Odyssey to America

American Democracy And The Judeo-Christian Bible Series

This is a series of posts of adapted excepts from a book I began writing several years ago. The intent was to retrace the thinking of the American Forefathers in forming the founding documents and framing the government. The goal was to use common language and retraceable logic based on the Christian doctrine of the Forefathers. This second post discusses many of the principles found in the American Governmental underpinnings. 

“The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected, in one indissolvable bond, the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity” - John Quincy Adams (Federer, 1996, p. 18 ).

"Religion is the basis and foundation of government" - James Madison (Federer, 1996, p. 410 ).

The Odyssey To America 

Figure 1: The Geneva Bible

The American Forefathers used a version of the Bible called the Geneva Bible, Figure 1. Johannes Gutenberg of the invention of moveable type print resulted in the printing of this Bible in the sixteenth century, 1560 AD in the case of the Geneva Bible.

The Geneva Bible was born out of persecution as translating the Bible into English to put in the hands of common people challenged the political establishment of royalty and the power base of Catholic as well as Anglican clerics during the Sixteenth century.  The translators derived the Geneva Bible directly from Hebrew and Greek manuscripts using the most recent textual studies of the times. All scholarly investigation into the Geneva Bible indicated that the translators were quite accurate. The uniqueness of the Geneva Bible is the sidebar notes that clarified the verses and made references to other sections, maps, and numbering of the verses. This was also an affront to the authorities and church powers (Berry, 1969, pp. 1-11).

The Geneva Bible was very popular and printed up to 1618. Eventually, the Geneva Bible was supplanted by the 1611 version of the King James Bible. Nonetheless, the American settlers, Pilgrims, favored The Geneva Bible which most likely arrived in America in 1607 at the Jamestown Colony.  Thirteen years later the Pilgrims brought the Geneva Bible on the Mayflower as the sole source of inspiration.

Early American Life

The period between the first settlers and the American Revolution circa 1607 to 1750 was Early America. Colonies such as JamesTown, established 1607, and Plymouth, established 1620, were the earliest settlements. These were particularly difficult times for Jamestown as warfare between the settlers as well as the settlers and indians persisted. Many settlers died of disease and starvation.  Captain John Smith became the leader of Jamestown in 1608 and instituted a no-work-no-eat policy which was a socialized form of governance. Jamestown was under British rule and after increased numbers of settlers arrived the leadership transitioned to a Governor and advisors placing Jamestown under martial law for a time.

The Pilgrims before arriving at Plymouth, Massachusetts in November 1620 were near mutiny. The men sat down  on the Mayflower including the indentured servants and chartered the Mayflower Compact, Figure 2. This document was directly influenced by a farewell letter written by Pastor John Robinson that he sent with them detailing how to set up a democracy.  In the compact they established equal justice for all and would choose their leaders. This was the first document of the emerging American Republic in which they created a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. This document was the Constitution of the Plymouth Colony for 70 years.

Mayflower Compact In Modern Language

Figure 2:
Mayflower Compact

In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, defender of the Faith, etc. Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements of the Christian faith and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic; for our better ordering, and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, 1620.

The Emergence of American Democracy

The formative years from 1620 through to 1750 were during the Enlightenment or the Age of Reason. Common  people studied and debated topics of nobility in the public sphere both in America and Europe.  In America competitive systems of governance matured between the King of England's tyranny and the model emerging from  the Pilgrims at Plymouth, Massachusetts. Following 1750 the Biblical model was well understood as demonstrated by John Adams diary entry:

"Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God... What a Eutopia, what a paradise would this region be." - John Adams on February 22, 1756.

The notion of a new form of governance was firmly in the mind of men and the nagging tyranny of the King was on the backs of men. A new form of nation and government was about to boil over. 

