There are civilizations that have passed from existence throughout the timeline of human presence on Earth. Ceasing to exist as a society, nation, people, and culture has many root causes. But perhaps none is more stark than the fact that the systemic elimination of many of the civilizations in all of human history has to do with the lack of acknowledgement or recognition of God. Throughout the millennia of time there have been a recognized number of generations and civilizations, many of which were decimated and exited from history with little or no evidence of their existence.
This article will cover only a short period of human existence while referencing past civilizations in order to provide clarity. Since there are references to periods of history that cover Biblical history and references to Judaeo-Christian ideology, it is important to realize that other belief systems with historical relevance have their own ideas and beliefs regarding human history. It is important to recognize that all of civilization has its own slant of how things are or have been with regard to the ways life has existed. This article presents only one point of view for the purpose of providing a potential outcome based on the viewpoints of the author.
Background
Currently, the United States is teetering on the edge regarding its existence and credibility as a Nation in the global arena of civilizations. The problem is not one of economic struggles, albeit the current state of economic stability is for the general population one of the worst periods of economics since the early 1900s. This statistic is not being given any discernible level of importance, because the markets continue to rise, giving the impression that all is well with the financial sectors within the country. However, the benefits of the markets do not amount to growth in the across the board benefits of everyday citizens.
The extreme rise in violence across the nation is perhaps worse than it has ever been collectively. In an article by The Atlantic, James Fallows lays out some significant similarities between the violence that plagued the nation in 1968, and what has happened beginning in 2000 and 2021. Almost every major statistic related to crime and violence in a given year has been surpassed beginning in 2020 and continuing into 2021.
There are a number of religious organizations across the United States that have come out in support of conservative values which directly conflict with mainstream ideology. However, religion in modern U.S. society means something entirely different than it did from its inception. For this reason, major groups and factions of religious thought have formed their own theories concerning the backdrop of cultural and social coherence as well as what is currently dividing the country. A study done by Pew Research Center in October 2019 revealed a sharp decline in the percentage of Americans who participated regularly in religious activities. The rise in the number of individuals with low or no religious affiliation has increased to the point that it is no longer cool or acceptable to be religious and in fact religion is perceived to be a clear sign of weakness to many.
It is important to look at several factors contributing the decline and lack of importance in any civilization over time. Perhaps one of the best ways to evaluate the foundation of a nation regarding its societal norms is to look at it from the perspective of the founders of the nation, and what their intent for creating the new nation was. It is in those foundations that lay the basic principles and fundamental guidelines that were followed in the establishment of the governing patterns for the society. Such is the case regarding the United States, and the reason why the country is now in such a perilous time of struggle.
Historical Relevance
The United States has a brief but very storied history as a nation. From its earliest days during the colonial period, there was a quest by the early settlers to be free of those things they considered to be tyranny and oppression at the hand of the British who were their overlords. Over time it became apparent that the only way for the colonists to become an independent society and nation, it would be necessary to fight for the freedoms the people sought to achieve.
The most significant document leading to the Revolution between Great Britain and the Colonies was the Declaration of Independence, written between June and July 1776. The creators of the Declaration left no doubt or question regarding the authority on which they relied in framing the words therein. The founding fathers of the United States were consider deists rather than Christians, but make no mistake, they valued God in ways that modern society has long forgotten. The document contains references to God for very specific reasons.
Within the writings of the Declaration, God is referenced four times. The first mention of God is in the introduction to the Declaration, where the writers state the following:
“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them”
The Declaration of Independence
A lot of discussion has been made regarding the belief the founding fathers were deists. The word itself means “advocating natural religion, emphasizing morality, belief in the notion that God created the Earth, and allowed mankind to manage and operate government based on the laws of Nature created by God.” This was the thinking of the day when the Declaration of Independence was authored, and the founding fathers apparently fully supported the notion of self-governance by the people on behalf of God.
The beginning of the document begins with the statement “When in the course of human events,” which implies that the things being written are in fact “human” in their origin, but on behalf of “Divine” orchestration given to them by none other than God, Himself. Since Deism was the popular religiously connected belief of the period, it would have been met with little to no resistance by the individuals the document was intended for. According to Webster, this religious belief was followed by the first three American Presidents.
