So am I to suppose under-handedness, duplicitness, and sinful behavior will "allow/encourage culture/society to survive and thrive"?
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Respectfully;
Obviously, negative behavior erodes positive values.
My core argument is that the Natural Law, uncovered in the
earliest days of culture/society; in the Fertile Crescent; defined
a moral order that allowed Mankind to sustain civilization.
It was manifested in values such as self-discipline, responsibility,
work, courage, perseverance, honor, loyalty, among many.
None of these have anything to do w/religion.
On the Last Day Peter will not pass judgement of the collective
people of the USA; rather he will judge every John Q. Citizen.
As such, a virtuous person is likely to be rewarded in the
afterlife while a non-virtuous one is not.
Yet the survival and advancement of the nation/state in this life
will be determined by the collective values of its citizens and not
the level of virtue of the individual citizen.