Here's my question: Why is this a legitimate prompt?
Many scholars refer to the U.S. Constitution as a "living" document. Many Latter-Day Saint and othe religious leaders refer to the U.S. Constitution as the product of divine inspiration. Compare and contrast these points of view. Are they consistent with each other? In other words, is it possible to have an inspired document that is also living? If so, why? If not, why not?
I feel that the answer to this prompt is obvious and am therefore having a problem answering it in a scholarly way.
Of course it's possible to be a living document and be divinely inspired! That's what scriptures are, duh! What do you think the fulfillment of the Law of Moses is about? The 10 commandments didn't become completel obsolete just because Christ came. They're still there. They're still quoted quite often in church. We just have a higher law now, a new interpretation of this divine commandment, this divine set of laws.
To me, modern revelation is only different from modern constitutional interpretation in that we have direct divine intervention in our interpretations. We don't have that luck with the constitution. I don't know about you, but I haven't had a chance to talk to James Madison anytime in the recent past. Constitutional interpretation is the non-religious equivalent to modern revelation and modern interpretation of scripture.
Also, it seems pretty obvious to me that a document that allows itself to be interpreted through over 2 centuries of intense technological and global change had to have some bit of luck with it that's not of this world. The fact that it even passed and was adopted seems miraculous.
So yes, this prompt seems fairly cut and dry to me. Now if I can just figure out how to word it while citing certain documents and not just pull from my own knowledge.
Toodles!
-Jillian
2 comments:
also, the constitution is similar to other divine inspirations: it can be ignored, distorted, etc.
if the wrong people get it it can be unbeneficial (laman and the liahona)
-isha
Good food for thought! Your a thinker! I agree that the U.S. Constitution is truly inspired document. Living, if only those who are interpretating are inspired by God. And that's not happening! Their not firm believers in God, they don't believe that this great nation was founded or inspired by God. Their working under their own intelligence. You may ask, how in the world can I say this? "By their friuts ye shall know them" And when was the last time anyone in the political realm even read the Constitution. I believe since the Constitution is inspired by God, we have a obligation to protect it no matter what. Even if it's from governmement infringement upon our freedoms. Freedom is always worth fighting for! That's what our for fathers thought and that's what I believe! Yes, your Mom is a tea party memeber and proud of it!
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