Отношение к государству. Государство и нравственность

Множество семейств, объединенных одним общим происхождением, составляют народ. А когда народ организуется и введет у себя юридический порядок, то образовывается государство. Следовательно, государство есть союз народа, управляемого выработанными исторически законами, или правом, под главенством государя или вообще правительства. В государство может входить и несколько народностей. Когда законы и учреждения государства находятся в согласии с христианским учением, то такое государство называется христианским государством.

Основные права, на которых учреждается государство, находим в Священном Писании. Когда после потопа человечество начало умножаться и распространяться по земле, Бог изрек такой закон: кто прольет кровь человеческую, того кровь прольется рукою человека: ибо человек создан по образу Божию (Быт. 9:6). Следовательно, существование права в государстве основано на божественном распоряжении. Авторитет начальствующих опирается на божественный авторитет. А последнюю цель существования народов и государств выразил ап. Павел в речи к афинскому ареопагу: От одной крови Бог произвел весь род человеческий для обитания по всему лицу земли, назначив предопределенные времена и пределы их обитанию, дабы они искали Бога, не ощутят ли Его и не найдут ли, хотя Он и недалеко от каждого из нас (Деян. 17:26-27). Нельзя, конечно, сказать, что области государственная, моральная или нравственная покрывают друг друга, что они тождественны, как утверждают некоторые философы, например, Гегель, и некоторые протестантские богословы, склонные смешивать нравственность с культурой и цивилизацией. Область государства есть область права и справедливости; а область нравственная есть главным образом область любви. Государственная область относится больше к внешней жизни человеческих отношений, это область внешнего благоустройства общества; а область нравственная есть главным образом область внутренних побуждений к деятельности, область душевных движений и личного совершенствования человека. Но государственная и моральная области находятся в тесном союзе и взаимодействии. Без морали и нравственности государство было бы непрочно. Мораль внушает нам повиноваться государственным порядкам не только из страха наказания, но и по совести (Рим. 13:5). Без побуждений со стороны морали мы были бы весьма плохими и ненадежными гражданами. И без государства мораль и все чисто нравственные учреждения, силы и отношения (семья, церковь, общежительность, личные отношения между людьми) не имели бы, так сказать, оплота. Нельзя сказать, что они обязаны государству своим происхождением, — они имеют собственные корни существования, питания и развития; но государство есть их охранитель. Без государства произошел бы беспорядок в обществе. Это пагубно отразилось бы на течении чисто нравственной человеческой жизни: мы не могли бы тогда проводить жизнь тихую и безмятежную во всяком благочестии и чистоте (1 Тим. 2:2).

Glossary

Aggregate demand - the total amount of goods and services demanded in the economy at a given overall price level and in a given time period. It is represented by the aggregate-demand curve, which describes the relationship between price levels and the quantity of output that firms are willing to provide. Normally there is a negative relationship between aggregate demand and the price level. Also known as "total spending".

Aggregate supply - the total supply of goods and services produced within an economy at a given overall price level in a given time period. It is represented by the aggregate-supply curve, which describes the relationship between price levels and the quantity of output that firms are willing to provide. Normally, there is a positive relationship between aggregate supply and the price level. Rising prices are usually signals for businesses to expand production to meet a higher level of aggregate demand. Also known as "total output".

Assert - to state with assurance, confidence, or force; state strongly or positively; affirm; aver: He asserted his innocence of the crime.

Authority - a power to act esp. over others that derives from status, position, or office authority of the president; the power to act that is officially or formally granted (as by statute, corporate bylaw, or court order) authority; power and capacity to act granted by someone in a position of control; specifically: the power to act granted by a principal to his or her agent.

Bittersweet- both pleasant and painful or regretful: a bittersweet memory.

Buoyant - tending to float in a fluid.

CEE - Central and Eastern Europe.

Code - a systematic compilation or revision of law or legal principles that is arranged esp. by subject: one that contains the law of a specific jurisdiction or topic promulgated by legislative authority.

Coercion - the use of express or implied threats of violence or reprisal (as discharge from employment) or other intimidating behavior that puts a person in immediate fear of the consequences in order to compel that person to act against his or her will; also : the defense that one acted under coercion.

Curricula - the aggregate of courses of study given in a school, college, university, etc.: The school is adding more science courses to its curriculum.

Decent - conforming to the recognized standard of propriety, good taste, modesty, etc., as in behavior or speech.

Elevation - the vertical distance between a standard reference point, such as sea level, and the top of an object or point on the Earth, such as a mountain. At 8,850 m (29,028 ft), the summit of Mount Everest is the highest elevation on Earth.

Enforcement- the act or process of enforcing.

Eradicate - to remove or destroy utterly; extirpate: to eradicate smallpox throughout the world.

Escalation - an increase in the intensity or geographical scope of a war or diplomatic confrontation. For example, during the Korean War, some Americans urged escalation of the war through bombing of the People's Republic of China.

Governance - government; exercise of authority; control; a method or system of government or management.

Income redistribution - the redistribution of wages earned across a company, industry, or country. Income distribution reveals what percentage of individuals are at various wage levels, information that can reveal more about overall wage patterns than average income can.

Judge - to form a judgment or opinion of; decide upon critically: You can't judge a book by its cover.

Justification - a reason, fact, circumstance, or explanation that justifies or defends: His insulting you was ample justification for you to leave the party.

Legacy - generally a gift of property by will or testament. The term is used to denote the disposition of either personal or real property in the event of death.

Mandate - a command or authorization to act in a particular way on a public issue given by the electorate to its representative: The president had a clear mandate to end the war.

Owe - to be under obligation to pay or repay: to owe money to the bank; to owe the bank interest on a mortgage.

Perennial - lasting for an indefinitely long time; enduring: her perennial beauty.

Predecessor - a person who precedes another in an office, position, etc.

Property rights - principles, policies, and rules by which disputes over property are to be resolved and by which property transactions may be structured.

Proprietor - one who has legal right or exclusive title to something: owner; also: one (as a lessee) having an interest (as control or present use) less than absolute or exclusive right.

Public servant - a person holding a government office or job by election or appointment; person in public service. British equivalent: civil servant a member of the public service.

Public service - the business of supplying an essential commodity, as gas or electricity, or a service, as transportation, to the general public. British equivalent: civil service - the service responsible for the public administration of the government of a country. It excludes the legislative, judicial, and military branches. Members of the public service have no official political allegiance and are not generally affected by changes of governments.

Redistribution (Economics) - the theory, policy, or practice of lessening or reducing inequalities in income through such measures as progressive income taxation and antipoverty programs.

Revenue - the income of a government from taxation, excise duties, customs, or other sources, appropriated to the payment of the public expenses.

Slash - to cut with a violent sweeping stroke or by striking violently and at random, as with a knife or sword.

Sluggish - indisposed to action or exertion; lacking in energy; lazy; indolent: a sluggish disposition.

UNIT 4