Here's an example of someone using people's ignorance both of the Bible and of the American Constitution in order to lay claim to the Constitution for the Christian right and so subvert the very Constitution he claims to be Christian.
David Barton makes two very precise and specific claims which we can check.
- "Article 3 Section 1 (The Treason Clause) - a direct quote out of the Bible" (but he gives no Bible reference).
- "Article 2 - the President has to be a native born - that is Deuteronomy 17:15 verbatim".
Verbatim - Definition
- [adverb] using exactly the same words; "he repeated her remarks verbatim"
- [adjective] in precisely the same words used by a writer or speaker; "a direct quotation"; "repeated their dialog verbatim"
"Article 3 Section 1 (The treason clause)".
Er... the treason clause is Section 3 of Article 3.
Article 3 Section 3 - Treason
Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
The Congress shall have power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.
Nowhere does any of this, or anything remotely resembling it, either wholly or in part, appear anywhere in the Bible, verbatim, or otherwise. Barton has clearly just plucked this from thin air and doesn't even know which section of the Consitution he is talking about.
"Article 2 - the President has to be a native born - that is Deuteronomy 17:15 verbatim"
The relevent part of Article 2 is:
No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty-five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.
Copare this to Deuteronomy 17:15, of which David Barton claims it is a verbatim copy:
You shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother.Verbatim? Really? Well maybe a passing resemblance. If only Article 2 had related to a King of America whom God had chosen (not an elected President) and who had to be an American male, we could excuse Barton for stretching the word 'verbatim' beyond it's breaking point.
Deuteronomy 17:15 (KJV)
Maybe David Barton is using a private meaning of the word 'verbatim' or a private edition of the Bible.
Or maybe he was just lying.
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32).
If the truth sets you free what could David Barton have been trying to do with those lies? Hmm...?
This guy is very dangerous. He has the ears of many politicians and they totally listen. He writes the books that Christian homeschoolers use to teach their children incorrect history. He's not even a historian, but "they" eat up his words and Christian versions of history as if it were fact. so dangerous.
ReplyDeleteKriss
Ps, oh yea..that book Liars For Jesus is soooo good.
Be careful when you generalize. Not all of "us" Christian homeschoolers use David Barton's incorrect curriculum. Just because someone told you this, doesn't make it true.
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ReplyDeleteBarton is very dangerous. His "textbooks" don't appear only in christian homeschools, public schools use them, too. His view of history is highly personal and mostly in opposition to the evidence.
ReplyDeleteHe has actually cited the paintings of Thomas Kincade as historical depictions of early American life, especially his happy, smiling slaves.
And it is true he does have an enormous influence with the political right in the US, tea partiers as well as religious wingnuts
Hi rosa
ReplyDeleteMy account @logicalnarwhal has been blocked and reported as spam by someone (maybe @atheistshepherd - he was the last who took offence, but thought he liked me, so maybe someone else)... Could you tell @idebunkforme to add me to the list of others who have also been banned today...
Sorry for inconvenience, but i've no other way to get in touch with anyone on there...
Of course. That's terrible. @GSpellChecker has also bee blocked. What's going on?
DeleteHope you're back soon.
Rosa,
ReplyDeleteAre you aware of Dominion Theology/Political Theory? If not, it should be on your radar.
Also keep in mind that American left-wing political theory that is predicated upon a false understanding of scripture is equally as dangerous as David Barton. Liberation Theology/Political Theory is quite nasty as well in how it subverts the U.S. Constitution.
I see how you did that, comparing Dominion theology with liberation theology. You tried to be subtle but i caught you. They are not the same, nor is Liberation theology "nasty" unless you directly are trying to say that Martin Luther King is "nasty". I suggest you go back to the drawing board and find another way to demonize civil rights and social justice. David Barton would be proud of how you tried to pull that off.
DeleteI see you avoided dealing with the glaring difference between what David Barton says the Bible says and what the Bible actually says. In normal language, whatever 'theology' you choose, this is called 'lying'.
DeleteWhy do you think David Barton needed to tell lies?