《聖經與美國》250週年：這些真理並非不言而喻系列講座

While the Declaration of Independence declares that such foundational rights as the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are self-evident, many scholars argue these “self-evident” truths are not as evident today as they once were. Behind these truths, these scholars argue, lies a biblical worldview, especially the ideas of a single, rational Creator and the inherent dignity of humans as bearers of the 依瑪歌·狄（Imago Dei）, the “image of God.”

歡迎參加「聖經與美國250週年：這些真理並非不言而喻」系列講座，紀念美國建國250週年。這次引人深思的活動將匯集眾多知名學者和歷史學家，共同探討聖經對美國建國原則、價值觀和製度的深遠影響。

在本次講座中，托馬斯·S·基德博士探討了美國愛國者為他們的革命辯護的方式。

抽象

Americans today may forget just how difficult it was for Patriots to justify the Revolutionary War and independence. Popular resistance against taxes was one thing. But rejecting monarchical authority and declaring legal separation from the British was an audacious step for which Americans could point to few historical parallels. Complaints about unfair tax and judicial policies were suitable rationales for framing petitions, but shedding British and American blood demanded more. A cause of the American Revolution’s magnitude required divine blessing.

In this lecture, Dr. Kidd considers several instances of appeals to divine sanction in the American Revolution in 1775 and ’76, when Americans made key decisions about resistance, war, and independence. These include appeals to God’s blessing and biblical warrant in Patrick Henry’s “Liberty or Death” speech, Thomas Paine’s 常識以及《獨立宣言》。