The Biblical Foundations for Freedom

American Democracy And The Judeo-Christian Bible Series

Comment: This post is an article on 'Biblical Foundations for Freedom' by Kevin Youngblood. The article is not comprehensive on the thought but does underpin the notion of freedom from the Judeo-Christian worldview. I will add further comment to the article in order to increase understanding and connect freedom to America's founding as the Forefathers thought. 

This prose uses the theological concept of sin. The notion of sin is not clear to most people who mindlessly throw the term around and others who boldly reject the idea of sin without understanding the concept. Sin is rebellion against the Judeo-Christian God. People who reject the notion of sin are in fact rebelling in that mere action whether they acknowledge the act or not. There are other views of sin but all views boil down to rebellion. In the Judeo-Christian worldview, rebelling places a person into slavery or bondage. This will be discussed lightly in this post and more in depth in another post being prepared. 

Please note that while this is a discussion on the Judeo-Christian God or simply God. The term, Judeo-Christian, will precede God whenever possible. The reason for this is not to confuse the common term god with other gods. For example, Al-Lah is Aramaic meaning 'The god'. Al-Lah or simply Allah is not the Judeo-Christian God. Allah is distinctly different being the Moon god that Abraham's mother Terrah worshipped while in Kut. The Moon God's crescent symbol also appears atop the spires and the mosque dome.

The Biblical Foundations for Freedom
Kevin J. Youngblood
Southern Baptist Seminary
Louisville, Kentucky

Freedom is a key Biblical theme finding expression in both the spiritual and social ramifications of salvation in Jesus Christ. Scripture portrays freedom in a complex and multifaceted manner. It addresses issues related to political freedom, freedom from the institution of slavery, freedom from oaths and obligations, freedom from guilt and punishment, and freedom from sinful destructive habits. Naturally, these categories are not air tight; there is considerable overlap, but these constitute the basic categories for understanding the Bible’s conception of freedom.

Political Freedom

The central redemptive event of the Old Testament, The Exodus, resulted in Israel’s freedom from Egyptian domination. While it is true that the exodus involved freedom from slavery, the more significant result was the fulfillment of the divine promise ensuring the formation of Abraham's offspring into an independent political entity with its own land; Genesis 12:1-3; 15:18. Israel’s political freedom, however, did not take the form of a democracy; God formed a covenant with Israel in which he ruled over the nation as king and the nation worshipped and served him as devoted subjects - a form of government referred to as a theocracy; Exodus 19:5-6. Israel’s freedom consisted of her independence from other human kingdom’s, not an independence from her divine king.

Comment: Israel was granted secular leadership but the Judeo-Christian God retained sovereignty over morality; 1 Samuel 8.  There is no separation of Church and State in the Bible. All governments are subordinate to the Judeo-Christian God's will; Judges 8:23. As long as the political leaders follow the Judeo-Christian God's framework then the nation prospers; Duet 16:18-20.  Thus, political freedom is not absolute but instead subjected to the Judeo-Christian God's will from the Judeo-Christian perspective or worldview.

Freedom from Slavery

In many Biblical context, freedom is a social category standing in contrast to the social category of slavery. Though the institution of slavery did not exist in the social structure of ancient Israel, it was regulated by strict laws ensuring the humane treatment of slaves. The Torah, for example prohibited any Hebrew from owning a Hebrew slave longer than six years unless the slave voluntarily agreed to remain in the service of the master; Exodus 21:2-5; Deut 15:12-18. In fact, the law commanded that any Hebrew who became poor and sold himself into slavery was not to be treatd as a slave but as a hired worker. Furthermore, he was to be released on the year of Jubilee; Lev 25:39-43. Any slave who suffered physical injury at the hands of his master was to be freed; Exodus 21:26. Thus, it was God’s intention that his chosen people enjoy social freedom in the ancient Israelite economy. They were not to live in the promised land as they had lived in Egypt before their redemption.

In the New Testament, Paul advised slaves to gain their freedom if possible, but if not, to serve Christ faithfully as a slave. Their social position was irrelevant to their status in Christ’s kingdom and their calling in ministry; 1Cor 7:21-22. Though a believer may be a slave in society, he is free in Christ and thus can live in spiritual liberty while enduring social bondage. Paul’s letter to Philemon appears to be singularly concerned with the release Onesimus, a runaway slave who belonged to Philemon. In social terms, therefore, the Bible acknowledges that freedom is preferable to slavery but not essential to enjoying spiritual freedom offered by the Gospel.

Comment:  A  more comprehensive article on slavery is being prepared for posting.  In short, slavery in ancient society was not viewed or thought of as modern slavery is deemed. In the ancient world the practice of paying off debt through servitude was common. The concept of being a servant gained positive acceptance in the ancient world  in which the economies were solely dependent on slavery. Christ himself likened his service to man as a servant by humbling himself washing the feet of the disciples; John  13:1-17. That act is consider the ultimate demonstration of service or servitude.   

Freedom from Obligation and Guilt

Scripture also relates the concept of freedom to the concepts of obligation, oath, and guilt. In the Old Testament, people are commonly bound to and released from oaths. In example; Genesis 24:8,41. The two-and-a-half tribes that lived on the East side of the Jordan [River] were under obligation to help the rest of the Israelites conquer the land of Canaan. God said that once the land was subdued they would be free from this obligation; Numbers 32:22. Similarly, Paul speaks of a spouses freedom from marriage in the case of a mate’s death or in the event that an unbelieving spouse forsakes the marriage; 1Cor 7:15,39.

This concept is then broadened to include freedom from punishment brought on by guilt. For example, a woman suspected of martial infidelity was subject to a bitter water ritual to determine her guilt or innocence. Before administering the test, the priest would say, "If you are innocent of uncleanliness, you may be free from the curse of the test of bitter water”; Numbers 5:19-22. Pual uses the term freedom in a similar sense in Romans 8:1-2 when he says, “Therefore no condemnation exists for those in Christ, because the spirits law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death; Gal 5:1.

Freedom from Confinement and Distress

Scriptures frequently describes God as one who sets prisoners free; Pss 102:20; 146:7; Isa 45:13, 58:6; 61:1; and Luke 4:18. In these contexts, God is freeing people from their literal and metaphorical confinement. The concept is frequently broadened to include distress or dire circumstances; Ps 118:5; Zech 9:11; 1 Cor 7:32.