The Biblical Concept of Nations and Governments

The Biblical nation is not like modern geopolitical nations. Biblical nations are often over large regions and tend to center on religious and ethnic heritage. God's chosen nation, the one from which Christ was to originate, is Israel. All other nations are Gentile nations. The Christian community is composed of individuals both Jewish and Gentiles.  Likewise, a Holy nation is composed of both Jewish and Christians; 1Peter 1:2-9. God consciously uses all nations for his purposes: Isa 10:5-7. Israel was scattered among the nations for disobedience; Palms 9, 59,137.  Meanwhile, nations that abused Israel were punished; Joel 3:12-16. In the end, all nations will gather before the Judeo/Christian God; Matt 25:31-32. 

The Biblical concept of Government centers on maintaining good order of society where ultimate authority resides in God. The Biblical definition of government centers on two notions. The first notion is officials that have sovereign authority over a body of people. The second notion defines government as institutions that include the customs, mores, laws, and organizations of a collective body of people or 'body politica' as written during early America. 

The Bible does discuss secular leadership in government. In 1Samuel 8 the nation of Israel prayed for a secular leader and God granted Saul then David. In this arrangement, God retained authority over morality. Thus, there is no separation of church and state according to the Bible. These governments are always subordinate to the framework of God’s will; Judges 8:23. As long as leaders carry out God’s will then those nations will prosper; Duet 16:18-20. Citizens must submit to the authorities or government; Romans 13:1-7. The common understanding of the Forefathers was that the church and state work together as long as God's framework was followed.  Humans are to choose God's law over human law.

"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." - John Adams (Federer, 1998, pp. 10-11).

If we look to the Declaration of Independence, the Forefathers cited their grievances with other forms of government. In all, there are 27 grievances cited. Taxation was number 17 on the list indicating there were greater concerns. The greater complaints were centered on the inability to self-govern, conduct commerce, and the tyranny and harassment by the King's agencies and agents. 

References:

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

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

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

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

Warren, B., England, A. (2003). Holman illustrated bible dictionary: bible formation and canon. Holman Bible Publishers: Nashville.

Whyte, J. (2004).  Crimes against logic, McGraw-Hill: New York, ISBN 0-07-144643-5.

Government Conspiracies CH 08

Commentary: This posting is in a series of posts summarizing the book, "Lights In The Sky and Little Green Men" by Hugh Ross, Kenneth Samples, and Mark Clark. Hugh Ross is a scientist in physics and Clark has a PHd in political science. The other authors specialize in social sciences, philosophies, and international relations.  The full series can be reviewed at UFOs an Alternative Look.

Government Conspiracies

The concept of a conspiracy theory is that a small cabal of people are operating against a larger weaker group. The cabal secretly orchestrates situations to their benefit and to the detriment of the larger group. A small number of people in the larger group work to expose the cabal that is well resourced, organized, and powerful.

UFO buffs claim the US Government secretly is covering up the existence of aliens. These buffs claim that the absence of proof, is proof itself of a well orchestrated cover up. Conspiracy theorist rarely consider the possibility that they misrepresent facts and allow assumptions to rule judgments. They do not allow for a scientific method and ignore or find fault with evidence amassed.

Real conspiracies do exist. Most of them are compromised or discovered quickly. Few, if any, conspiracies can be kept secret for long periods. Keeping a UFO coverup for 50 years would be nearly impossible. Yet, UFO conspiracy theorist tout Roswell, Project Blue Book, Area 51, and other pet subjects in a loud voice as evidence of a Government coverup.

Political Culture

The United States has had a history of anti-governmental conspiracy theories. Americans are naturally suspicious people. The American Framers intentionally designed a government that institutionalizes a battle for power knowing that human tendency is to accumulate power. Conspiracy theories are not uniquely American. Although, evidence suggest that the UFO conspiracy theory is more common in the West than elsewhere.

The Psychological Dynamic

Many models exist to describe how people process information. The model that applies to UFO conspiracy theorist is the Cognitive Psychological Model.

People process information either in a theory or data driven manner. Theory driven processing is interpreting information based prior beliefs and knowledge. This processing begins with an assumption and is filter through that lens. Data driven processing begins with data collection and assimilation. The theory is formulated based on the raw information.

