This is either from Dorothy Sayers or TS Eliot. A good society is one that allows you to be "good." Or better, to do the good.

This is both a good and bad definition. Its strength is its weakness. While we good Reformed folk would say something like, "A good society is based on the law of God." That is true, unless you--never mind. That is true but it doesn't say enough. It is not clear enough a statement.

the problem with the first proposed definition is that good is ambiguous. Who gets to define Good? The Muslim? Jew? Christian? Atheist?

Assuming, though, we have the proper preliminaries, it is a decent definition. I might flesh it out in a few posts.

__________________
J. B. Atken
John Knox PCA
Layman, M.A. student at Louisiana College

Hmm.. I'd say a good society would be one in which sinners do not exist hehe =)

__________________
Nikki Edmond
New Beginnings Believers Bible Fellowship (Family's Church), Non-Denom
Los Angeles, CA
www.haveatulip.com - Chat Room for Reformed Believers
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Utopian society

A good society would be where all laws are based upon the law of God and the general equity thereof. Where the ONLY recognized religion is the confessing Trinitarian christian religion.

__________________
1689 Baptist Confession

Psa 55:16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
Psa 55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
James Farley, Wilderness Road Baptist Assembly.
Husband of Melissa and father of Ann.
www.wildernessroadbaptist.org

God saw everything He made and it was very good (including man). Here is the good society. For every society since the fall of man's creation has been corrupted by sin.

The closest thing we can have to this in this life is the fellowship of the saints who are cleansed through Christ (Ephesians 5:26-27) "For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come." Hebrews 13:14

__________________
Rev. Daniel Kok
Pastor of Grace Reformed Church (URCNA)
Leduc, Alberta CANADA
Church Blog

"there is no creature, either in heaven or on earth, who loves us more than Jesus Christ"
Belgic Confession, Article 26

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

Would this be in any way related to the works by Cotton Mather on his "Essays to do Good?" If so, he is explicitly defining good by the moral prerequisites of Scripture.

__________________
Thomas Weddle
Member, Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church
Evansville, Indiana

No, I had a Catholic in mind.

Peter Kreeft - How to Win the Culture War

A good society is one in which the three classes work together in harmony, each doing the job for which those making up the class are suited, and in which those gifted with a strong ability to reason govern. The honor-lovers protect the city from internal and external harm and the money-lovers produce the goods needed for the survival of the citizens.

__________________
Davidius
Husband of Emilia
Member: First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Durham (RPCNA) - Durham, NC
Student: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, German Literature and Classics

This may explain the old adage about Baptists being Methodists with shoes, and Presbyterians being Baptists who can read. To round out the adage, Lutherans might qualify as Presbyterians who drink to excess, and Episcopalians as Lutherans who know when to say when. - D.G. Hart