Ohno, tis not a game.  Both at one time or another both the Democrats and Republicans have stated that Americans have God Given Rights, especially the republicans.

Now I ask you to state by which rights, under law both Federal and state, has god given america?  Politicians can not just go around flagrantly stating which rights god has given or not given us.

I mean seriously, did Newt Gingrich state that one of our God Given Rights, was to bear arms?  Why yes he did.

Did Sarah Palin state, in a matter of fact statement, that God Gave her the right to raise her children as she saw fit, and also stated that it was Alaska's God Given Right to drill for oil, in any patch of field they damn well please?  Why yes she did.

So what are these God Given Rights, as stated by law, that the politicians keep on spouting?  Come on!  Bring it on!

By which laws were created by GOD are our rights established?  The 10 Commandments do not count.  I don't remember reading that God wrote the Constitution of the United States of America.

The declaration said "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" were among them

I'd also go for the first 9 of the bill of rights

God gave 10 commandments.  He didn't give any rights.  He basically gave a check list of how to live one's life.  A checklist of how to live one's life is not tantamount to any sort of rights.  I consider them guidelines more than rules or rights.

"God given" means "screw with us on this one and we'll burn the mother down"

> Noir wrote:

> lol avo, who is to determine legit religions?

you laugh, but the government already does this... churches get tax exemptions and essentially the government has a criteria for what qualifies as a legitimate religion... also, in past wars if you were drafted you could say it was against your religion to fight, and if your religion was considered a legitimate one and it was against that religion to fight the war, you wouldn't be forced to fight.

Yes avo but this is in the eyes of one state, the US.

Are we debating god given rights in US? or in general?

Scientology wasn't classified as a "religion" until 1993 when the Post Office started giving it mailing privileges of a church.

After that the Clinton State Dept started defending it as a religion in other countries like Germany.

That is true.  It really did come down to some guy saying ""The United States Post office, a branch of the federal government, declares this man to be santa claus!"

lol religion cracks me up

@ Little Paul

I'm agnostic.  According to god given right christian republicans, i'm going to burn in hell.  And according to god given rights democrat christians, i'm "naive, and duly not aware of the world around one self." 

Politically speaking every dumbass politician who ever goes to rally's will play the "God" card by stating "God given rights" to add a few more votes to their party.

I find that reprehensible that some politician wants a few more percentage points during election times by telling the american christian religious fools, what rights god gave them, when clearly god gave nobody any damn rights.

Seriously?  You think that's something that should be allowed in a political speach, or campaign?  Just to get the christian or catholic vote? 

That's stupid.  But that's politics.  And that's the damn truth.

Thou has the god given right to free speech.

Thou has the god given right to bare/bear arms.

Thou has the god given right to make oneself a fool.

Thou has the god given right to put one's foot in one's mouth.

From a Christian Perspective...that's what i'm asking.  Since all the politicians state that we have god given rights.  I want the political christian people here, to please state where in the bible, what rights god has given you.  Apparently the politicians believe they exist, when in actuality they don't.  Where in the bible did god give you the right to bare arms.  Where in the bible does it say you have the right to free speach?

Nowhere.  If god gave us free will, then why do christians state that god directs their life for the good or bad?  If we have free will, then god does not need to direct us or hand down rights to us.  Since we have free will, it is up to us to create those rights for ourselves.

So don't get me into a philisophical debate of "well how do you know god didn't give you rights."  Because that's just a debate that i'm not going to get pulled into.  For one.  God isn't talking.  In order to have a proper debate, you have to have two sides.  Well you have the humans down here, and god up there, and god doesn't want to join in the debate.  So he remains silent.

So until god gets off his lazy ass to come down here and debate this crap with me, we'll work on the premise that god gave no one any rights, but only free will.  Oh, and free will can not be debated was a right given unto us by god.  That's an oxymoron if I ever heard one.  It becomes a greater oxymoron if you even state that god directs your path in life.  If he directs your path, then no, there is no free will, since your actions and path is directed by god.

Do you really want to go a round with me on what rights god gave you?  In any search engine, type politician, and the statement, "God Given Rights".  You will find quite a few politicians who have made that statement in both printed news and television.  It's also called the "God Card" because during rally's just bringing up the word God, sends christian voters into a "Hell yah!" frenzy.

Crap.  Utter and total crap.

Okay... first of all, everyone's been waiting for you to address the question that East and I brought up from the beginning, asking if the idea of "rights" is simply an extension of utilitarianism.  Without that, you're just trolling.

Anyway, assuming you do address that...

The 10 commandments, followed by the ordinances surrounding those commandments, would probably indicate what God-given rights people possess.  Do this by looking at the full implications of any one commandment.  For example, the fact that "Thou shalt not kill" is among the 10 commandments indicates a value for the sanctity of life itself.  Thus, it's not difficult to say that through God's condemnation of the taking of life, God is acknowledging a right to life.

By the same token, some other rights can be easily drawn out of the commandments.  "Thou shalt not steal" would support the political philosophy that individuals have a fundamental right to own property.

Frankly, you're right about one aspect: the Bible does not go into as much detail as you're asking.  Christianity really does not get into government issues as often as other religions, such as Islam.  (Then again, Islam probably would not get into more specifics with values, largely because it is much more conservative).

That being said, depending on your branch of Christianity, "God given rights" can be found in biblical interpretation.  For example, if we are looking at the Catholic viewpoint, the collective words of the Pope and his college of cardinals are to be valued just as if God spoke directly.