Freedom from Sin (Rebellion)

The work of Christ brought new depth and significance to the Biblical concept of freedom. Paul in particular proclaims a new freedom in Christ, freedom from sin. Beyond freedom from the penalty of sin, Paul also speaks of freedom from the power of sin, the Spirit-empowered ability to resist habitual disobedience; Romans 6:7-22; Gal 4:1-7. Closely related to this is Paul’s declaration of freedom from the law, not freedom from God’s standard of righteousness but freedom from the frustration of our fallen nature’s inability to keep God’s law; Romans 7:7-20. Not only did Christ fulfill the demands of the law in his own life and sacrificially death, he continues, through the Holy spirit, to fulfill it in the lives of the transformed believers.

Thus, contrary to popular opinion, freedom is not the ability to do whatever one desires. This inevitably leads to enslavement to one’s own passions. Rather, The Bible, defines freedom as the ability to deny one’s self, to deny one’s desires in the interest of pleasing and glorifying God.

Comment:  Youngblood opens remarking that the Biblical notion of freedom is expressed in both spiritual and social ramifications of salvation in Christ.  While I agree with Youngblood, I would like to expand the thought adding the perspective that freedom is a natural right.

The concept of natural rights begins with the architecture of man from a Judeo-Christian God perspective and centers on several key concepts. God created a male embodiment from the Earth then breathed a soul into the embodiment; Genesis 2:7. Woman was created from man.  Humans were also created in or of God's image according to his likeness; Genesis 1:26-27, 5:1, 9:6. Many interpreters have thought to locate the God's image in human reason, creativity, speech, spiritual nature, or some aspect of humans. It is more likely that it is the whole of man rather than some part or aspect of him, that is the image of God (Marshall, Millard, Packer, and Wiseman, 1996, p. 499). Therefore, the Biblical model of a human is an embodiment of which within there is an image and a soul. The soul is the steward of the embodiment and image. The Bible provides the framework for accurate and righteous stewardship. When connecting the architecture of humans to a natural right to be free, the concept that God cannot rebel against himself (sin) and is free from this rebellion is the basis for imprinting the right to be free upon humans since the image is in humans. Thus, humans assume the natural right of freedom from the image in them.

This thought which originated from Rabbinical thinking has extended into Christian thought. Freedom is simply one right. In general, God's in image in humans gives humans dignity, all their natural rights, and purpose. Wrapping all this together, the framework for provisioning dignity, rights, and purpose are expressed as a comprehensive framework throughout the Judeo-Christian Bible in terms of commandments, principles, and concepts that are connected to and elevate Christ in humans. 

Natural freedom is also extended to mobility or the freedom of movement as humans are architected with legs and feet that permits humans to move throughout space-time. God, himself, enjoy mobility walking through the Garden of Eden, passing over the waters, wrestling with Jacob; Genesis 1:2, 3:8, 32:24-30.  Of course, there is also a spiritual mobility stated both in positive and negative terms. Walking in Christ or in the light as opposed to walking in darkness.  The focus in this prose is on the natural and not so much on the spiritual.

Humans are also architected with arms and hands that permit them to perform work and create things. The Judeo-Christian God and Jesus Christ creates.  He created a universe, is like a potter molding our lives , and Chirst was a carpenter. The mind-brian phenomena is where the human essence, the soul, assumes free will in order to self-determine their path or walk in life. Humans are able to pickup then transport objects and created things using their freedom of movement and free will in order to make something of the talents they possess; Matthew 25:14-30.  Christians, in particular, are given a mission to share knowledge and go out into the world (be mobile); Matthew 28:18-20.  Humans are to do what they have to offer the world, use their skills and talents; Ecclesiastes 9:10. In short, this is the underpinning of a natural economy which is a capital economy.

Capital economies are linked to freedom since humans are free to pursue their purpose in life.  When a free person acts on God-given talents, abilities, and skills then the capital economy duly compensates for needed resources. That compensation is used to give levity to the image and improve the quality of life such that humans can live a dignified life.  From a spiritual perspective, every human is needed in order for the body of Christ to fully function as each is a contributor to the whole. None are a cog or gear in a machine but instead a living breathing participant in the whole. 

In conclusion, freedom is founded on Salvation in Christ that connects other natural rights in support of providing dignity and purpose to humans. The American Forefather's understood this notion of freedom and the connection to productive work in a capital economy. They saw the potential for America and leveraged a system of government that, to them, was self-evident as nature's way to guarantee the rights.  They wrote these Biblical concepts into the founding documents after witnessing two competitive systems. The Jamestown colony was under tyrannical rule, martial law, disease, famine, and infighting. The Plymouth colony was under a constitution of the Mayflower Compact and thriving as a society of the people, by the people, and for the people. The Forefathers choose the constitutional solution.

Reference:

Marshall, H., Millard, A., Packer, J., and Wiseman, D. (1996). New bible dictionary: image. (3rd ed.). inter-Varsity Press: England. pp 498-500.

Youngblood, K. (2003). Holman illustrated bible dictionary: freedom. Holman Bible Publishers: Nashville.

Greed is Eternal?

Comment: Over the years, I have noted an increasing movement in industry and social settings towards dysfunctional relationships and personality base character ethics. People no longer dialogue on important matters, value systems are moving towards a corporate morality, and companies are becoming politically centered. The movement has some eerie reflections on  horrors both real and fictional.  

Greed is Eternal?

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Most everyone is familiar with the term Gestapo which is short for the German term, Geheime Staatspolizei meaning Secret State Police. Most people in Nazi controlled territory lived in fear the Gestapo. Among the tactics of this organization was a subversive undercurrent in which unnamed persons reported other persons activities, nature, comments, and behaviors to the Gestapo who in turn investigated. As an outcome, people were reluctant to participant in the public sphere and democratic processes for fear of reprisals. In a similar manner, paranoid people, corporations, and governments in Western society utilize similar tactics of the Gestapo.  People no longer dialogue on important matters, debate, or undergo formal argumentation. When someone does not like something, they simply just report another person to HR, the boss, or provide tips to some other institutionalized system such as email tips, drop boxes, or hot lines. Then counter to the US Constitution and US Bill of Rights, one has to answer to some third party regarding the allegations without confronting the accuser. Often the reports are trumped up, unfounded, or partially based in a truth in response to an authority figure or a peer of whom someone finds issue with.  This erodes the status quo identity of the society as competitive identities leverage this method to advance self interest and selfish beliefs.

