Christian_and_God

Christians are to be concerned both with God and one’s fellow man. Those of the Renaissance, on the other hand, concentrated upon the human to the extent that God was secondary, only in the periphery of the picture. Later in history people made the even greater error of excluding God completely, which is sometimes referred to as a secular humanism. CONSTITUTION Where in the same constitution there is a monarchy, an aristocracy, and a democracy, each serves as a check upon the others. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517. In a well-ordered republic it should never be necessary to resort to extra-constitutional measures; for although they may for the time be beneficial, yet the precedent is pernicious, for if the practice is once established of disregarding the laws for good objects, they will in a little while be disregarded under that pretext for evil purposes. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517. The majority of men never willingly adopt any new law tending to change the constitution of the state, unless the necessity of the change is clearly demonstrated; and as such a necessity cannot make itself felt without being accompanied with danger, the republic may easily be destroyed before having perfected its constitution. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517. Although the laws may be changed according to circumstances and events, yet it is seldom or never that the constitution itself is changed; and for this reason the new laws do not suffice, for they are not in harmony with the constitution. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517. [The] return of a republic to its original principles is either the result of extrinsic accident or of intrinsic prudence.... so that, being thus born again, she might take new life and vigor, and might resume the proper observance of justice.- Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517. EDUCATION As to exercise the mind, the prince ought to read history and study the actions of eminent men, see how they acted in warfare, examine the causes of their victories and defeats in order to imitate the former and avoid the latter. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Prince. 1537. It is of great importance whether a youth in his tender years hears any act praised or censured; this necessarily makes a lasting impression upon his mind, and becomes afterwards the rule of his life for all time. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517. The weakness of the princes of the present day, caused by an effeminate education and want of instruction, makes them regard the maxims of the ancients as inhuman, or impossible of application. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517. It is true that men are more or less virtuous in one country or another, according to the nature of the education by which their manners and habits of life have been formed. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517. HATE Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Prince. 1537. Men’s hatreds generally spring from fear or envy. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517. To incur hatred without any advantage is the greatest temerity and imprudence. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517. HUMAN NATURE Men forget more easily the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony. -- Niccoló Machiavelli, The Prince. 1537. Men are much more taken by present than by past things, and when they find themselves well-off in the present, they enjoy it and seek nothing more. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Prince. 1537. Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous; for they know neither how to be entirely good or entirely bad. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517. Men always commit the error of not knowing where to limit their hopes, and by trusting to these rather than to a just measure of their resources, they are generally ruined. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517. A truly great man is ever the same under all circumstances; and if his fortune varies, exalting him at one moment and oppressing him at another, he himself never varies, but always preserves a firm courage, which is so closely interwoven with his character that every on can readily see that the fickleness of fortune has no power over him. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517. The conduct of weak men is very different. Made vain and intoxicated by good fortune, they attribute their success to merits which they do not possess, and this makes them odious and insupportable to all around them. And when they fall into the other extreme, and become abject and vile. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517. INJUSTICE The different wrongs which a prince can inflict upon a subject consist either in an attempt upon his possessions, his person, or his honor. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517. POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS The first impression that one gets of a ruler and of his brains is from seeing the men that he has about him. When they are competent and faithful one can always consider him wise, as he has been able to recognize their ability and keep them faithful. But when they are the reverse, one can always form an unfavorable opinion of him, because the first mistake that he makes is in making this choice. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Prince. 1537. For a prince to be able to know a minister there is this method which never fails. When you see the minister think more of himself than of you, and in all his actions seek his own profit, such a man will never be a good minister, and you can never rely on him; for whoever has in hand the state of another must never think of himself but of the prince, and not mind anything but what relates to him. - Niccoló Machiavelli,The Prince. 1537. A republic should take great care not to entrust with an important administration one has been gravely offended. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517. A prince... should never bestow so much authority upon his friends but that there should always be a certain distance between them and himself, and that there should always be something left for them to desire; otherwise they will almost invariably become victims of their own imprudence. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517. RELIGION If our religion claims of us fortitude of soul, it is more to enable us to suffer than to achieve great deeds.  These principles seem to me to have made men feeble, and caused them to become an easy prey to evil-minded men, who can control them more securely, seeing that the great body of men, for the sake of gaining paradise, are more disposed to endure injuries than to avenge them. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517. Although it would seem that the world has become effeminate and heaven disarmed, yet this arises unquestionably from the baseness of men, who have interpreted our religion according to the promptings of indolence rather than those of virtue. -- Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517. If we were to reflect that our religion permits us to exalt and defend our country, we should see that according to it we ought also to love and honor our country, and prepare ourselves so as to be capable of defending her. