Freedom, Morality, and Religion

                The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday is the simple fact that morality and religion determines freedom because good morals are essential to freedom.  When societies fall into immoral practices, destruction quickly follows unless the people repent.

I have long appreciated and quoted the following statement by President John Adams said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.  It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”  I recently found the more extensive quote:  “But should the people of America once become capable of that deep simulation towards one another, and towards foreign nations, which assumes the language of justice and moderation while it is practicing iniquity and extravagance and displays in the most captivating manner the charming pictures of candor, frankness, and sincerity, while it is rioting in rapine and insolence, this country will be the most miserable habitation in the world; because 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, To the Officers of the First Brigade of the Third Division of the Militia of Massachusetts, 1798)

The following seven dangers to human virtue have been attributed to Ghandi:  “1) Wealth without work, 2) pleasure without conscience, 3) knowledge without character, 4) business without ethics, 5) science without humanity, 6) religion without sacrifice, 7) politics without principle.”

                I believe that a large percentage of the people living within the borders of the United States of America are without morals and virtue, particularly many of the men and women who hold leadership positions in our nation.  I believe that our nation will see some hard times because of this lack of morality.  I also believe that there are many good people living in America, and I know that good can overcome evil if there is enough good. I encourage you to be a person of good moral character who will stand firm on virtuous principles and help our nation to maintain true freedom.