The writers then point to their God-given rights allowing them to dissolve political bands which have connected them with another. This direct reference to dissolution of the connection to Great Britain was significant, and fully promoted the idea that there was going to be conflict on the future of the colonies. They finish this first stanza by stating the God of nature and the human condition is responsible for the declaration they are making regarding their rights and freedoms.
The second mention of God in the Declaration of Independence comes at the beginning of the preamble to the Declaration where it states,
We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
The Declaration of Independence
The word Creator is a direct reference to God, but it is what precedes this reference that is the most significant part of this portion of text. All men are created equal, a statement regarding all of humanity without exception or inclusion of any perceived definitions of what composes humankind. The end of the statement indicates Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. A discourse by an individual by the name of Ben Davis analyzes the phrase of offers the following description: “Liberty is the state of being free of unnecessary restrictions; being free to make your own choices; being free to experience your own life. The right to pursue Happiness is the right to love as you choose; the right to love your freedom; the right to love your life.” This explanation is clear and life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness may have had slight differences of meaning and intent. However, this phrase carries the same clarity of meaning throughout time for freedom loving individuals.
The third mention of God comes within the main document, and states,
We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States
The Declaration of Independence
The phrase Supreme Judge is a direct reference to God and signifies, “God is not just the creator of the world and the giver of the moral law, but He also has the authority to judge all men and women on earth.” The writers are using authoritative language when referring to God as the foundation for the words they have chosen to include in the document. No one at the time of the writing of this document would have questioned the intent or purposes for which it was being written. The general populous throughout the colonies would have understood what it was being created for, and they would have supported the efforts of the leadership to push towards freedom.
The final mention of God in the Declaration of Independence is interesting for the wording used to describe God’s influence on every aspect of the lives of those who penned the document on behalf of a nation of colonies seeking to be free and independent.
And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor
The Declaration of Independence
Without apology or excuse, the authors explicitly state their complete dependence on God and rely on His divine Providence for protection. They go further and state a pledge of fidelity to God with their lives, Fortunes and sacred (most devout) Honor.
There has been plenty of discussion regarding the particular beliefs of the writers who constructed the Declaration, and many skeptics attempt to deflect by criticizing the authors as self-serving elites who were guilty for many nefarious things. However, an article from a website called The Founding makes this statement regarding the intentions of the writers and their use of the language included, “Their description shows that they acknowledged and upheld a Judeo-Christian, Bible-based view of God as actively involved in the lives of human beings.”
So, it is reasonable from a historic point of view to understand the founders were believers and individuals who valued the principles of Godliness and trusted God for direction and wisdom to create the document outlining the basis for establishing a free and independent union of States. The founders based their arguments for freedom on the Laws of God, they trusted God to guide them through the struggles they would encounter in the coming period of conflict and struggle, and they valued their faith as their guide, and nothing less would be considered an option.
Winds of Change
The current arena of confusion and chaos was not created in a vacuum. What is being played out in real time is the result of a well orchestrated plan to change the way people think, act and live out their daily lives. There are surveys of all types that can produce information, answering a variety of questions on virtually any subject or topic of interest. The level of accuracy and validity of polls and surveys has declined significantly during the last decade, based on the knowledge that many of the organizations responsible for polling have become politicized due to their alliances with political organizations. In a number of recent generational transitions there has risen a significant percentage of the U.S. population that no longer understand or acknowledge the foundations on which the nation was created.
Several generations have been involved in the rise in radical beliefs and the destruction of the values that were present when the Declaration of Independence was penned. It is this underpinning of adherence to those things which stand in direct opposition to the fundamental principles that were the cornerstones to democracy and freedom that has led to such radical views. A 2019 poll found that a full seventy percent of individuals between the age of 20-45 favor socialism over capitalism. However, within that same group, more than fifty percent of those surveyed had no clear understanding of the meaning or purpose of socialism.
Much of the appearance of anti-government sentiment seems to be coming from a particular sector of the population, but this should not suggest they were the creators of the problem. In fact, the elaborate measures used to create the social activism and anti-government activities were seeded through one of the most celebrated institutions in American culture, the educational system. If an organization can control what people learn, how they are instructed, and to what extent the government is involved in the educational process, then there is a strong likelihood that no matter who a person is, or what they believe on a personal level, they will be indoctrinated into a particular belief system or ideology.
