The New World: an Introduction In 1493, Pope Alexander VI issued a Papal Bull granting a protectorate of the New World to Spain. The subsequent attempt to rationalize and justify administrative dominance in lands with complex indigenous cultures (Inca and Aztec) led to much debate and to attempts to reconcile European political ideas with "new world" social and economic conditions. The trans-Atlantic encounter gave impetus to the development of international law, comparative ethnology, and theories of cultural development. By 1520, "New Spain" comprised two viceroyalties, in Mexico City and Lima. Meanwhile, encomiendas or feudal fiefdoms had been established on the conquered soil by the colonizers. In 1542, the Spanish "New Laws" decreed …show more content…
These events surprised me mightily because of their grandeur and novelty and for being so unexpected; but thinking about them further, I was seized by a doubt, to wit, whether it was congruous with justice and Christian charity that the Spaniards should have made war on those innocent mortals who had caused them no harm. I wish to know, therefore, what you think about this and other similar wars which are waged without any reason or aim except for mere whim and greed. And I also want you to explain succinctly, with the clarity peculiar to your outstanding mind and subtle understanding, all the possible causes for a just war, and then to resolve the question in a few words. D.... In the first place, one must keep in mind a principle which is the basis of this and many other questions: everything which is done in the name of natural rights or laws can also be done by virtue of divine rights or evangelical laws. When Christ tells us in the Gospels not to resist the evil-doer and, if someone strikes us upon one cheek, to turn the other . . ., we should not believe that he was attempting to do away with the laws of Sepulveda: Democrates Alter B-3 nature which permit one to resist force with force within the limits of a just defense.... Those words from the Bible are not laws in the obligatory sense of the word, but rather advice and exhortation which do not belong so much to everyday life as to apostolic perfection.... 40 I wish to make it
Take into consideration that the Constitution states that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness can not be taken away without due
people can make their own decisions, independent of the religious leaders, provided reason is invoked in
Liberalism, in general, was an ideological movement that emerged out of the ideas of the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution in the early 19th century. It embraced the ideas of individualism which were established in the Renaissance and Reformation era. The Renaissance period sparked a belief in the importance of the individual in society. It helped promote the beliefs of classical liberalism which gradually formed into the liberal ideology of the 19th century. Individuals that were waiting to get their individual rights and freedoms were allowed to finally gain liberty and power through this period of time. Classical liberalism developed
-Roark, James L., Michael P. Johnson, Patricia Cline Cohen, Sarah Stage, and Susan M. Hartmann. The American Promise: A Concise History. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2014. Print.
When reading and interpreting biblical law, there are several important features to consider. First, there should be an understanding of the nature of law (“Lecture 1,” 2015). Torah, or תּוֹרָה, is the Hebrew word translated for “law” (Vogt, 2009). Its meaning refers to ‘instruction” or “teaching,” much different than the contemporary world defines the law. Moreover, it carries a “theologically centered” (Vogt, 2009, p. 26) teaching, providing for the ancient Israelites guidance in how to live in such a way that is pleasing to God (Vogt, 2009). Rather than looking at the law from a legalistic approach as is common today, it is important to understand that the Israelites received the law as a gift from God (Psalm 119:111, NIV) upon their deliverance from Egypt.
One of the major differences that A.J. Jacobs illuminates as major differences between the world of the Old Testament and our recent society is that the hundreds of laws listed on the 5 first books of the Old Testament might no longer apply to our contemporary society. Some of the reasons these laws are irrational is because they were harsh and basically impossible to achieve. However, I disagree with him in picking and choosing the right parts of the Bible. This is a dangerous statement because it opens the door to pick and choose what fits our model; therefore justification to sin might occur as a consequence. Nevertheless, these laws were given to one group of people, the Jews.
