Moral Absolutes and the Law

As observed by reading an Internet article named, “Morality Has No Place in the Law,” there is a belief that laws do not and should not be based on morals. Sarah Braasch, Morality Has No Place in the Law, Patheos Blogs (January 14, 2011) http://www.patheos.com/blogs/daylightatheism/2011/01/morality-has-no-place-in-the-law/ . Ms. Braasch, and many other anti-realists, do not believe in using morality for one because it is based on subjective theories.  In the area of anti-realism, no law based theory can be accepted for they lack empirical scientific evidence. In respect to morals, anti-realists “. . . either [deny] that moral properties exist at all, or [accept] that they do exist, but that their existence is mind-dependent and not objective or independent.” Luke Mastin, The Basics of Philosophy: Moral Anti-Realism, (2008) http://www.philosophybasics.com/branch_moral_anti-realism.html

Undeniably, the Founding Fathers had a Biblical world view, and through that perspective is how they wrote the United States Constitution. They were fervent, however, that the government would never dictate what religion one should belong to, nor whom to worship. It is worthy of noting that The Declaration of Independence clearly appeals to God, indicating that equality does not come from man but from God. “God is a God of history who governs the affairs of men.”  Dr. Mike Stallard, The Biblical Basis of the United States Constitution, 1 (2011)  http://our-hope.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Biblical-Basis-of-the-United-States-Constitution1.pdf .

Mark Belies and Douglas Anderson enumerate the reasons in their book, Contending for the Constitution, why it is logical and just to allow laws stand whose foundation comes from the Bible, Old and New Testament.  Without the Biblical world view, by what standard should a successful society hold to?  If it is to be man, then we are doomed to his changing passions and version of truth.  Mark A. Belies and Douglas S. Anderson, Contending for the Constitution 108 (2005)

Without God, man has no value for there is nothing to define what value is; no equality consistent among all.  One who supports that evolution was the creator of man believes that we came from a celestial accident; we have no more value than the muck we eventually crawled from.  If this is so, then by what right does a man hold another in judgment? In the Bible, we are taught that man was made in God’s Image; therefore, we have value. God is love, so it is our duty to love and protect each other, fully and in equal measure Id. 109. “The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.” C.S. Lewis, Good Reads: Quotes About God, https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/god  

Furthermore, relating back to our worth because of God, then what of our discrimination laws? Those are based on morals; what is right and wrong and being treated equally.  Why do so if we have no value?  Shall these laws be dropped for their basis is from the Christian religion? Belies and Anderson, supra at 113 – 115.  God teaches us to value each other’s life equally, as secularists profess to believe in as well.  The difference is the latter treats all as whole, not as individuals.  The former, individuality holds as much importance as the community as a whole. In the individual, we find liberty. "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 (KJV).  "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." Galatians 5:13 (KJV). 

As the authors also point out, “Either morality is absolute, as stated in the Bible, or it is relative, as stated by current liberal scholars.” supra at 119 For the latter, anti-realism, or a similar form of it, is their dogma.  As stated earlier, no theory should be treated as fact, and morals are no more subjective theories in order to hold power over their fellow man.  They change over time.  Logic dictates by following that “absolute,” it would eventually end up in chaos and anarchy. Belies and Anderson, supra at 118 – 119

 … God and His transcendental law [have been] dropped in favor of a new god, the state. Evolution thus leads not only to revolution but also to totalitarianism. . . . Biological evolutionary thinking, as it has developed since Darwin, has made revolution the great instrument of this new god and the means to establishment of this new god, the scientific socialist state.

R.J Rushdoony,  Law and Liberty 33 (Ross House Books, 1984)

How can a country survive if not based on morals that are “absolute and universal?”   The same morals whose purpose is to provide man with life, liberty, and allow the pursuit of happiness?  There is no logical reason to not look to the moral absolutes given to use by our sovereign God.  Belies and Anderson, supra at 118 – 119. 

A general dissolution of the principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy.... While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but once they lose their virtue, they will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader.... If virtue and knowledge are diffused among the people, they will never be enslaved. This will be their great security.

Samuel Adams, Samuel Adams heritage Society: Morality, http://www.samuel-adams-heritage.com/quotes/morality.html