An article dated August 2020 by Kerry McDonald said teacher’s unions across the United States are, “deeply political organizations with significant influence over what, how, where, and with whom most children learn.” Consider the fact, in 2021 there are significant risks involved in enrolling into a higher education institution, and the primary risks have little to do with safety within the classroom. What is the significant problem? Rights, freedoms, and civil liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are no longer guaranteed. To many, higher education classrooms have become breeding grounds for social activism and everything “anti-” that can be named.
Influencers include the normal actors, corporate conglomerates, big tech, special interest groups, and social justice organizations, each with narratives that promote and teach everything that is wrong with the nation, but failing to remember any of the historical importance on which the country was founded. Sir Winston Churchill is often cited for paraphrasing a comment originating with George Santayana, 1905,
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”
Sir Winston Churchill
Churchill’s paraphrasing of the quote referenced the failure of individuals to learn from history rather than remembering the past. Regardless of the paraphrase, Churchill’s intention was clear, when people in general forget who they are as a nation, then the likelihood of that nation falling is great indeed. Today there is a cry among the radical sector of the U.S. population to erase the history of the nation based on arguments that do not stand on the merit with regard to factual basis or proof of evidence. Much of the debate regarding the ideologies being promoted as proof are admittedly theories that are actually reconstructions of earlier versions of Marxism, Communism and Socialism. To quote a comment often referred to in relation to life’s circumstance,
“What has been will be again, / what has been done will be done again; / there is nothing new under the sun.”
(Ecclesiastes 1:9)
Suffice it to say, the constructions of progressives in their attempts to rewrite history based on their theories and narratives supporting radical ideology, are certainly not new. In fact, they have been repeated over and over again throughout the generations of time, and they all point to one glaring absence in their thoughts, actions, lifestyles, and lives. They seek to do what civilizations have sought to do for thousands of years of man’s history on the earth. They are attempting to have life without recognizing or accepting the fact that something other than they themselves are in control.
The God Problem
A simple search on the Internet is sure to return hundreds if not thousands of polls, surveys, discussions, and articles on the listed number of problems in the world. People are fascinated with polls, surveys, and discussions, because it gives them the opportunity to share their thoughts, beliefs and opinions on any and every topic of interest. This is why social media has become the behemoth of communication that controls virtually every narrative and discussion in the world today. People in the United States are consumed with the problems facing the nation today, and there are serious concerns that come to mind. Climate change, global warming, poverty, crime, social justice, and others just to name a few.
While the topics of the day seem to catch the attention of the majority of the population, one problem is never mentioned as a fundamental concern for people, the absence of God from the picture. Depending on the polls, it is estimated the upwards of seventy percent of the population identifies as having some type of Christian affiliation. In addition, a large percentage of the population indicate they pray regularly. However, a study done by Ralph Lewis, M.D. stated that in the last couple of decades, there has been a steep decline in religious affiliation among all modern global societies. So, it may be that the problems facing the United States really have less to do with popular belief, and more to do with a fundamental concern.
There are circumstances in life that can be attributed to something as simple as time and chance, wrong place at the wrong time, or bad things happen to good people. However, the most fundamental of beliefs is about self-control, self-preservation, self-direction, and self-autonomy. To be honest, most people give little to no thought about life beyond their own situations and circumstances. This is why there is a need to have answers to the hard questions in life that baffle young and old. People of faith lean on God for the answers, while self-determinists rely on what they know. Because of this self-determinism, the denial or elimination of those things that create problems for this sector of the population is not only an option, but a requirement.
Future of Uncertainty
At least two generations have been groomed and trained to believe the founding fathers of the United States got it all wrong. They have been trained to believe anyone who is not for them is against them. They have been trained to believe, violence to support their beliefs is acceptable. They have been trained to believe they are in control of their future, and they have no one to answer to for their thoughts, actions, lifestyle, and life. This is what a life without the principles of God in the nation looks like.
The nation divided against itself will cease to be a nation, or as the eloquent Abraham Lincoln said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” The agenda being followed by progressive actors is designed to create chaos, division, and violence. It goes against the principle design of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights. It is intended to create a chasm in the nation, that if left unattended will result in the destruction of the country. The time for returning to the historical roots on which the nation was founded is now. The time to proclaim allegiance and fidelity to the principles and precepts on which the founders intended and understood is now. The time to declare that the people of this nation are one people under God is more necessary now than at any other time in the history of this great nation.
