America Declares IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence as you've never seen it before Some of us cherish it with near-scriptural reverence. Others simply take it for granted. In this contentious new look at the Declaration of Independence, however, celebrated attorney Alan Dershowitz takes "America's birth certificate" and its principal author, Thomas Jefferson, to task. Dershowitz searches for the sources, history, and underlying reasoning that produced the Declaration and its particular language, from its reference to the "Laws of Nature and Nature's God" through the long list of complaints against the abuses of King George III. He points out contradictions within the document, notes how the meanings of Jefferson's words have changed over the centuries, and asks many disturbing questions, including: * Where do rights come from? * Do we have "unalienable rights"? * Do rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" have any meaning? * How could slaveowners claim to believe that "all men are created equal"? * Is the God of the Declaration the God of the Bible? * Does the Declaration establish a Christian State? * Are there "Laws of Nature and of Nature's God"? Challenging, upsetting, and controversial, this brilliant polemic may anger you, delight you, or force you to reexamine your opinions. One thing's for sure: after reading America Declares Independence, you'll never take the Declaration of Independence for granted again. |
Contents
Acknowledgments ΧΙ | 1 |
What Are the Laws of Nature | 85 |
How Can Jeffersons Views of Equality | 123 |
Copyright | |
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abortion accept Agnostics Alan Keyes argued Atheists Benjamin Rush biblical blacks characterized church claim colonial conclusion Congress Creator Declaration of Inde Declaration of Independence Declaration's deism deistic deists Deists in America divine document Dworkin empirical experience faith false favor Franklin Library Godless Constitution human nature human reason Ibid invoked issues Jayne Jeffer Jefferson believed Jefferson Bible Jefferson's Declaration Jefferson's views Jesus Jews John Adams Judeo-Christian justice Keyes king Kramnick Laws of Nature Letter ment miracles moral nation natural law natural rights naturalistic fallacy Nature's observed opinion opposed organized religion person philosophy political positive law priests punishment pursuit of happiness question rejected Religious Right religious views revelation right to liberty Ronald Dworkin Sanford Scalia scientific self-evident sense slave trade slavery supernatural Thomas Jefferson Thomas Paine tion today's truth unalienable rights Virginia wall of separation whites words wrong wrote York