People within modern Western society often complain about political correctness and adherence to a social doctrine under which nearly every behavior and belief is tolerated to the chagrin of the status quo identity. If a society is to hold any identity then other identities are either not compatible, competitive, and/or hostile. There has to be boundary limits in order to maintain an identity. For example, if people are to be under a republic then socialistic, communistic, kingdoms, cast systems, and other identities are not compatible as well as any elements of those other identities. These different systems are known by their identity to which there are limitations before the identity erodes, becomes lost, or changes to one of the other identities. The issue goes deeper than just clashes of political systems and becomes much more complex when considering corporations that commingle personhood and governance.

In 1886, the case of Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad Company the United States Supreme court ruled a corporation is the same as a living breathing organism. From this ruling is the notion of corporate personhood in which an organization legally becomes human-like and is the basis for corporate law in the United States.  Complicating corporate personhood is the emergence of the corporate governance that fundamentally changes and commingles personhood with governance. A corporation assumes under corporate governance, at some level, governing responsibilities. Among these governing duties the corporation has a moral, ethical, and economic responsibility to the customer and employees.  This has exacerbated over the years to the point that corporate rights, principles, morals, ethics, etc… now supersede human rights, personal belief systems, and compromise the US founding. Corporate employee policy manuals, codes of ethics, and even national leases in apartment complexes are preventing people from participating in democratic processes and rights. These corporations are advancing beliefs, political ideologies, and other systems often not fully consistent with the domain of commerce for the company.  The post Values Leadership touches on this issue.

In the past, people were adherents to principally one of the three monotheistic theologies but following the Post-modernist movement corporations have assumed the role that religion once played. Scriptural text are being replaced by Employee Codes of Conduct and waivers of rights. People continue to participate in an array of personal beliefs that have little impact on their lives and are more or less an activity in private as they assume the Corporate Code of Ethics in all their dealings. In fact, many policy manuals prohibit some employee activities 7/24 or hold employees accountable 7/24 but pay the employee from 9 to 5. The company policy manuals define the person more than a sovereign deity or god. 

In 1809, Thomas Jefferson wrote in a letter to Larkin Smith, "The selfish spirit of commerce knows no country, and feels no passion or principle but that of gain.”

Perhaps Jefferson's concern was captured best by the fictional Star Trek characters, the Ferengi, who are known for their enterprising savvy to the point that they are con-artists. In the Star Trek Voyager episode “False Profits”, Figure 1, the enterprising Ferengi posed as gods and established their Code of Ethics based on the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition, a Bible of sorts, that have principles of economic vanity. Are humans on Earth to become like the Ferengi on Takar?  Will the next tyranny be corporate demi-gods in a socialized economy after capitalism dies? 

Figure 1: Star Trek Voyager - False Profits

Greed is Eternal

Approach Your Gods

We are sort of Gods

Rules of Acquisition

The Unwritten Rule

On planet Earth, humans must come to terms with purpose and meaning of their existence. Living by Rules of Acquisition or strong economic vanity, like the Ferengi, reduces life to an economic venture, mere pennies on the dollar.  Humans should reconsider the meaning of work as a component of their lives but not the defining doctrines in their life. Economic influence, wealth, is not available to all humans. Most humans live a modest life and have other focuses.

Interestingly, Jefferson saw commerce as a source of good and a fabric of a capitalist society that lead to the sense of national happiness found in the Declaration of Independence. However, Jefferson stopped short of social justice and viewed merchants as having no loyalty to a country or moral system (Mayer, 1994, pp. 137-138).  America is at juncture. The question is will America retain the capitalist views of the founding or become some sort of socialized economic center of influence? Will our gods become enterprising tycoons and their sense of ethics? Will your ethics, morals, and principles be determined by your paycheck? How much control will you give your employer over you?

References:

Federer, W. (1996). America's god and country: encyclopedia of quotations.  Fame Publishing: USA. 

Mayer, D. (1994). The constitutional thought of thomas jefferson. University Press of Virginia: USA. 

Menosky, J. & Brozak, G. (Writer) & Bole, C. (Director). (1996). Star trek voyager: false prophets season 3 episode 5. Paramount Television

Values Leadership?

Recent unusual comments and social positions taken by numerous CEOs got me to thinking about the limits to which CEOs should support or reject social, political, or personal causes within the business environment.  Many CEOs on both sides of the isle seem to be over stepping the boundaries or at least what was thought to be a boundary.  How do we define those boundaries and what should be supported? 

Values Leadership?

In The World Is Flat the author, Thomas Friedman, outlines an overarching vision that people work for companies that embrace their social, political, and religious ideologies. Friedman went on indicating that governments deal with CEO's directly and the people indirectly. The idea is that people, the majority, would gravitate towards companies that hold popular beliefs and companies that hold unpopular beliefs would fade away or change. The political leadership then transitions from its current form to one of CEO politicians and aristocrats who oversee them. In a strange sensibility, political, religious, and personal views would be economically rationed and the government would no longer have elected leaders represent the people. In chapter four, Friedman points to comparisons between the Industrial and Information revolutions leading to a belief that the flattening could have been predicted by Karl Marx.

There has been trending in the direction that companies assume human like qualities. In 1886, the case of Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad Company the United States Supreme court ruled a corporation is the same as a living breathing organism. The ruling has become known as corporate personhood in which corporate law has been built applying laws intended for humans to the corporation. Complicating this position of corporate personhood is the emergence of the corporate governance that fundamentally changes and commingles personhood with a governance. A corporation assumes under corporate governance, at some level, governing responsibilities. Among these governing duties the corporation has a moral, ethical, and economic responsibility to its people. 

Corporate governance which includes sustainability efforts institutionalized the infusion of political initiatives into business giving CEOs a venue to express their personal, political, and religious beliefs. CEOs from both sides of the isle have jumped on this supporting nearly every personal, political, or religious cause regardless of merit. Political leadership in the US has also pursued state owned enterprises, SOEs, which are also economic venues for advancing political ideologies. This has framed a debate to what extent should personal, political, and religious views of CEOs be infused into industry and business or should the people be empowered equally to follow their own personal, political, and religious beliefs as the United States founding documents guarantee.