“We have a moral responsibility to disobey any law that conflicts with the law of god.” (Paragraph 16)
In 1493 Pope Alexander VI issued a papal bull to Spain granting them the land "west and south" of a pole-to-pole line 100 leagues west and south of any of the islands of the Cape Verde islands. A papal bull is a particular type of patent or charter issued by a Pope. The Pope decided which country would gain the heathen lands not controlled by Christians. (1.4) Within a century of its issuing the papal bull was no longer a model for settling territorial boundary questions. The papal bull had become defunct. The three main factors in Europe and North America that lead to the undermining of the papal bull can be placed in the categories of political, religious, and financial.
Bartolomé de las Casas was one of the first major fighters for human rights in the New World. In 1542, Las Casas wrote to the Spanish crown, who at the time was Charles V, “A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies,” which spoke of Spain's treachery towards the native peoples in the Spanish colonies, and asked for it to end.1 During the Spanish conquest of the New World—the region of North America and South America—the Spaniards establish dominance over the natives. They took their land, placed them without consent into the lower social class, and put them into labor. Las Casas was infuriated, especially by the hypocrisy surrounding the treatment of the natives; he felt that a society of Christian belief could never justify the behavior of the Spaniards.2 In Las Casas' letter to the crown, he denotes three key points, indicative of his goals. Las Casas wanted to end the downright enslavement of the natives, he wanted to end the war-like conquering of them, and he wanted the Spanish crown to act upon his requests—in the end, he found grand success.
infringed upon. These rights must be protected, defended, and upheld. After all, it is what more
When a person believes that the government has violated these rights, he or she may challenge the government’s action in
Because of these tactics, along with other rhetorical devices, Winthrop constructs an encouraging sermon. This overall hopeful and trustworthy tone of Winthrop’s writing creates a more successful impact compared to Edwards’s scare tactics. For example, right off the bat, Edwards uses the word “sinners” and informs that God is angry in the title, and yet, Winthrop’s title evokes kinder thoughts with the word “charity.” This strong, negative emotion of anger can immediately offend the audience and cause them to disregard what the sermon discusses. On the other hand, the initial tone set by Winthrop’s title can influence the listener to consider the sermon. Above all, an optimistic outlook presented by Winthrop is more effective in a
After receiving news of the discoveries upon Columbus' return, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain urged Pope Alexander VI to confirm their right of possession to all of the newly discovered lands in the Americas. The Pope was persuaded and in the Papal Bull of 1493, known as the Doctrine of Discovery, Pope Alexander VI commanded Spain to conquer, colonize and convert the pagans in the New World to Catholicism.[87][88]
Roy L. Aldrich from his article, “Causes for Confusion of Law and Grace,” points out, “One of the principal causes of misunderstanding about law and grace is the failure to define terms.” He then delineates some different meanings of law in the New Testament, e.g. the Mosaic Law (Matt 22:37–40); The Law of Christ (Gal 6:2; Jas 1:25; 2:12); Law as Principle (Rom 3:27; 8:2) and The Pentateuch (Luke 24:44). He goes on to point out that there is contrasting difference between the Mosaic Law and the moral law. The Mosaic Law was filled with, “ceremonial law, civil law, criminal law, sanitary law, governmental law. But the moral law existed before Moses, and continues after the Cross.” Did Jesus bind modern day Christians to these different attributes of the Mosaic Law only or moral law only or both? Paul R. Schmidtbleicher distinguishes between two different thoughts on this. Westminster
In order to be Law-abiding, we need only be and do as God is and does. That may sound impractical, but it is not as daunting as it seems. Consider this: in principle, Life is forgiving. That is not only what It is, but also, what It does. The three strikes rule is not a Law. As far as the Law of Life is concerned, you can keep on trying. When, and if, you finally get it right, It works! No matter how long one has ignored the light and cursed the darkness, in the instant we turn to the light, we are enlightened. The Law is exacting, and intolerant of our ignorance of It; even so, as soon as we apply Its principles, in compliance with Its nature, It works for us. However, when we are in conflict with