Divine Right Was The 16th-18th Century

This absolutist leader is portrayed by both King James I of England and King Louis XIV of France. King James I of England provided his people with a religious affiliation of himself and God. Through the divine right of kings, King James I believed he granted himself power from the authority of God. By means of this given right, King James I convinced his people was equal in power to God. Although this statement is false, many people, specifically the poor and illiterate, believed him. King James I used people’s relationships with God to create his own relationship amongst the people. In England there needed to be order when religious affiliation was breaking between the people and God. So rather than people looking up to God, they would look up to King James I. “The state of monarchy is the supreme thing upon earth; for kings are not only God’s lieutenants on earth and sit upon God’s throne, but even by God Himself they are called gods.”- Document B. Since King James was believed to be in connection and as powerful as God, no one could disobey or disagree with him. King James I granted himself the power to create and destroy, give life or sentence death and to determine the status of people. By making himself known as a god, King James I was able to fulfill several religious aspects in people’s lives and rule under a well-organized secure state of monarchy. Additionally,

It was widely believed that kings had the power to enforce God's works and messages in the country that he ruled. As expressed by King James the First of England,"...kings are...God's lieutenants on earth..."(Document B). Kings are meant to act as God's second in command on earth and enforce God's mission on the people that he rules. According to Bishop Jaques Bousset's Political Treatise,"... the king is sacred, and that to attack him in any way is sacrilege"(Document F). Kings were believed to be sent by God to rule and, therefore, should not be questioned. This belief allowed absolute monarchies to take hold in countries throughout Europe. The rule of these powerful governments allowed prosperity to take hold in

Imagine a world were only one person had the sovereignty of a nation through his bloodline and was not chosen by the people of the nation. This form of government is known as absolute monarchism which was practiced since the beginning of the middle ages till this day (Pope Francis, Vatican City). When it comes to a monarchy, it is composed of an individual(s) (king or queen) who reigns till his death and has a divine right appointed by God to be the ruler. The divine right was a doctrine that plead in favor of absolute monarchism, which means that the power of the rulers came by God’s authority and could not be downsized by any earthly organization such as the government or even the parliament. The Queen Elizabeth I, ‘The Virgin Queen’, also

Therefore, the king/queen only had to answer to God, not the people. Since the ruler was chosen by God it was considered axiomatic that the monarch has absolute power, after all God has great power so His earthly representative does as well (Document 7, James I of England 1609). Furthermore, because God chose the sovereign, disobeying the king was considered the same as disobeying God (Document 4, The Ideal State 1697 by Jean Domat). Of course, because the monarchs had such great power and were God’s chosen people they had to govern per God’s will, which was absolute justice. (Document 5, On Social Order and Absolute Monarchy by Jean Domat). As important this concept was in maintaining absolute monarchs, the reason that the Divine Right to Rule was so effective is because absolute monarchies primarily occurred in Catholic countries, where the monarch could gain the partnership of the Roman Catholic Church and thus win power over the

Many English monarchs believed in the divine right to rule. This right was given to them by God, therefore they believed that no one could take their crown or it would destroy the rightful line of succession. However, this was not always the case and some kings such as Richard II had their crown forced from them. If a king believed in the divine right he often had a close relationship with God. In William Shakespeare’s comedies, the divine right to rule a kingdom is present in the ways in which Richard II, Henry IV, and Henry V are come to rule England. Both Richard II and Henry V were powerful rulers, whose ruling was heavily dictated by their divine right to rule and their relationship with God. Through exploring the King’s relationship to God in Shakespeare’s tragedies Richard II, 1 Henry IV, 2 Henry IV, and Henry V, one can see that Henry V is the ideal Christian King.

“If God does not exist, then everything is permitted,” in other words, if there turns out to be no God then nothing is morally wrong.

