Without the step of equality before GOD, there would be no equality under the law, or people picking their own leaders. The enlightenment thinkers, and John Locke in particular, took the logical step, and that step was predicated on equality before God. Oh there was democracy of a kind before Christianity. Solon's reforms were a form of democracy, but those reforms were based on practical matters such as giving as many people skin in the game as possible, not a philosophical or spiritual truth.
Without the step of equality before GOD, there would be no equality under the law, or people picking their own leaders.
Right, I agree with that. One idea grows forth from an existing framework of ideas that came before. I'm not trying to discount the Christian influence on the modern world because it's obviously huge.
I'm just saying that this idea of equality under the law was the result of the constitution and USA as the key factors, not theological study. There were tons of Christian countries for 2,000+ years and this idea never became mainstream until the USA formed it's government around it and started kicking ass on the world stage.
Without the step of equality before GOD, there would be no equality under the law, or people picking their own leaders. The enlightenment thinkers, and John Locke in particular, took the logical step, and that step was predicated on equality before God. Oh there was democracy of a kind before Christianity. Solon's reforms were a form of democracy, but those reforms were based on practical matters such as giving as many people skin in the game as possible, not a philosophical or spiritual truth.
Right, I agree with that. One idea grows forth from an existing framework of ideas that came before. I'm not trying to discount the Christian influence on the modern world because it's obviously huge.
I'm just saying that this idea of equality under the law was the result of the constitution and USA as the key factors, not theological study. There were tons of Christian countries for 2,000+ years and this idea never became mainstream until the USA formed it's government around it and started kicking ass on the world stage.