Democracy: Its Origin and Purpose

by Bernard P. Hagan
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Democracy: Jefferson and Lincoln and the Future

Jefferson had put forward the broad philosophical concept of equality when he wrote in our Declaration of Independence that "all men are created equal." Lincoln expanded and further defined that concept when he declared that all people are created with equal rights. He said that in a speech on July 17, 1858.

But the idea of creating all people with equal rights and making equal rights part of every person's nature had to occur first in the mind of the Creator. So then, if all persons are created with equal rights, then it was God's idea to create them that way. But if God is the actual author of the most basic principle of the democratic political philosophy, then that means that democracy itself was God's idea. Shouldn't that also be considered a basic doctrine of our democratic political philosophy?

But why did God originate democracy? Did He have a special reason for originating democracy? Does He have something in mind we are not yet aware of? It appears that He wants all nations to be free and open? That is the direction in which the human race is moving. But why? Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of movement - all to a greater or lesser degree- in every nation. Where do we go from there? What is the plan?

Admittedly all nations are not yet free. But the pressures are great and growing daily on the laggard nations. Impervious to democracy? No one is.

Why is all of this important? Because the human race is rapidly approaching that particular phase of human history envisioned by Jefferson and Lincoln. It is much closer than anyone thinks.

We all need to know and understand why a political philosophy based upon a principle that originated in the mind of God has advanced so far in the world. Is there another stage of historical development beyond that, and what is to be its nature?

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