[Peace-discuss] Since Locke

[Bob Illyes]

Jefferson noted, a century or so after Locke, "when I remember
that God is just, I fear for my country". He was very right to
be afraid.

Progress in human rights is incremental. Locke's property-based
rights were certainly flawed, but since he based all other rights
on the ownership of ones own body and mind, it was a step in the
right direction. As with the English revolution, the American
revolution gave political power to a small minority consisting of
well-off white men. So you are right in your criticisms, Janine.
We've made a lot of progress since Jefferson. We have, at least on
paper, equal rights for all regardless of gender, race or wealth.
What really happens is not so impressive. There is clearly a lot
of work that we must do.

When science moved north to get away from the Catholic church's
persecution, the folks who were making science pretty much agreed
on at least one thing- that nature, made by God, and the Bible,
inspired by God, could not be in contradiction. So their
understand of each informed their understanding of the other.
The notion that the Bible is true but that the world is false
truly makes no sense to me. I think one should respect God more
than that.

Bob