't quite get why it is ridiculous to claim that God gives us free will, why shouldn't He? What kind of God are we looking at here? Please explain why this is ridiculous, I'd like to understand. :) Forgive me for butting into the conversation, I was intrigued.
Also, what Scott said was not actually presumptuous at all. Jeff entered an argument with Scott and myself about the moral nature of God. Naturally, an argument of this type requires the assumption--if only within the argument itself--that God exists and that He is allpowerful. Based on these assumptions, it is perfectly reasonable to say that God has given Jeff a right to choose whether or not to accept Him because if He didn't...well then we really wouldn't be having this discussion.
Well Jack, I pretty much just posted the prayer because it was Thanksgiving and I figured I should do something in honor of that. You have to understand that for me there's a certain romanticism associated with ideas and concepts that don't have an actual physical presence but still have an impact on the physical world. A prayer that is given any kind of permanent manifestation in the physical world really appeals to that.
Brett, I do have one serious question: Why did you break into prayer in the middle of the argument? Clearly it wasn't for the benefit of God, because you could have prayed to him silently.
How presumptuous you're being, Scott. You said that God gave Jeff a right to have nothing to do with him. What you don't seem to understand (or maybe you do and you know this gets under your opponent's skin) is that to freethinking, intelligent, sane people that sounds like, "Superman of Krypton gave you the right not to have anything to do with him." It often ends debate because it's really such a ridiculous statement. (By the way, I agree with you about the nature of Internet debate and how it can turn ugly for no good reason).
God is God in good and bad and times and I have even found him to be more real in the dark times. He has certainly taught me more during those times than in the good. I respect your right to have nothing to do with God afterall He gave you that right. He is also big enough to handle being called an "absentee landlord" or "self-serving maniac". However, you may just have to come to the conclusion that while you may want nothing to do with Him. He may want everything to do with you.