From: hal@finney.org
Date: Thu Sep 21 2000 - 12:47:57 MDT
Ron H. writes:
> In a message dated 9/21/00 8:03:14 AM Pacific Daylight Time, hal@finney.org
> writes: << Okay, but you started off with this stuff about being created by
> God who gave us rights. >>
>
> Hal,
> Given that we know the Washington, Jefferson and many others were
> somewhat indifferent to organized religion was that phrasing literal or just
> exhoratory?
My point was that we should respect the reasoning of Washington,
Jefferson, etc. only if it makes sense to us. Just because they were
Great Men whom we were taught to worship in state-sponsored schools is
no reason to give special credence to what they say.
Forrest began by writing, "The reason for an armed populace is very,
very fundamental:" and then he quoted the Declaration of Independence,
which starts off by talking about God and how our rights come from him.
Why should we, who by and large reject theism, pay attention to a document
which has this as the foundation? Whatever the authors thought about
God and organized religion, if they base their theory of natural rights
on the principle that we are endowed with them by our Creator with a
capital C, they aren't going to convince me.
Arguments from authority are always suspect. Arguments from authorities
whom we are taught practically to worship are especially so. And when
those authorities base their philosophies on positions which I find
abhorrent, the arguments are virtually useless.
If someone wants to advance the idea that owning weapons is beneficial
because it makes it harder for organized groups to impose their will
on individuals, that's fine. But quoting Jefferson isn't productive,
at least not in this forum, at least not for me.
Hal
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