Religion Leads to Prosperity

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports... reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."

Farewell Address — George Washington

"In his Farewell Address, George Washington declared:

'Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens... Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education... reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.'"^[1]

George Washington's words from his farewell address used to be included in our school books. Are they now? Why were they removed? Did you know that there is no founding document that mentions the line "separation of church and state"? Yet we hear that phrase often. That phrase was taken from a letter and has been taken out of context. Many of our founders sincerely believed that the founding of this country was inspired by God. They did not want religion removed from this country. They just did not want a particular religion controlling the Government. Why? Go research what happened to those who tried to bring about the written word of God and the answer will be obvious.

"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

John Adams

What has happened since religion has been slowly removed from our country? Have things gotten worse or better? Washington's farewell speech was in our textbooks until the 1960's. What has happened to the rates of crime and immoral behaviour since that time? Did we have metal detectors in schools before that time period? How much did our country spend on the criminal justice system then as compared to today? John Adams expounded on this subject when he taught:

"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." ^[2]

Early in our country's history, there was a movement to remove the Bible from our schools. The issue was brought to The Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously to allow the Bible in the schools. Justice Joseph Story, appointed by James Madison, declared, "Why may not the Bible, and especially the New Testament... be read and taught as a divine revelation in the [school] — its general precepts expounded... and its glorious principles of morality inculcated?... Where can the purest principles of morality be learned so clearly or so perfectly as from the New Testament?"^[3]

Many other founders and other influential individuals from the days of our founders spoke about the importance of religion or living a virtuous life. Who were some of those individuals? A handful are listed below:

• John Quincy Adams
• Samuel Adams
• Fisher Ames
• Charles Carroll of Carrollton
• Oliver Ellsworth
• Benjamin Franklin
• Thomas Jefferson
• Richard Henry Lee
• James McHenry
• Jedediah Morse
• Benjamin Rush
• Joseph Story
• Noah Webster
• James Wilson
• Robert Winthrop

Want more proof? Their words can be found here.

"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."

John 7:17

In the video above, it quotes the scripture in Isaiah in which we are commanded to seek out the word of the Lord and read it. Perhaps you don't believe in God or perhaps you are not in the habit of reading scripture. Jesus gave us a formula or recipe to follow when he taught, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." What does that mean? It means if we follow the recipe (commandment to read), we will come to know that there is a God and come to know of the reason why he gave that commandment.

[1]: The 5000 Year Leap, W. Cleon Skousen, p. 99, ISBN: 0-88080-148-4, http://www.nccs.net

[2]: http://www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=63

[3]: Americas Godly Heritage, David Barton, p. 26 ISBN 1-932225-66-8 http://www.wallbuilders.com