tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post275572493053007368..comments2024-01-01T15:35:12.954-07:00Comments on Simple Utah Mormon Politics: Imagine an American Foreign Policy that Included GodFrank Stahelihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822334061980912687noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post-88785014391873431922010-10-01T12:38:34.226-06:002010-10-01T12:38:34.226-06:00Charles D: Masterfully said! I agree.
In the LD...Charles D: Masterfully said! I agree.<br /><br />In the LDS Church, we do believe that America is a great nation, but we teach that that greatness is shared through peaceful actions and not through war and intrigue. Here's a reference to what I'm referring to: http://scriptures.lds.org/en/1_ne/22<br /><br />Although, by their support of George W. Bush during his two terms there were (and still are) many LDS Church members who don't understand the concept explained behind the above link.Frank Stahelihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01822334061980912687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post-4275268403562979452010-10-01T12:00:34.450-06:002010-10-01T12:00:34.450-06:00It does not require a belief in or reliance upon a...It does not require a belief in or reliance upon a God in order to treat others with kindness or eschew violence as a method of achieving personal or national goals. What it does require is a populace that understands history, that has a knowledge of and respect for other peoples, other cultures and other nations, and a citizenry that controls its own government rather than letting it be controlled by those who profit from war. <br /><br />Often religious groups subvert the cause of peace by viewing their nation as special in God's eyes, and replace its real history with a myth intended to prove the nation's high and noble purposes; other times they exalt their own culture and show little respect for others; and too often the desire to enforce the religion's social mores is co-opted by those who profit from war.<br /><br />If peace is the goal, then working for justice everywhere is the best method. We are all human, regardless of religion, and we all understand what it means to be treated unjustly.Charles Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02975241234146573609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post-80582920320224308772010-09-20T22:06:53.252-06:002010-09-20T22:06:53.252-06:00rmwarnick: Steve Farrell blows apart your No Chris...rmwarnick: Steve Farrell blows apart your No Christianity due to the "Treaty of Tripoli" theory: http://radicalacademy.com/studentrefpoliticslibltr23.htmSteven Montgomeryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02291046612560917501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post-12648966039850031922010-09-20T14:47:12.271-06:002010-09-20T14:47:12.271-06:00;-)
That was simply used to show an example of ...;-) <br /><br />That was simply used to show an example of how God does not protect us. There are such examples in other, including non-Christian, scripture.Frank Stahelihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01822334061980912687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post-83658268987380936652010-09-20T14:45:51.172-06:002010-09-20T14:45:51.172-06:00Sorry, I was under the impression that "The B...Sorry, I was under the impression that "The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ" had something to do with Christianity.rmwarnickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10948594032787232166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post-23497317091537971822010-09-20T11:45:15.871-06:002010-09-20T11:45:15.871-06:00Richard: I didn't say anything about Christian...Richard: I didn't say anything about Christianity. I agree that we should abide by agreements such as international law and treaties. God expects us to keep our word. <br /><br />There is a conscience inside all of us, and that is what I call God. Conscience has not very often informed our politics; rather, pragmatic politics has. That's why we have such a muddled mess in the middle east.Frank Stahelihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01822334061980912687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post-80330732655913918842010-09-20T10:47:49.644-06:002010-09-20T10:47:49.644-06:00The United States of America was founded on the pr...The United States of America was founded on the principle of religious freedom, and this idea of neutrality with regard to religion also applied to foreign policy from the beginning.<br /><br />The classic (though not the only) example is the <a href="http://www.sullivan-county.com/news/tripoli/tripoli.htm" rel="nofollow">Treaty of Tripoli</a>, ratified unanimously by the Senate in June 1797.<br /><br /><i>"As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion, - as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen, - and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."</i><br /><br />I would argue that it's best to leave God out of foreign policy, and adhere to international law and applicable treaties. <br /><br />For example, the United Nations Convention Against Torture (signed by President Ronald Reagan) requires the U.S. government to prosecute any allegations of torture. By not doing so, the Obama administration is breaking the law. And yes, they are being "mean and selfish."rmwarnickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10948594032787232166noreply@blogger.com