Abraham Lincoln on God & Politics
Many politicians and other important figures in society have long appealed to the support of gods for their various projects. Whatever it is they wanted to do, they managed to find some bit of authoritative scripture or prophecy that purported to demonstrate divine favor for their agenda. How likely is it, though, that many (if any) have been right?
Abraham Lincoln was well aware of the ways in which people could appeal to supposed existence of God's favor for their projects. Both sides in the American Civil War eagerly claimed that God was on their side, helping them defeat an evil enemy. Both sides in the debate over slavery commonly cited scripture in defense of their positions.
Some, but probably not enough, learned an important lesson from this: just because a person claims to have divine favor, and just because they can offer plausible-sounding arguments, doesn't make it true. Lincoln certainly learned it, if he didn't realize it already, and it impacted how he dealt with religious and political issues.
That sort of attitude was certainly not limited to 19th century America, however. In the ancient world generals and kings were always interested in learning which of the gods would be supporting their plans - and there always seemed to be at least one god who would do so. With so many gods and demigods around, how could that not be the case?
It was also normal to seek out oracles who would provide pleasing prophecies about the campaigns ahead - prophecies that would normally be read in a way that produced whatever answer the petitioner was seeking anyway. Just how often did priests or oracles tell political and military leaders that they were wrong in their plans? That wouldn't have been very flattering.
Similar situations can be observed today as well. Both sides in debates over war, abortion, gay rights, taxes, and more cite the authority of scripture, religious tradition, and communication from God as part of the basis for their positions. They can't all be right and it is arguably unlikely that any of them are.
Still, in any of these discussions telling someone that they are merely "wrong" would not be perceived as being as much of a personal attack as telling them that they are not really "on God's side" in the first place. People don't like being wrong, that is true, but being on the wrong side from God is even worse. It's not merely an affront to their moral sensibilities, it's an affront to their ego and sense of self.
What kind of person could they be to choose the opposite of what God wants and falsely claim that it is God's Will? Only a truly awful or tragically misguided person could do such thing. Since almost no one is willing to admit that of themselves (though they are happy to admit it of others), the only possible conclusion that maintains any decent sense of self-respect is to stand by their claim that they and God are of one mind on this matter.
And thus few people ever learn the lessons that Abraham Lincoln tried to take to heart.
- Men are not flattered by being shown that there has been a difference of purpose between the Almighty and them.
- Abraham Lincoln, Letters to Thurlow Weed, March 14, 1865
Abraham Lincoln was well aware of the ways in which people could appeal to supposed existence of God's favor for their projects. Both sides in the American Civil War eagerly claimed that God was on their side, helping them defeat an evil enemy. Both sides in the debate over slavery commonly cited scripture in defense of their positions.
Some, but probably not enough, learned an important lesson from this: just because a person claims to have divine favor, and just because they can offer plausible-sounding arguments, doesn't make it true. Lincoln certainly learned it, if he didn't realize it already, and it impacted how he dealt with religious and political issues.
That sort of attitude was certainly not limited to 19th century America, however. In the ancient world generals and kings were always interested in learning which of the gods would be supporting their plans - and there always seemed to be at least one god who would do so. With so many gods and demigods around, how could that not be the case?
It was also normal to seek out oracles who would provide pleasing prophecies about the campaigns ahead - prophecies that would normally be read in a way that produced whatever answer the petitioner was seeking anyway. Just how often did priests or oracles tell political and military leaders that they were wrong in their plans? That wouldn't have been very flattering.
Similar situations can be observed today as well. Both sides in debates over war, abortion, gay rights, taxes, and more cite the authority of scripture, religious tradition, and communication from God as part of the basis for their positions. They can't all be right and it is arguably unlikely that any of them are.
Still, in any of these discussions telling someone that they are merely "wrong" would not be perceived as being as much of a personal attack as telling them that they are not really "on God's side" in the first place. People don't like being wrong, that is true, but being on the wrong side from God is even worse. It's not merely an affront to their moral sensibilities, it's an affront to their ego and sense of self.
What kind of person could they be to choose the opposite of what God wants and falsely claim that it is God's Will? Only a truly awful or tragically misguided person could do such thing. Since almost no one is willing to admit that of themselves (though they are happy to admit it of others), the only possible conclusion that maintains any decent sense of self-respect is to stand by their claim that they and God are of one mind on this matter.
And thus few people ever learn the lessons that Abraham Lincoln tried to take to heart.
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