China: the Tang code - AD 624
Babylon: Code of Hammurabi - 1750 BC
The first Magna Carta was a political document. It was an attempt to forge an alliance between a king and a number of barons who distrusted him. It was written by an archbishop who of course would mention God.
God is named 5 times in the Magna Carta:
by the grace of God
KNOW THAT BEFORE GOD
to the honour of God
WE [that is, King John] HAVE GRANTED TO GOD
WE [King John again] HAVE GRANTED ALL THESE THINGS for God
They are acknowledging their deity. If there is any credit given to him for this deal I did not see it.
No. The Magna Carta was drafted by an archbishop, who was the go-between negotiator who helped hammer out and agreement between two parties. It's a prosaic document about taxes and armies that puts some limits on the power of the king and spells out some obligations for both parties. Like a union bargaining contract.
It's a political contract. It never would have been written if everyone was getting along. Theirs nothing religious about it. No obligations to God, no instructions from God.
King John had a bunch of seriously unhappy barons on his hands. His objective was to get them to back him.
It looks to me like you're maneuvering towards the bishops preamble, but I don't want to put words in your mouth. Perhaps you should make a statement.
China: the Tang code - AD 624 Babylon: Code of Hammurabi - 1750 BC
The first Magna Carta was a political document. It was an attempt to forge an alliance between a king and a number of barons who distrusted him. It was written by an archbishop who of course would mention God.
God is named 5 times in the Magna Carta:
by the grace of God
KNOW THAT BEFORE GOD
to the honour of God
WE [that is, King John] HAVE GRANTED TO GOD
WE [King John again] HAVE GRANTED ALL THESE THINGS for God
They are acknowledging their deity. If there is any credit given to him for this deal I did not see it.
No. The Magna Carta was drafted by an archbishop, who was the go-between negotiator who helped hammer out and agreement between two parties. It's a prosaic document about taxes and armies that puts some limits on the power of the king and spells out some obligations for both parties. Like a union bargaining contract.
It's a political contract. It never would have been written if everyone was getting along. Theirs nothing religious about it. No obligations to God, no instructions from God.
Ever heard of Christian church run residential schools? Telling other people not to give aboriginals alcohol rings kind of hollow.