Two companies recently embattled over the views of their CEOs are Starbucks and Chick-Fil-A. Their positions are diametrically opposite as are their approaches. Starbucks' CEO insists upon his personal views telling disenting shareholders to sell off shares - leave. Whereas, the CEO of Chick-Fil-A speaks to principles and values that his company holds. The difference is one threatens dissent and the other sets principle based values for the company. I need to pause here and frame the discussion. The merits of any specific social debate is not part of this discussion. This is a discussion about leadership style and the extent to which a CEO's personal value system should become part of the business.

The paramount question that must be addressed is what criteria applies to determine if a social concern is applicable to a business. The traditional purpose of business is a value added process in which there is a redistribution of wealth in return for productive work and risk taking. In short, labor is compensated for productive work and business owners are compensated for taking risk. Business puts money in the pockets of people. An ancillary debate is under what system does this perform best; capitalism, socialism, or some other system which is not part of this post but is discussed a little in the post Reflecting on the Character of Business and Economy. A social concern must somehow couple to, at a minimum, optimizing risk and/or improving the workforce of a business. Most companies are connecting social concerns to sustainability initiatives that assure long term profitability. For example,

• Sustainable work forces
• Sustainable resources
• Sustainable markets
• Sustainable environments

The book Collapse: How Society's Choose To Fail or Suceed discusses an operationalized view of sustainability in complex economies. The author, Jared Diamond, looks to capacity and capability of the ecology and economies. Diamond argues that societies that suceed make choices related to sage sustainability based on carrying capacity of the economies and ecology. For the purposes of this discussion, societies are treated as companies.  If work and resources are monetized then sustainability also applies to wise use of available currency in the economy or business.  In choosing social issues to support, CEOs must ask at least three questions:

• How does this assure long term profitability? 
• How does this optimize operations and the business? 
• Does support of this issue exceed the carrying capacity of the organization? For example, does supporting a social cause increase health care costs, result in the loss of the workforce, or place an unnecessary tax on the business such as to exceed the ability to support.

Many social issues do not advance profitability or optimize operations for the business. Both Chick-Fil-A and Starbucks have failed to demonstrate how their support for opposing sides the same social issue benefits the business. In fact, the Starbucks CEOs encouraged negative outcomes to the business limiting the prospective pool of investors (and customers) if people opposed his personal view that has yet to demonstrate business value.  Is that a wise business practice? Furthermore, there is little evidence that a CEO's personal, political, and religious views in support of a cause of the moment attract sustainable labor in the long run. Most labor is interested in two things; a reasonable paycheck and secure employment driven by natural causes as opposed to the perception of artificially held security. 

In the United States, the appearance is that religious institutions no longer drive one's personal moral code but instead a system of CEOs and aristocrats economically ration values to the workforces. Oddly, the workforces are forbidden to speak about personal, political, and religious views in the work place. Yet, CEOs are not only discussing these topics in the workplace but imposing personal, political, and religious views into business as a requirement for participation.  For example, a Tampa based mortgage management software vendor requires all employees to sign a document stating belief in Global Climate Change and green initiatives in order to be employed. How is this CEO's views connected to the business and grander than any of those working for the CEO? Somehow, stacking the deck with politically sympathetic employees is good business?

I wonder from where do these CEOs get these values and how do we evaluate its honest merit when it is economically rationed via a paycheck? Is that the measure of virtue, a paycheck? The truth comes down to the virtue of the value, principle, ethic, or moral code. There are methods to assess the virtue but those methods are independent of the business. A high degree of confidence in an unsupported  or poorly supported personal, political, or religious belief does not meet the test of virtue.

In the end, CEOs must use some sort of rule of thumb in selecting social causes to support. Whatever the cause, it should fit snuggly into a set of well known and understood criteria that has widespread support of not only the workforce but the customer base as well. In doing so, meaningful, productive, and reasonable outcomes are enjoyed that advance the business ensuring a long term survivability.

References:

Diamond, J. (2005). Collapse: How society's choose to fail or suceed. Pengiun Books: New York.

Friedman, T. (2005). The world is flat. (1st e.d.). Farrar, Straus, and Giroux: New York.

Emergence of Human Rights in America

American Democracy And The Judeo-Christian Bible Series

Human rights have been advanced by both the Judeo-Christian Theology and secular thought right up to modern times with the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.  When speaking of human rights, we are referring to those freedoms, immunities, and benefits, collectively known as fundamental human rights, enjoyed by all members of free and democratic societies. In order to uphold human rights the focus is on the individual and nation-state to execute responsibilities in the form of duties.  With this in mind let us explore the origin of human rights and the consideration the American Forefathers had for human rights.  There are extensive historical accounts of the events and commentary surrounding the emergence of the US Bill of Rights and other rights presumed by the ForeFathers.  This posting attempted to get to the point quickly. Therefore, much of the background and history have been dispensed as the body of works on this topic is overwhelming.

Human Rights

Human rights history has a foundation in Biblical law.  Early law began with Hammurabi’s Code circa 1750 BC. This law was a collection that consisted of 44 columns of cuneiform writings having 282 laws. The tagline associated with Hammurabi's code comes from Exodus 21:24; “Eye for Eye, Tooth for Tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”  However, this law did not deal with theological principles as penalties varied based of social class and immense value was placed on material effects. Hammurabi's Code was of worldly origins being of humans. 

Figure 1: Ten Commandments

Circa 1325 BC, Moses architected the judicial system centering the rule of law and the Ten Commandments, Figure 1. The Ten Commandments begin at Exodus 20 having the first 4 commandments as God's rights while the last 6 protect the rights of the community.  The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue, are written in a negative connotation. When the Commandments are viewed in terms of a modern language equivalents and written in a positive connotation then they become more easily understood in terms of rights.  Theological scholars and the Forefathers viewed the Ten Commandments as the World’s first ‘Bill of Rights’. However, unlike modern bill of rights that secure rights for an individual, the Decalogue protects the rights of others. 

The Ten Commandments

The red text is the modern language equivalent followed by the King James Version of the related Commandment. 