For years, Christian Theism was the most prominent worldview. Christian Theist believed that God was the creator of all, and that he had laid out a plan for humanity. In the Seventeenth Century, as theist started to question their worldviews, a new view began to rise. Deism, as defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is, “Movement or system of thought advocating natural religion, emphasizing morality, and in the 18th century denying the interference of the Creator with the laws of the universe.”(2017)

Absolutism was an idea in which a ruler had an unlimited power and authority in the state in which he ruled . One of the most well known rulers who practiced absolutism was King Louis XIV who declared: "I am the state" . King Louis XIV believed that he deserved absolute power, so his decisions were not to be challenged by anyone. Divine right was the entitlement that a king was given in his position by a higher power. Absolutism was based on the foundation that God granted monarchs earthly power to rule, and that only God gave them there power so that they could spread his will here on earth . This meant that rulers could validate any of their rules by calling themselves the promoters for God's will and punishing all those who defied their

     According to Jacques-Benigne Bousset, a preacher and tutor to Louis the fourteenth’s son, there were four characteristics to royal authority. The first of being, royal authority is sacred. Second, royal authority is paternal. Third, it is absolute. Fourth, All power comes from God. (Text 596) To summarize Bousset he believes that, like God, a king is a father figure. To be idolized, respected and loved. So if God is the father of earth then his sons are the fathers of people, or kings. This makes a king both divine and undisputable, as a descendant of God. “Royal authority is absolute…The prince need account to no one for what he ordains…without this absolute authority, he can do no good nor suppress evil…” (Text 596).

And even after that there wasn't a separation of church and state until the 18th century. Even some of the later English kings like James I claimed divine right, as well so did Louis XIV of France. However all of this wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for a man by the name of Charles Martel.

Yes, I do believe as Americans, we should organize for reproductive justice rather than just settling on abortion rights, birth control and reproductive rights. The reason I believe we should just settle for reproductive justice because, it’s helpful for women who have suffered greatly. It is dangerous for us if we don’t let women think for themselves. For example, women who don’t receive a good quality of education will never be able to have a bright future for themselves and their children.

Over the past few years a great deal of controversy has emerged in relation to the question about the legacy of American diversity. Historically, America has stood out as one of the most culturally diverse places in the world. Today, mistreating and giving less favorable opportunities to an individual who is powerless as a minority in society, and belonging to a specific ethnic group, has become the order of the day. For example, since 9/11, Muslims in the United States have experienced increasing discrimination in the workplace and large segments of the Muslim community have faced isolation from fellow American citizens because of differences of faith.

Many women do not like being controlled. In the past, women were oppressed because they were not allowed to work and control aspects of their lifestyle, such as working themselves, rather they were forced to marry and depend on their spouses. William Shakespeare chose to present this concept through Katherina’s character in the play The Taming of The Shrew. Throughout the play, Katherina is seems to be untamable due to the manner in which she is first introduced, her attitude changes too abruptly for it to be convincing, and that she is either putting on an act or she 's just scared.

If a ruler lacks power, he would not be able to fulfill his duty of protecting his people’s welfare. If the weak ruler is overthrown by rebels, the country would return to the brutish state of Anarchy. Thus, a ruler is only legitimate to rule if he has the willingness and the ability to protect the people, their property, and their rights. Having willingness means when the ruler has power, he is willing to use that power to serve his people instead of his own interests. Having ability means that the ruler has enough authorities to be able to protect the people, their rights, etc. If a ruler has the willingness and ability, he will gain the people’s loyalty and support. In the “Mandate of Heaven,” a ruler got legitimacy only if he could untie the people and overthrow the previous ruler. “Heaven decides as the people decide.” Heaven approves of a ruler only if the people support him. Therefore, a ruler is legitimate to rule only if he has the willingness and ability along with the people’s support and loyalty.

For a lot of years Gods people were ruled by Judges; however, they looked out there across the borders and saw people being ruled by kings and they wanted a king, too. God did not favor them having a king, but they thought they would fair better if they just had a king. So God permitted them to have one.