Commentary: These information processing theories get at the notion of truth theory. On one end of the scale of truths is a correspondent truth. At the other end of the scale is an epistemic truth. A correspondent truth is similar to data driven information processing and correlates to a fact or is self evident. An epistemic truth is based on a set of relatively 'good' assumptions similar to theory driven information processing. One has to evaluate the assumptions usually based on inferential logic to determine the strength of it's virtue and validity.

Theory driven thinking is less taxing than inductive time consuming data driven thinking. Theory driven thinking is simply more efficient. For this reason alone, psychologist point to theory driven thinking as employed more frequently. The are five reasons for theory driven thinking given by scholar Robert Jervis:

• Most people construct their own personal image of reality.
• Most people develop a set of beliefs and images about their physical and social environment as they mature.
• The construction of a person's experience is highly selective.
• People see what they expect to see based on personal experience, prior advice, or on cultural bias.
• People assimilate information according to their pre-existing beliefs.
• Additionally, people maintain cognitive consistency.

The problem with theory driven thinking is that it leads to errors as an outcome of perceptions and predispositions that people seek information to confirm. This is known as hypothesis-confirming bias which keeps people from considering the full body of knowledge. If they do consider discrepant information they tend to dismiss as irrelevant or not credible. These bias undermines people's ability to value alternative interpretations and theories of a given event or behavior. People tend to look at their assumptions first then the data interpreting it in terms of the assumptions. Their other problem is that peoples beliefs resist change under normal circumstances.

There are three points used to judge if someone is engaged in irrational cognitive consistency.

1. They fail to consider a large amount of information contrary to their views.
2. They fail to consider obvious and important events that warrant attention.
3. They fail look for evidence that is clearly available.

UFO conspiracy theorists generally meet, at least, one or two if not all three of these criteria.

Contrary Evidence

Credible information exists that contradicts the UFO conspiracy theorist. Yet the theorist have never been able to produce credible evidence or data of their own other than a few hoaxes on community bulletins. These theorist also never explain how the Government or a small clique of rogue officials could keep a lid on an operation of the scale that UFO theorist purport. Keeping secrets is virtually impossible in the modern day as dribbles of information leak in various ways.

UFO reports seem to pace the technological advance of stealth aircraft design efforts. Theorist rarely have situational awareness. Thus, these advances would appear near revolutionary. Contact to solid reasoning based on factual evidence, UFO theorist often present spurious search and wild speculations based on questionable sources. They also retell stories over and over with 'evidence' or testimony elicited from suspicious characters. The stories are retold to the point they become truths in the theorist minds.

Popular Opinion

UFO conspiracy theory has become a fade in America. In 1996, a Gallup poll indicated that 70% of Americans believe in Governmental coverups regarding UFOs. This may hold true since for the 40 years prior the US Government has many questionable events such as Watergate, Vietnam, questionable electoral processes, etc... The UFO phenomenon is cast as a negative which is impossible to disprove. There is always one more person, hangar, or shred of evidence that keeps resurfacing.

The theory is more of an ideology than a true theory. In a natural science lab experiments are conducted to verify the hypothesis. In social sciences, the hypothesis is tested against historical evidence. If the evidence is contrary the to the explanation the assumptions must be adjusted. The same is true for rational cognitive consistency regarding UFOs. Yet the ideologue is under no such compulsion to adjust the ideology. So they constantly reinterpret the evidence as one more person, document, or event becomes known. The public is endlessly duped into believing in the conspiracy mill theories.

Ockham's Razor

This dictum states when two or more competing theories explain an event then the simplest one is probably closer to the truth. The razor slices away unnecessary assumptions. No one has to be a scholar to do this.

Common sense and a healthy respect for the interests of the Government go a long way towards explaining the Government's behavior. For a variety of reasons, conspiracy theorists engage in irrational cognitive consistency and maintain their cognitive balance  in an irrational way ignoring the absence of evidence. They also fail to provide evidence for their position and refuse to acknowledge contrary valid evidence.

References

Ross, H., Samples, K., & Clark, M. (2002). Lights in the sky and little green men: a rational christian look at UFOs and extraterrestrials. Navpress: Colorado