What Inspired Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address?

                The Gettysburg Address was Abraham Lincoln’s most famous speech.  And as speeches go, it was one of history’s very best, if not the best  – brief, excellent syntax, memorable, deeply profound and moving.  But most of all it was written so that both the common and sophisticated man could understand it.

                Historians tell us that in composing the speech Lincoln looked for some inspiration, something that would mentor him.  And what was the source of that inspiration?  No, it was not the Bible, it was the Declaration of Independence!

                When you read the Declaration of Independence and the Gettysburg Address you can see how Lincoln was inspired, and rightly so.  Both documents are omnipotent, meaning that they best convey what America is all about and what we stand for.

                But what I find first and foremost in importance is that these two awesome documents are manmade.  They originated in the brains of Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. 

DETERMINISM

                In anticipation of those who might challenge my assessment, there are those who believe in one form or other the theory of determinism, that every event, every idea and every accomplishment was caused by a previous “event.”   Going further into the concept of determinism, some might argue that Jefferson and Lincoln were inspired by some supernatural essence like God who orchestrates the actions of men.  Thus, Jefferson and Lincoln were merely doing what they were meant to do – suggesting  puppetry – that the world is nothing more than a grand stage featuring puppets being manipulated by a supernatural puppeteer. 

                There is no doubt that there is some truth to the concept of determinism, but the suggestion that the “cause” or “determiner” is some supernatural essence I find demeaning.  We are evolutionary creatures.  And when it comes to we humans, one of the most incredible miracles performed by evolution is the human brain – to wit: consciousness, the ability to think and create.  How this miracle is performed is an ongoing study by neurologists and philosophers.  They haven’t pinpointed the location of consciousness as did the philosopher, Descartes, who mistakenly thought the penal gland was where consciousness resided.  So far the evidence indicates that more than one part of the brain acts in concert to create the phenomenon of consciousness. 

                But what we know so far is that the brain is a complex organ that if tampered with can change thinking and behavior.  Furthermore, the evidence that the brain created the concept of a god or supernatural entities is far greater than evidence that supernatural entities actually exist.

                Why then, you may ask, is God mentioned in both the Gettysburg Address and Declaration of Independence.  The following is an excerpt from the Gettysburg Address:

… that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. 

                According to historians Lincoln never joined a church although he read the Bible and often quoted from it.  Therefore, it is clear to me that he used the Bible to make a point, knowing that the vast majority of Americans were familiar with that document and many revered it as either inspired or the express word of God.  The use of the word God, in Lincoln’s case, is euphemistic  in that it conveys in this instance a right that should be granted to all men.  This line of thinking is clearly implied by Jefferson in the Declaration of Intendance.

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, …

                Note:  “Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God.”  Jefferson could have said, “By our creator, or the God of the Bible, or the God who presided over Earth,” or something of the sort that would give credit to Jesus Christ or the God of the Bible.  But he chose the words, “Laws of Nature and Nature’s God.”  What I think he wanted to convey is that there was a greater power or authority that granted men cognitive autonomy and certain rights. 

                Jefferson was a deist.  Unlike Thomas Paine he was more subtle in his deism and was not demonized by the righteous, intolerant Christians of the time.  The following is an excerpt from Wikipedia:

Deism:  In religious philosophy is the belief that reason and observation of the natural world, without the need for organized religion, can determine that the universe is the product of an all-powerful creator. According to deists, the creator does not intervene in human affairs or suspend the natural laws of the universe. Deists typically reject supernatural events such as prophecy and miracles, tending instead to assert that a god (or "the Supreme Architect") does not alter the universe by intervening in it.

                In brief a Deist does not believe the Bible to be the word of God but does believe in all powerful universal laws.  This helps explain why Jefferson used the phrases “Law of Nature” and “Nature’s God.” 

                So why do I feel giving credit to God or some other supernatural essence is demeaning?  It is because it is the human brain that deserves the credit.  For crying out loud, look around at the magnificent accomplishments of the brain – the technology alone, like electricity and the combustible engine  that has changed our way of living. 

                Take Steve Jobs for example, one of the best brains of our era.  In reading his biography and listening to his many accolades, there is no mention of a god or a supernatural mentor.  Jobs did it on his own.  Therefore it is my position, credit God for His contributions to humanity, contributions that can positively be traced to God, and credit mankind for man’s contributions to humanity. 

                (And let’s not give to a supernatural Devil the credit for evil in the world.  Man doesn’t need a devil, for he is both god and devil.)