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Peace?, What Is The Source Of
(A quoted passage from "THE LINK" video.)
Obviously, it enhances peace to have just punishment for criminals. Nevertheless, no matter how much we punish criminals, society will never have peace, until self-restraint on behavior
exists. A person's attitude and actions are shaped by his beliefs. Law-abiding self-restraint is found in a moral person. Meaningful morality is a result of religious standards. Values, such as, thou shalt not steal, lie, kill or commit adultery but honor one's parents and treat others as you would have them treat you, etc., are the
foundation of morality. Those who go beyond professed belief but actually live these ideals are the law abiding, peaceful
people. Those who reject these ideals are the source of all problems.There is a credo, written by Rev. Edmund A. Opitz that comprehends the wisdom, that thoughts are the seeds of acts:
"People tend to act out their deepest and most firmly held convictions, and their characters are shaped accordingly. As we believe, so will we become; and as we are, so will our societies be."
Take religion out of society and you will have crime. Gangs and other criminal elements are void of religious restraints and therefore care little for the life of another. They often care
little for their own life because they're barren in belief and have no hope for the future , Mortal or Eternal. Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration Of Independence, told us back in 1791 that if we ever take religious teachings from the schools, we will forever after waste our
time and money punishing crime. Is his message proving prophetic?Morality and religion are essential for peaceful, productive conduct and are indispensable in the survival of a nation. A
society, without high moral standards, that allows anything, will eventually lose everything. Morality is essential for peace. Although secularists deny it, religion is essential for Morality. This
was the view of George Washington when he taught:
"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports ... reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail
in exclusion of religious principle."
Can the constitution, the justice system, or laws, maintain peace? Listen to John Adams as he spoke of the value of good law:
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
James Madison:
"Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks, no form of government, can render us secure."
As morality is essential for a nation's people, it is especially critical for that people's leaders. This wisdom was expressed by Samuel Adams when he said:
"... neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people ... He therefore is the truest friend of the liberty of his country ... who ... will not suffer a man
to be chosen into any office of power and trust who is not a wise and virtuous man."
When morality slips from society, the people will never know peace. The wisdom of the past and present, recognizes that it is not law but virtue that will maintain peace. The deterioration of public
morals always leads to the loss of life, liberty and property.
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