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517. VIRTUE It will be found that some things which seem virtuous, if followed, lead to one’s ruin, and some others which appear vices result in one’s greater security and well-being. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Prince.1537. It cannot be called virtue to kill one’s fellow citizens, betray one’s friends, be without faith, without pity, and without religion; by these methods one may indeed gain power, but not glory. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Prince. 1537. Virtue is to be admired and praised, even in one’s enemies. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517. Nature of Man Three basic differences about the nature of humanity separate humanists from Christians. First, humanists believe that humanity is only physical. Humanists “find that the traditional dualism of mind and body must be rejected.”[16] Humanism declares “there is no credible evidence that life survives the death of the body.”[17]They conclude therefore “that the ethical life can be lived without the illusions of immortality or reincarnation.”[18] On the other hand, Christians believe that humanity is both physical and spiritual, having been made both from “the dust of the ground”[19] and also “in the image of God.”[20] Second, humanists “can discover no divine purpose or providence for the human species.”[21] Humanists declare that “man is at last becoming aware that he alone is responsible for the realization of the world of his dreams, that he has within himself the power for its achievement.”[22] “Secular humanism places trust in human intelligence rather than in divine guidance.”[23] On the other hand, Christians believe that man is unable to direct himself[24] and that humanity is dependent upon God for purpose and guidance in life.[25] Third, humanists’ declarations imply their conviction that goodness is as basic to human nature as is humanity’s physical existence. Humanists declare that “promises of immortal salvation or fear of eternal damnation are both illusory and harmful.”[26] They say that “salvationism, based on mere affirmation, still appears as harmful, diverting people with false hopes of heaven hereafter.”[27] On the other hand, Christians believe that by Adam sin entered into the world,[28] that everyone sins,[29] and that therefore everyone is in need of salvation.[30] Why Christians Are Losing To Humanists In the war against humanism, Christians appear to be losing. All who have lived five decades or more can testify that our society has changed radically during this time. While many reasons might be given, here are four that seem self-evident to close observers. First, many theists have generally been unaware that humanistic values have been imposed on society and have therefore not resisted them. Now that such awareness is coming, many theists either mistakenly think they can do nothing to combat humanism, or do not want to put forth the effort. Second, many theists, being generally unaware of humanism, have primarily talked their beliefs and have generally withdrawn from the governing of society whereby values are continually implemented through law. On the other hand, humanists, without much talk about their beliefs, have, by political activism, implemented their beliefs into laws that are now being imposed upon Christians. Third, many theists have generally been unaware of the use humanists have made of compulsory public schools to teach humanistic values and thus by-pass Christian parental values. Fourth, many theists often accommodate themselves to humanistic beliefs such as theistic evolution, errancy of scripture, belief that man is basically good, relying upon human alliances, thinking moral values may be relative, etc. Value of Human Life Because humanists believe that human life originates by evolutionary chance, and that people are only physical beings, then it follows that, for humanists, no human life has any inherent value or sacredness. On the other hand, because Christians believe that life originates with God, only God should take human life. Except for capitol punishment,[40] self-defense, and wars which were specifically authorized by God, mankind is forbidden to take the life of another human being.[41] And because Christians believe that humanity is both physical and spiritual, made in the image of God, then it follows that, for Christians, every human being, from the moment of his conception, has an inherent God given value or sacredness. Because humanists believe that man is only physical in nature, then it follows that, for humanists, human life should be valued only for its physical desirability and productivity. On the other hand, because Christians believe that mankind is both physical and spiritual in nature, then it follows that, for Christians, human life should be evaluated in both physical and spiritual terms. Because humanists believe that human life has no value unless it is desired or productive, then it follows that, for humanists, when human life is not desired or productive, it may be destroyed. On the other hand, because Christians believe that human life is God given and also of a spiritual nature, then it follows that, for Christians, human life must be sanctified and preserved. Because humanists believe that human life has no inherent value, if the will of humankind is thought to be better served by abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, or suicide, then that should be encouraged.[42] On the other hand, because Christians believe that human life originates with God, that it has a spiritual nature, and that it should be preserved, then it follows that, for Christians, every form of eliminating human life, whether through abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, suicide, genocide, or homicide, must be strongly resisted. Because humanists believe that human life is valued only when it is desired or productive, then it follows that, for humanists, every member of society may seek his own selfish objectives without any sense of responsibility to meet the needs of others. On the other hand, because Christians believe that human life should be preserved at all costs, then it follows that, for Christians, every member of society should work unselfishly and responsibly for the preservation of one another. While it is true that many God fearing persons within our society are still unselfish and seek to preserve human life, however weak or disabled we may be, is it not also true that our society, as a whole, is becoming more selfish, and irresponsible, so that not only abortion and suicide are prevalent, but also that euthanasia and infanticide seem to be growing as political possibilities' Would you not agree that when assessed by the criterion of value of human life, our society is becoming more humanistic' God Humanists “find insufficient evidence for belief in the existence of a supernatural.” Humanists believe that the existence of God “is either meaningless or irrelevant to the question of the survival and fulfillment of the human race.”[6] On the other hand, Christians believe that God not only exists, but that also he is active in many ways in human affairs. According to the Bible, God is active as creator,[7] provider,[8] lawgiver,[9]savior,[10] and judge,[11] to name but a few of the many ways God interacts with mankind.