[net.religion] The Divine Right of Kings

jefff@cadovax.UUCP (Jeffery H. Fields) (01/26/85)

The January 25th NPR's Morning Edition had a  report  on  the  growing
Monarchist  Movement in France.  This date is the 203rd anniversary of
the execution of  Louis  XVI  by  guillotine.   This  group  wants  to
reinstate  the  absolute  authority  of  a king mandated by God as the
rightful ruler of France.  They feel that  human  based  authority  is
corrupt.   They  believe  that  only  God has the wisdom to direct the
affairs of mortals  through  a  divinely  appointed  person,  but  the
monarchists  are  hard put to determine who that person is.  They feel
that descendents of the aritocratic line are the  chosen  ones.   They
have come to this conclusion through prayer.

From the viewpoint of the USA, the Monarchist Movement is violation of
the concept of the separation of church and state.  From the viewpoint
of a member of the Moral Majority, this movement might have have  some
credence.  I am interested in the secular and Christian perspective on
this topic.  Should the USA appoint a king who would inact the will of
God?   Or  should  the  USA  maintain the status quo in regards to the
separation of church and state?

Personally I think the Monarchist  Movement  is  a  throwback  to  the
feudal  days.  I hope that NPR will broadcast some followup reports on
this topic.  I will keep the net posted on the news when it comes in.

-- 

				Jeff Fields
				{ucbvax,ihnp4,decvax}!trwrb!cadovax!jefff

Pax Vobiscum.

larryg@teklds.UUCP (Larry Gardner) (01/29/85)

Well, I can't believe that France is really serious about this.

I was under the impression that they were not interested in God
over there.  At least the majority of the society is unchristian
from what I understand.  

I confess that I do not know much about their political system.

I don't think it makes any difference whether you have a King
or President.  A christian would pray that God would choose them.
I don't think that on a Biblical basis they can say that their
King is from their royal line or whatever.  That sounds convenient.

Anyway, God can work through Democracy or Monarchy.

karen

dmcanzi@watdcsu.UUCP (David Canzi) (02/01/85)

In article <268@teklds.UUCP> larryg@teklds.UUCP (Karen Clark) writes:
>
>Well, I can't believe that France is really serious about this.
>
>I was under the impression that they were not interested in God
>over there.  At least the majority of the society is unchristian
>from what I understand.  

Of course!  It's obvious, if you think about it.  The French are heathens.
They speak a heathen language.  Everybody knows that *English* is God's
language.  Just take a look at your Bible.  It's in English, right?

I rest my case.
-- 
	David Canzi

"But lo! men have become the tools of their tools." -- Henry David Thoreau

arnold@ucsfcgl.UUCP (Ken Arnold%CGL) (02/02/85)

In article <268@teklds.UUCP> larryg@teklds.UUCP (Karen Clark) writes:
>Well, I can't believe that France is really serious about this.
>I was under the impression that they were not interested in God
>over there.  At least the majority of the society is unchristian
>from what I understand.  

I don't know where you get your ideas, but you ought to switch sources.
France is a very Christian nation.  One of the large political crises
M. Mitterand (Socialist President of France) has faced came about when
his party suggested that the goverment stop subsidising Christian schools.
Millions marched in the streets to protest this, and the suggestion was
withdrawn.  An unchristian nation?  Hardly.

P.S.  This does not mean that I think this is good.  I do not support
tuition tax credits, to say nothing of direct subsidy.  But this hardly
shows a lack of interest in Christianity.
-- 

		Ken Arnold
=================================================================
Of COURSE we can implement your algorithm.  We've got this Turing
machine emulator...

trav@ucla-cs.UUCP (02/04/85)

As far as I know:
1) There is no serious possibility of the reinstallment of monarchy
in France.
2) The practice of the catholic religion in France is very low (even 
lower for the other religions). 
3) A large manifestation (about 1 million persons) took place in Paris 
in June. The goal was to kick off the project of a law aimed at changing 
the relations between the state and the private school (mainly catholics). 
The demonstration succeeded, mainly because people saw the law as against 
the free choice of a school for their children. It was more a fight for 
liberty than for a religion, even if liberty was not really threatened 
by the proposed law.

-- 
    Pascal Traverse
    UCLA Computer Science Department
    3732 Boelter Hall // Los Angeles, CA 90024 // (213) 825-4885
    ARPA:  trav@UCLA-LOCUS.ARPA
    UUCP:  ...!{cepu,ihnp4,trwspp,ucbvax}!ucla-cs!trav