In the United States, the sovereign authority is religious…there is no country in the world where the Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men than in America, and there can be no greater proof of its utility and of its conformity to human nature than that its influence is powerfully felt over the most enlightened and free nation of the earth.
In the United States, the influence of religion is not confined to the manners, but it extends to the intelligence of the people…
Christianity, therefore, reigns without obstacle, by universal consent…
I sought for the key to the greatness and genius of America in her harbours…; in her fertile fields and boundless forests; in her rich mines and vast world commerce; in her public school system and institutions of learning. I sought for it in her democratic Congress and in her matchless Constitution.
Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness, did I understand the secret of her genius and power.
America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.
The safeguard of morality is religion, and morality is the best security of law as well as the surest pledge of freedom.
The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other
Christianity is the companion of liberty in all its conflicts, the cradle of its infancy, and the divine source of its claims.
Tocqueville gives this account of a court case in New York:
While I was in America, a witness, who happened to be called at the assizes of the county of Chester (state of New York), declared that he did not believe in the existence of God or in the immortality of the soul. The judge refused to admit his evidence, on the ground that the witness had destroyed beforehand all confidence of the court in what he was about to say. The newspapers related the fact without any further comment. The New York Spectator of August 23rd, 1831, relates the fact in the following terms:
“The court of common pleas of Chester County (New York), a few days since rejected a witness who declared his disbelief in the existence of God. The presiding judge remarked, that he had not before been aware that there was a man living who did not believe in the existence of God; that this belief constituted the sanction of all testimony in a court of justice: and that he knew of no case in a Christian country, where a witness had been permitted to testify without such belief.”
Based on this analysis from this famous French researcher, we can only conclude that: MEN AND NATIONS ARE NOT GREAT BY THE VIRTUE OF THEIR WEALTH, BUT BY THE WEALTH OF THEIR VIRTUE.
Dear readers, if we want our nations to be truly great we must lay less emphasis on material wealth, natural resources or even human resources. Wealth in money, mineral resources are not the real wealth. The true wealth of nation is the character of her people. The virtues of character, behavioural patterns determine how great a nation and people are.
Cultural values change with times, unless they are built on an absolute standard of values and virtues. This standard must be afterwards well-guarded and protected. They must be regularly propagated among the populace. They must form the pride and identity of the people. If a nation succeeds in making her people strong in virtues, then the nation is rich already because:
• They would go to their jobs to produce rather than just go to get salaries.
• They would go to their schools to study and learn rather than to simply get a certificate.
• They would treat their fellow men above themselves instead of mistreating them with utter neglect and negligence.
• They would strive to produce quality goods and services, instead of just looking for the money.
• They would strive to give their best rather than just making an impression.
• This kind of people would always seek for the betterment and advancement of their country before they ask what their country would do for them.
• Such a people would be a people of service, not those who want to be served.
• They would be mainly a population of people who want to give and sacrifice rather than exploit or take advantage of others.
It is high time for our modern nations to begin to realize that without moral absolutes everything becomes relative. Nations must begin to realize that values that are not taught are not caught. Countries must begin to impact understanding of why they exist to their citizenry. Countries of our time and age must realize that teaching skills and professions in schools is not enough to build a great nation. Morals, ethics, values and virtues must become the most important part of a national development program.
If any nation truly aspires to be great, it has to start with the realization that: MEN AND NATIONS ARE NOT GREAT BY THE VIRTUE OF THEIR WEALTH, BUT BY THE WEALTH OF THEIR VIRTUE.
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