1. God’s right to exclusive alliance. You shall have no other gods before me; Exodus 20:3, Deuteronomy 5:7.
2. God’s right to self definition. You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments;  Exodus 20:4-6, Deuteronomy 5:8-10.
3. God’s right to proper representation by his people. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain; Exodus 20:7, Deuteronomy 5:11. (This is not referring to vulgar language. Instead, ‘taking the Lord’s name in vain’ biblically means not doing what you are commanded or supposed to do.)
4. God’s right to his people’s time. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it. Exodus 20:11 A households right to human treatment Deut 5:8-10
5. My parents right to respect. Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the LORD your God gives you; Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16.
6. The right to life. Thou shall not kill Exodus; 20:13, Deuteronomy 5:17.
7. The right to a secure marriage. You shall not commit adultery;  Exodus 20:14, Deuteronomy 5:18.
8. The right to property. Thou Shall Not Steal; Exodus 20:15, Deuteronomy 5:19.
9. The right to an honest hearing. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor; Exodus 20:16, Deuteronomy 5:20.
10. The right to secure existence. You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor's; Exodus 20:17, Deuteronomy 5:21

List Source: Block, D. (2003). Holman illustrated bible dictionary: ten commandments. Holman Bible Publishers: Nashville. pp 1570-1572.

Jewish and Christians consider the Commandments to be divinely inspired dealing in absolutes and meaning no human has authority to change them. Originating from Rabbinical thought these Commandments are known to be natural rights that stem from Genesis 1:26-27, 9:6 where mankind is created in the image of God. That image within man demands dignity which is given proper levity beginning with the Ten Commandments (Eidsmoe, 1987, p. 367). In general, the Ten Commandments express the man's rights to a secure life, property, home, and fair treatment.  In the Christian view, humans were stewards of the image and the Ten Commandments are the 'rules' to care for the image in others as well as themselves.  The American Forefathers used the Ten Commandments as the purpose for civil government to secure natural rights and not create rights or entitlements. 

"We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government; upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God." - James Madison (Federer, 1996, p. 411).

The Emergence of the United States Bill of Rights

Figure 2: US Bill of Rights

The foundations for the Bill Of Rights, Figure 2, were derived directly from the Ten Commandments and was ratified by Congress in 1791 but not without a hot debate by the Forefathers.  The Forefathers put into practice philosophical works on natural rights from a host of Christian philosophers to include Montesquieu, Blackstone, Locke, Vattel, etc...  The concept of natural rights was championed by John Locke (1632-1704) who had a powerful influence on the Forefathers being written into the founding documents. 

"Father of the Bill of Rights" is George Mason, an Episcopalian, who strongly influenced the Bill of Rights amendments. Mason was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, a lawyer, judge, political philosopher, a planter, and the richest man in Virginia. He was the author of the Virginia Constitution and the Virginia Bill of Rights (Federer, 1996, p. 422).  

"The laws of nature are the laws of God, whose authority can be superseded by no power on earth." - George Mason (Federer, 1996, p. 423).

The United States Bill of Rights

The 1791 ratified Bill of Rights numbered 10 amendments and were designed to uphold the Ten Commandments. Cited below are the ten amendments followed by a brief discussion of the Original Intent.  There is no preferential order to the amendments and some are fiercely debated, even during modern times. The intent of this posting is to discuss the Forefathers intent referring to their own works, sources, and quotes.

All the Forefathers regardless of political posture as Federalist or Anti-Federalists held that God had given all humans certain rights. That the Laws of Nature and Nature's God required respect for those rights.  Human rights are found in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, Article 1, Section 9 in addition to the Bill of Rights (Eidsmoe, 1987, pp. 365-366).

Amendment I: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

This amendment has several components. The "Establishment Clause" involves this portion of the amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.  The view of the Forefathers when enacting this clause was to prevent a legal union between the state and a specific church that enjoyed special privileges from the state given its relationship. The state is prohibited from enacting laws favoring one church over another.  i.e. state run church such as the Anglican Church of England.  

James Madison remarked, "There is not a shadow of right in the general government to intermeddle with religion" (Levy, 1999  p. 81). 

Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptist in January 1802 confirming that the intent was not to establish a state run religion, "Believing with you that religion is a matter that lies solely between a man and his God, that he owes no account to none other for faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with solemn reverence that act of the whole American People which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, ' thus building a wall of separation between Church and State" (Federer, 1996, pp. 324-325).

"The Christian Religion, when divested of the rags in which they [the clergy] have enveloped it, and brought to the original purity and simplicity of its benevolent institutor, is a religion of all others most friendly to liberty, science, and the freest expansion of the human mind" Thomas Jefferson on March 23, 1801 (Federer, 1996, p. 324).

Thomas Jefferson declared, "[Religion] deemed in other countries incompatible with good government and yet by our experience to be the best support" (Federer, 1996, p 334).

These seemingly conflicting statements by Jefferson are actually complimentary. Jefferson espouse a rejection of state operated religion but found that Christianity was the kindest religion towards civil government.  The Forefathers fashioned the government after religious institutions for religious people but rejected any one of the churches as favored.  

Of the Ten Commandments, the operative commandments in the establishment clause are God's right to his people's time, exclusive alliance, and proper representation by his people. The government cannot interfere or compete with God. 

Alexis de Tocqueville confirmed the indirect influence of religion in government and wrote, "One cannot say that in the United States religion exerts an influence on the laws or on the details of political opinions, but it directs mores, and it is in regulating the family that it works to regulate the state" (Tocqueville, 2000, p. 278). In short, theological beliefs shape the people who serve in the government  and consequently shape the government. However,  the government is prohibited from shaping the people under original intent.  Coincidentally, shaping the battlespace, market, or people is an operative information warfare tactic.

However, the Forefathers were clear that America was a Christian nation. Patrick Henry orated, "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here " (Federer, 1996, p, 289). 

The second component of the First Amendment is the Free Press/Speech Clause.  The original effort  in  the Constitutional Convention during 1787 supported only a few rights and omitted many leaving open the possibilities for abuses. This was a massive mistake and heated debates ensued.  The Forefathers esteemed the public sphere and felt that free speech and a free press were critical to the conduct of the public sphere. However, they debated fiercely the extent of the right and if the right even was necessary. 

Jefferson wrote a letter in December 1787 to James Madison urging the Bill of Rights to expressly guarantee the freedom of religion and the press, protections against standing armies and monopolies, as well as fair legal treatment (Mayer, 1994, p 155). 

Of the Ten Commandments, the operative commandments in the free Press / Speech clause are God's right to his people's time, God's right to self-defintion,  God's right to proper representation, and the right to an honest hearing. God has the right to his people and for them to assemble in his name. People have the right to discuss their belief and publish their views in the public sphere.  If anything interfere's with this right then the people have the right to address the grievance in a civil manner. 

