MORALITY: THE BACKBONE OF SOCIETY

Wayne D. Leeper

 

   The legislation of morality is essential to the political, economic, and social prosperity of any nation.  It is often said that, “You cannot legislate morality.”  This statement is the result of totally misunderstanding exactly what morality is and its relation to religion.  While it is true that religion sets forth a code of morality, religion is not essential to having a national standard of morality.  The standard of morality in any nation is and must be determined by the citizens of the nation.  The purpose of government is to legislate the standard of morality deemed appropriate by the people of the society in question.

   We need to understand that morality and religion are two entirely different things.  Those who adhere to the Christian doctrine believe that the standard of morality set forth in the Bible is the perfect codification of the morality that will lead to national prosperity.  This belief was also held by the founding fathers of this nation.  Those who claim otherwise do not understand the difference between God’s “Laws of Creation” and God’s “Laws of Redemption.”  A correct understanding of this difference is essential to understanding the thinking of the founding fathers and the intent of the founding documents which came from those unique minds.

   The “Laws of Creation” are those laws set forth by God which apply to all mankind and are intended to govern the relationship between individuals.  These are the laws which, in our Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson called the “Unalienable rights of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” which have been endowed the “Creator”.  Jefferson further states that the purpose of government is to “secure these rights.”  These laws are universal in their application and govern human conduct whether  one subscribes to particular religious belief or not.  It is these laws which determine the protection and prosperity of a society and which the government must encode and enforce.

   The “Laws of Redemption,” on the other hand, are those laws set forth by God which concern an individuals personal relationship with God.  These laws are the basis of religious belief and have no place in the codified laws enacted and enforced by the government.  Our Constitution recognizes these laws as being beyond the scope of government and clearly states in the first amendment that, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”    

   Together these two documents encompass an understanding of both the Laws of Creation and the Laws of Redemption” and properly separate the two, recognizing that governments authority is limited to enacting those laws of creation necessary for the protection of its citizens from evil doers.  Based on this understanding it is clear that the legislating of morality is absolutely necessary in order to protect the innocent from being set upon and harmed by the evil and unrighteous.

   Our entire criminal justice system functions with the sole purpose of enforcing the morality legislated in accordance with the stated desires of the people.  Murder, theft, assault (both physical and sexual), and arson are all examples of morality being legislated.  The same is true in the case of traffic laws such as drunk driving, speeding, seat belts requirements, drivers license and reckless endangerment.  These are all laws designed to protect the innocent from the guilty.  No rational individual would maintain that society as we know it could exist in the absence of the strict enforcement of these and all other moral laws.

   We have laws concerning marriage, prostitution, public nudity, and other deviant sexual behavior which are essential to the maintenance of society.  We protect our children from pedophilia, pornography, and even consensual sex below a certain age with laws specifically designed to enforce certain moral standards.  Since its inception our nation has  recognized the importance of maintaining a standard of morality necessity to the existence of a free society.

   Notice the following statements by John Adams, signer of the Declaration of Independence and Second President of the United States.

“It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand.  The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue.”   

“We have no government armed with power capable of Contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion...Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.  It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

“The moment the idea is admitted into society, that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.  If ‘Thou shall not covet,’ and ‘Thou shall not steal,’ were not commandments of Heaven, they must be made inviolable precepts in every society, before it can be civilized or made free.”

   In his farewell address to the nation George Washington said:

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.  In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these finest props of the duties of men and citizens.  The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them.  A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity.  Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation deserts the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice?  And let us with caution indulge in the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.  Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on the minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in the exclusion of religious principle."

   The social mores of any particular society must be established by the people in accordance with what they consider to be in the best interest of the public good, then enacted into law by the proper governmental authorities.  Thus it is, and must be, We the People who determine the standards of morality which will be enforced in the United States.  Other societies can and do have their own standards of morality many of which are vastly different and would be totally unacceptable in our society.

   There are societies where the sacrifice of babies to supposed gods is legal and encouraged.  Many eastern societies reduce women to chattel and permit young girls to be bought, sold, and made parts of harems for the sole sexual pleasure of their owner. In many societies, homosexuality and adultery are punishable by death.  We have learned all too well that in some societies suicidal maniacs are taught that the self-sacrificial killing of thousands of innocents will guarantee them a place in heaven.  In each of these cases morality has been determined by the members of that society.

   Just as in all societies, the people of the United States have every right to set the moral standards of our society and to demand that the government enforce those standards.  We have the right to demand that certain sexual conduct be outlawed, to define marriage, and to protect our children from sexual predators.  This is one area where the desires of the minority should not and must not be respected as civil rights.  Just because I am mad at someone does not give me the right to kill them.  Just because I desire that which is owned by someone else does not give me the right to steal it.  Just because I have certain sexual preferences and desires does not give me the right to act upon them.  In all of these areas and others the majority has the right to determine what is acceptable conduct.

   A high standard of nation morality is essential to a civil and orderly society and it is the people, not the government, not the courts, and not the minority who have the right to determine the moral standards under we wish to live.  Any behavior that is offensive and repugnant to the majority of the citizens must never be allowed to be forced on our society by the government, the courts, nor special interest group.  Any infringement by the government into areas of national morality without the specific consent of the people is a violation of our unalienable rights as set forth in our Declaration of Independence and guaranteed by our Constitution. 

   May we, as a people, establish and maintain a high level of national morality and thereby give God every reason to continue to bless our nation.