Atrophy

 James Monroe wrote, " To suppose any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people is a chirmical idea. " What is he saying here? I think we would have to begin with the idea of virtue. He says we must have virtue in the people. What is virtue? Virtue is having high moral standards is the short answer. The question is from where or from what do we derive our high moral standards? According to the history James Monroe was a Christian. He was baptized in the Episcopal Church. There are some who make claim that he was really a Deist. The distinction is not so important as the belief, in my opinion. It is the actions we are instructed to follow that secure our salvation, not the motivation behind them. James Monroe derived his high moral standards from the Bible! I don't think you could make any argument to the contrary. That the founding fathers, as we have taken to calling them, where Christians in the majority is undisputed. Yes, these men where well read and certainly influenced by other writings and teachings. I do believe that Monroe was referencing the teachings of the Bible as his example of a virtuous person. That was his model. The moral standards of the American society are founded in that. Did not the Puritans arrive on this soil to escape religious prosecution? They carried with them the Geneva Bible. That Bible had been translated from the Latin and Greek and was not liked by the Pope or King James! Fact is, King James made it a felony to even own a copy and had his own translation printed, the King James Bible we all know today. I'm certain Monroe had read them all. And, in it's essence, all those Bibles say the same thing. Virtue and morality are based on Gods word as contained in the scriptures! 

 So, when James Monroe said, " to suppose any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people is a chimerical idea" he was talking about Christian values. He was saying it is not " government " that will ensure liberty or happiness. He uses the word chimerical, one I wasn't familiar with but is defined as, " a thing that is hoped for, or wished for,  but is impossible to achieve. " He is making it clear that government can not guarantee liberty or happiness. In so saying what is the implication? Seems clear that the implication is that those are personal achievements achieved only by the moral and virtuous man. And yes, when I say man, I mean everyone, mankind, humankind, whatever other nouns or pronouns you wish to apply.
 " Before any man can be considered as a member of a civil society, he must be considered as a subject of the governor of the universe, and to the same author of every good and perfect gift we are indebted for all those privileges and advantages, religious as well as civil, which are so richly enjoyed in this favored land. " Those were the thoughts of then President Monroe. Notice he says " governor of the universe. " There was political correctness even then and so that is why the cryptic reference to God. He gives the credit to God for religious and civil advantages enjoyed by the citizens of America. The importance to me is his acknowledgement that man must be considered  a subject of God. What is a subject? In his day a subject was a person that was loyal and subject to the will of his master. He is saying that God is the master of all mankind!
 Why, you wonder why am I writing about this? I am writing in search of answers. As I watch the news and see all the terrible events that are taking place I want to know why. What has happened to man that he commits such atrophic acts? And it is certainly an atrophy in morality and virtues. I don't believe anyone could deny that. James Monroe provides insight. You can not expect any form of government to provide moral or virtuous solutions to the struggle of just being human. It is God, by whatever name you choose, that will provide that guidance. It is God that will provide the strength to endure. Monroe clearly states, we are all indebted for whatever privilege or advantage we enjoy. We need to return to that attitude and in that the government may heal itself. The healing taking place in the hearts of the governed! Government in and of itself can not provide liberty or happiness. Let's quit trying to legislate that.