Amendment II: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Of the Ten Commandments, the operative commandments are the right to life and the right to a secure existence. Coupled with the right to life is the obvious defense of life when life and a secure existence is threatened by apparent belligerence. The concept of Biblical warfare applies here as well and is an extensive complex subject that is often difficult for many people, especially those not educated in Biblical matters or having a strong foundation in Biblical thought.  The bottom line is that most people will understand is the right to self-defense, including the defense of a state against tyranny even of the national government that is found in some state Constitutions (Levy, 1999, p. 134).  The Forefathers also saw the need for the minutemen in order to establish a secure plant afoot in America or in the modern context a reserve force.  

There are numerous incorrect views of the amendment to include the collective rights theory which incorrectly uses the preamble to assert restrictions on the individual rights to bear arms (Levy, 1999, p. 134). The Forefathers saw the right to bear arms as an individual's natural right. Jefferson praised arms, "Let your gun therefore be the constant companion of your walks" (Levy, 1999, p. 141).  Tench Coxe, a partisan Federalist, wrote in a leading Philadelphia newspaper that "the power of the sword are in the hands of the yeomanry America, ourselves, to prevent the establishment of  standing army, the bane of liberty" (Levy, 1999, pp. 146-147). 

Amendment III: No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

The Forefathers observed the quartering of the King's armies in private home during their time. Of the Ten Commandments, the operative commandment is the right to property and a secure existence which also extends to a secure home and family.  Private ownership of property is a key concept among the ForeFathers. Through private ownership of property levity is given to the image in humans as there is purpose to improve the land and develop wealth improving the quality of life.  Hostile and belligerent taking of property is counter to this commandment. Therefore, the Forefathers insisted on asserting that people have the protection against invasive actions by the Government or foreign actors that may occupy and conduct belligerent actions against the citizenry. In fact, this was a grievance in the Declaration of Independence. 

"IX.  He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures."

"XIV.  For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us."

Amendment IV: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Of the Ten Commandments, the operative commandments are the right to a secure existence, secure home, secure marriage, property, and life. The Forefathers understood the right to privacy in terms of the image in humans and had observed harassment by the King of England's agents and agencies. In fact, this was a grievance in the Declaration of Independence.

"X. He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance."

Amendment V: No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI: In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Amendment VII: In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendments V to XI are outcomes of grievances in the Declaration of Independence.

IIX. He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

IX. He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

IIXX. For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury.

IXX. For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offenses.

Of the Ten Commandments, the operative commandment is the right to a honest hearing as well as the right to a secure existence.  The justice cannot be used to detain people unjustly nor exact unjust penalties.

Many of the Forefathers were attorneys or had legal training. John Adams believed strongly in the right to a fair trial and in the Boston Massacre successfully defended the British commander, LTCol Preston. Two soldiers were branded for manslaughter.  The calm that came out of the trial was due to the fair treatment of evidence and a tribute to the emerging American system of justice.

Amendment X: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

This is the cornerstone of limited government and stems from the Philosophy of John Locke. Locke modeled the Social Compact Theory after the Calvanist idea of covenant.  The compact is a covenant between humans and government in order to secure rights. The government is given powers by either God and/or the people in order to secure all the natural rights. The concept is found also in the Declaration of Independence.  Once again God's Law is natural law.  Locke was scripturally based,

"Human laws are measures in respect of Men whose actions they must direct, albeit such measures they are as have also their higher rules to be measured by, which rules are two, the Law of God, and the Law of Nature; so that Laws Human must be made according to the general Laws of Nature, and without contradiction to any positive Law of Scripture, otherwise they are ill made." John Locke (Eidsmoe, 1999, p. 62).

The operative Commandment underpinning the tenth amendment is God's right to self-defintion and exclusive alliance. The logic follows that if God is supreme then no other law can rise above his law. Thus, governments are instutited to preserve natural law. 

Conclusion

Human rights, as the Forefathers perceived them, are a derivative from the Bible and Ten Commandments.  God created nature and the architecture of humans begins with a natural embodiment into which the image is given, into which a soul is breathed, and into which the Holy Spirit indwells when invited.  Natural Rights, also known as Human Rights, assert proper stewardship of the image imparting dignity and purpose to humans.  Governments have limited powers, to the extent of assuring that natural rights are secure.  

References:

Berry, L. . (1969). The geneva bible. (1560 E.D.). Hendrickson Publishers Inc: MA.

Eidsmoe, J. (1987). Christianity and the constitution: the faith of our founding fathers. Baker Book House Company: Grand Rapids.

Federer, W. (1996). America's God and Country. William J Federer, Fame Publishing, ISBN: 1-880563-05-3

Federer, W. (2003). The ten commandments and their influence on american law. Amerisearch Inc: St. Louis. 

Levy, L. (1999). Origins of the bill of rights. Yale University Press:  Harrisburg.

Mayer, D. (1994). Constitution thoughts of thomas jefferson. University of Virginia Press: USA.

Schmidt, J. (2006). Making man in reason's image: the enlightenment and the birth of modern humanity. Barnes and Noble. ISBN-13: 9780641967221

Tocqueville, A. (2000). Democracy in america: translated, edited, and with and introduction. University of Chicago Press: Chicago.

Vattel, E. (1758). Law of nations or the principles of natural law in four books. (Electronic E.d.). Lonang Institute.

Information Theory Overview

Comment: Some time ago, I became interested in information theory partly due to my career and mostly because I began seeing elements of the theory popping up everywhere in movies, theological commentaries, war fighting etc... I studied the theory off and on purchasing books, watching movies, reading essays, and in general where ever I caught a wisp of the theory.  The interesting thing about truth is that it is self-evident and reveals itself in nature. So I did not have to look far. Although, a curious thing about information is noise or that which is distracting, like a red herring and there is plenty of noise out there. Anyhow, the point in this post is an information theory overview.  I would like to share basic information theory and relate it to the world around us. I will be coming back to this post updating and refining with more citations.

Information Theory

Information theory is relatively new and is part of probability theory. Like the core disciplines of mathematics and the sciences, information theory has a physical origin with broad spectrum applications. The theory has captured the attention of researchers spawning hundreds of research papers since its inception during the late 1940's. This new discovery has generated interest in deeper research that involves biological systems, the genome, warfare, and many other topical arenas. Claude E. Shannon PhD is the father of generalized information theory as developed during 1948 and theorized:

If the receiver is influenced by information from the transmitter then reproducing the influencing information at the receiver is limited to a probabilistic outcome based on entropy. 

