GOV 604 Week 2 Discussion Post: Why is it insufficient, in both Martin Luther’s and Wilberforce’s views, to merely “live in peace as Christians?”

Week 2 Discussion

Discussion Topic

In Wilberforce’s book, he describes England as a country where many people are, in his view, “cultural Christians” but not “Real Christians.” How does his understanding of what it means to be a Christian society align with Martin Luther’s arguments about a Christian society as put forth in his “On Secular Authority”?

Why is it insufficient, in both Martin Luther’s and Wilberforce’s views, to merely “live in peace as Christians?”

Why do people sometimes need to be compelled to do what is right?

What are the limits on how government can and should compel people to behave in decent, humane ways? (Can you be truly good without knowing the Gospel?) Here, think about how Calvin and Luther might disagree about this question.

BONUS QUESTION: Think about America as a “peculiar people.” Is there a distinctly American way of thinking about the relationship between law and morality? Why or why not?

Guidelines

A student’s initial posting should be no more than 250 words. Use APA style for citations. Your initial post should be posted by Friday.

Post at least two 250-word responses to other student’s posts. Your response posts should be posted by Sunday.

Use at least one source in each discussion topic, preferably course-assigned texts.

Format your post using APA citation style.

All discussion postings will be civil and respectful, even with lively disagreement.

Be sure to engage substantively with each other’s commentaries. Substantive engagement over vague compliments.

Remember the 4 R’s

Discussions are graded on the following guidelines:

Relevant – Stay on topic!

Researched – Cite your sources, justify your ideas with examples, and use your course resources.

Rational – Do not resort to emotional language; avoid using words like us, them, and you.

Respectful – Treat each other with whom you’re learning with respect.