Figure 1: Mathematical Formulation of Entropy (H) in a system

There are several terms in the thesis statement that may be difficult to grasp and the mathematical formulation, Figure 1,  may be overwhelming to some people who wonder how is entropy and information linked.  Entropy is an operative concept behind diminishing returns or the rate at which a system dies, decays, or falls apart. Entropy operates under order as formulated in figure 1. Thus, the phenomena is not random.  Within the context of information theory, entropy is the minimum size of a message before a meaning or value is lost. The notion of a probabilistic outcomes involves multiple possible results in which each result has a degree of uncertainty or a possibility that the result may not occur. For example, a rolling of the dice is limited to only six possible outcomes or results. The probability of any one outcome occurring is 1 in 6. The uncertainty in rolling the dice is high being 5 to 6 that any specific outcome will not occur.  As for the mathematical formulation, I will just leave that for general knowledge of what it looks like.

The thesis is pointing towards a 'lossy' system and promotes a simplistic communication model, Figure 2.

Figure 2: Simple Information Theory Model

From the thesis, formula, and model more complex related theories and models spawn coupling information theory to biology, quantum physics, electronic communications, crowds, and many other topical subject matter.  All fall back on entropy or the smallest message before it looses its meaning. The big question is so what? We will explore the 'so what' in the next section.

Information Theory Around Us

Most people fail to realize that information theory impacts us on an everyday basis. Aspects of the theory appear in movies, underpin all biological sensory capabilities, and appear in information networks in many ways. Many people philosophize that human and natural existence is purely information based. Let us explore information theory as it is exposed to many people. Most people have some familiarity with the sciences at some level, movies,  and religion.  Let us begin with a survey the sciences.

Atom smashing experiments during the 1970's lead to the discovery that the universe has boundary limits. According to physicist such as Richard Feynman, the father of quantum computing, matter ceases to exist at 10^-32 meters. When matter ceases to exist so does space-time. Matter has dimensions and time's arrow spans dimensionality. When matter no longer exists neither does dimensionality and time is mutually inclusive. What remains are non-local waveforms or electromagnetic waves which are illustrated as strings that vibrate. The region where this occurs is the Planckian realm which is where matter is quantized or discrete having the qualities of a bit of information. Matter and energy are interchangeable based on the Theory of Relativity, Figure 3, and the wave-particle theory of light. Those vibrating waveforms in the Planckian realm slam together in a process of compactness that is not fully understood forming a particle having discrete size, weight, and possesses a positive (+),  neutral (0), or negative (-)  charge.   These particles then begin to assemble in a computational algorithmic manner based on the charge and tri-state logic into more complex particles from the sub-atomic into the physical realm. In the physical realm, complex molecules form such as DNA from which biological life emerges. 

Figure 3:  Theory of Relativity Formula
Energy = Mass x  (Speed of Light)²

The DNA is somewhat unique according to Microbiologist Dr. Matt Ridley. This is because not only did an computational information process arrive at the DNA molecule but injected into the DNA molecule are 4 bits of information ( G, C, A, and T ) which is used by nanites to endow biological life. Nanites are intelligent molecular machines that perform work and made out of amino acids and proteins. These molecular machines have claws, impellers, and other instruments. They communicate, travel, and perform work based on DNA informational instructions. The information process continues as even more information is applied against the DNA strand such as variation of timing, sequencing, and duration under which a gene fires. By varying the timing, sequencing, and duration of a firing gene  then specific features are managed on the life form under gestation.  Dr. Ridley quips the genome is not a blueprint for life but instead a pattern makers template having some sort of Genome Operating Device, a G.O.D (Ridley, 2003). The point here is that there is some sort of intelligent communication ongoing during the endowment of life and development of the natural universe. All of which are the outcome of computational processes and information.

During the 1960's extensive research was conducted into the operation of human biological sensory processes in relation to information theory.  The conclusion of this research determined that the sense of sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste undergoes an electro-chemical process in which information is encoded using Fourier Transforms into electrical waveforms. The base Fourier equations are somewhat ominous, Figure 4.

Figure 4: Fourier Transforms Equations

The equations are shown to see what they look like. Extensive mathematic philosophy and practical understanding of how these equation perform is necessary to appreciate these equations. In lay jargon, Fourier transforms encode and extract information embedded in a waveform.  These waveforms are constructed from the biological sensory devices; eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin. Once the information is encoded into a waveform the human brain stores information holographically.  Consider the operation of the eyes attached as part of the brain. The reason for two eyes is that they act symbiotically. One eye is a data source while the other eye acts as a reference source.  When the waveforms from these two sources collide then information is encoded in the constructive and destructive patterns that result. These patterns are then imprinted into the brain material to be recalled on demand as human's think in terms of images and not attributes. The human brain is capable of storing up to 6 terabytes of information. The eye has a curious tie to the quantum realm detecting a photon of light coincidental with the smallest instance of time, Planck's Time, which is of the order of 10^-43 second.  This leads to the concept of quantum reality or that human perception is limited to the boundaries of the natural universe.

The human experience is said to be a digital simulation and the universe is computationally organized.  This lends credence to the creative license of writers and authors who imagine story lines such as The Matrix, Timeline, The Lawn Mower Man and countless others. But the concept of information in the human experience goes even further into theologies.

Information Theory and The Theological Argument 

Theologies are belief systems and inclusive of godless belief systems such as atheism and agnosticism to mono-theistic and polytheistic systems. Theologies are also inclusive of belief systems that deify idols and objects such as Pantheism which deifies the mother Earth. Cosmologies and philosophies are generally treated as a theology as well since the adherent's behavior is the same as any theological adherent. Religion is the practice of theological doctrines.  All theologies and related religions are information based. That is all theologies possess defining information effecting actions among the believers and/or reactions among non-believers. Some theologies are well organized and others are left to individual expression but all are based on some sort of information or lack of information. Adherents of any specific theology or religion gather, learn, and discuss the merits of their theological doctrines by communicating in order to increase membership or believers. 

Under information theory the Judeo-Christian Bible demonstrates many interesting qualities. The Judeo-Christian Theology advances one of the most comprehensive of all the theologies detailing a narrative from before-the-foundations-of-time to the end-of-time. The narrative begins not with the creation of the universe but a war between good and evil. Michael, the ArchAngel, defeats the rebelling forces lead by Satan. In the meantime, the Judeo-Christian God was busy creating the natural universe and gathered the defeated rebels casting them into the universe like a bolt of lightning effectively trapping evil in the universe or world.  The Judeo-Christian God then turned his attention to the souls, the believers, whom he knew before the creation of time and breathed their souls into human embodiments on Earth. Those human embodiments were architected with an image as well. The purpose of this was to test their loyalty through trials and tribulations having had the war break out in heaven. Evil, trapped in the world, causes the fall of humans into rebellion and the Judeo-Christian God declares war on evil as an outcome. Christ shows the believers the way by communicating the narrow path home. This epic war between good and evil in the world is actually an information war. 

Information warfare, IW, is a broad field of warfare that leverages ambiguity, deceit, innuendo, doubt, and truth in order to dominate the battle space or more correctly space-time.  IW tactics often involve hostile jamming,  man-in-the-middle attacks, psychological operations, in order to diminish, deter, deflect, or degrade the will of the opposition to fight. 

Satan is labeled the great deceiver. The Judeo-Christian God is truth or virtue. Satan placed doubt in Eve's mind about what God really said causing her to rebel against God and bring Adam into her fallen condition. God declared war on evil; Gen 3:15.  The Bible was then inspired by the Holy Spirit and scribed by humans as a 'message' to humans prescribing the way back home.  In the Bible, humans were given a mission, The Great Commission, to spread knowledge and information about the message of Christ.  In the meantime, other theologies either already operative in the world or spawning were designed to confuse the Biblical message or to conduct hostile jamming of the Biblical message.  For example, the Koranic Surah 9:5 is counter to Matt 26:52. The Koranic Surah 112 is direct denial of John 3:16.  These conflicting messages between theologies are commonly referred to as noise in information theory and in IW this is called hostile jamming due to intent. 

In response to noise, the Bible has been designed to pre-empt hostile jamming by delivering the messages multiple ways and times. Thus, by having a high signal-to-noise ratio jamming attempts can be defeated. The more important the message the more ways and times the message is repeated.  The Bible tactically uses parables to encrypt messages that humans who have the Holy Spirit, the decryption key, in them can understand. The Bible also tactically makes use of language being written originally in Greek and Hebrew. Greek is very concise and cannot have mistaken translations. Hebrew makes use of the highest language compression ratio communicating messages both phonetically and pictographically.  Hence, the use of many ways and means of getting the message through is an IW tactic. 

Under the auspices of information warfare, the war can be fought and won solely on the basis of information without committing conventional ground forces to battle. However, the final epic battle in Christian Eschatology is fought and personally won by Christ who is the victor over all evil.  This becomes necessary because those human hearts are hardened and many humans become demonically possessed such that their ears do not hear and eyes do not see. Thus, all communications have failed.

Additional support for the information perspective is the Judeo-Christian God spoke the universe into existence or communicated information; Gen 1:3. This act of speaking a universe into existence was built perhaps in the informational manner discovered by science and is ongoing today. Perhaps the Genome Operating Device varying the information of timing, sequencing, and duration of firing genes is the Judeo-Christian God's hand in the universe.  What ever the theology, the underlying premise is informational. Humans then decide to act based on the information they have or understand.

In conclusion, information theory affects us everyday in our world views, sciences, and personal beliefs leading to actions. Information theory hovers around the notion of a lossy system in which meaning is lost due to noise, interference, natural decay, and provocative measures.  Creative works have leveraged information theory to advance ideological movements.  Even the human life form may very well be the result of pure information causing humans to rethink  theologies and established beliefs in a new light. 

References:

Knuth, D. (2001). Things a computer scientist rarely talks about. CSLI Publications: Stanford.

Moser, S. and Chen, P. (2012). A student's guide to coding and information theory. Cambridge University Press: United Kingdom.

Reza, F. (1994). Introduction to information theory. Dover Books: New York.

Ridley, M. (2003). Nature via Nurture. New York: Harper Collins Publishers.

American Democracy And Christianity Series

American Democracy And Christianity Series

Figure 1: Declaration of
Independence

America declared her independence July 4, 1776! Then America fought wars to stay  independent and today is struggling with her identity.  This is a series on American Democracy.  I explore the emergence and establishment of the American Experiment as closely I could get to the Forefathers mindset.

I began this effort following the events of September 11th, 2001 serving on active duty often on late night watches. During this time, I began reading the Declaration of Independence; figure 1, the US Constitution, and the US Bill of Rights.   My initial interest was in understanding what I was defending.  After all, I was in the United States military. This lead me into a much deeper investigation due to the Forefathers deep connection with Christianity.

As I delved deeper into my studies there was no end to the rabbit hole. I swallowed the red pill and braced for the harsh reality. It took me into war fighting doctrines, moral systems, even into information theory and the sciences. As time progressed, I found myself deploying to Iraq and the fertile crescent where the Biblical narrative occurs in part. I was being exposed to a competitive belief system and it was important to understand who we were, what we were bringing to these people in a strange land. I needed a baseline from which to act properly. After all, the Global War on Terrorism was an asymmetric war underpinned by ideological beliefs counter to the American founding. This war was not a simple megalomaniac reaching out for a power grab, although many people tried to advance that understanding. GWOT is a war of conscience, more so than other wars, that strikes at the mind of every American citizen. GWOT has the potential to affect America's identity and introduces America to a much more dangerous kind of threat.

What I discovered was America is no longer the land that our forefathers intended. I wonder what we will become and have speculated some through my own research.  The bottom line up front is that while Democracy and Capitalism were primary instruments directly from the Bible that contributed to making America great, America was great for the most part because of the population's reliance on the Judeo-Christian God. This is the Original Intent as best as I could understand it.  Originally, I scripted a book for publishing but scrapped the idea and decided to adapt sections for blog postings.  I will slowly make additional posting as I adapt the works for the blog. This is where we came from, the way we were...

Introduction to American Democracy and Christianity

Odyssey to America

The Emergence of Human Rights in America

The Grievances and Cause for Revolution

The Biblical Foundations for Freedom

Principles written into the Founding Documents

Biblical Treatment of Slavery and Servitude

Morality of Capitalism, Part 1

Morality of Capitalism, Part 2

Supporting Posts

Farewell Letter of Pastor John Robinson

Information Theory Overview

Of Rebels and Radicals

Speculative Futures

Reflecting on the Character of Business and the Economy