Does God Have a Role In Our Government?

Question

Should our government legislate morality?

Answer 1

WoW! What a good question!

The truth is that God (unfortunately) does have a role in our government - however that doesn't mean it's correct.

The Judeo-Christian "morality" so many have already alluded to in their answers to this question was never supposed to be a part of our government and with good reason. Remember how Abraham was told by God to kill his only son? At the last second God relented and let Abe and the kid off the hook, but if he hadn't, we all understand that Abe would have been guilty of murder - clearly not a moral act, even when directed by "God".

Here are the 10 Commandments others cite as the basis for our laws (Catholic version):

1. I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not have strange gods before me.

2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

3. Remember thou keep the Sabbath Day.

4. Honor thy Father and thy Mother.

5. Thou shalt not kill.

6. Thou shalt not commit adultery.

7. Thou shalt not steal.

8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's goods.

Notice how the first three (fully 30%) have nothing at all to do with morality? It's all about how to keep this particular god happy. The fourth "Honor your mom and dad" can't be legislated because it's too vague. That leaves only 60% of the total 10 for us to base our ENTIRE system of government on - oddly, almost every other major religion has almost precisely the same 6 tenents as a basis. Since those tenents are not exclusive to the Judeo-Christian religion, it seems logical to assume that they are really the basis of morality - rather than religion.

Lets get this straight once and for all - most of the most influential and famous founding fathers were NOT CHRISTIANS! It's true. They (Thomas Paine, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Ethan Allen, James Madison, and James Monroe among others) were deists - essentially they thought God set everything up then went away. Many of them were very negative about their beliefs in Christianity and the Bible.

They absolutely did not think that religion or god had any place in our government, and its that thinking thats gotten us pretty far. Those founders who were Christians, often argued and fought with each other over minor points of theology. When the deists realized how destructive this type of thing could be, they began working to erase any specific references to religion and only referred to god in the most general terms and in very few circumstances (like the preamble).

In fact, during George Washington's administration the Treaty of Tripoli was written, which unequivocally states in Article 11 "the government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion..." (Treaties and Other International Acts of the United States, ed. Hunter Miller, Vol. 2, U. S. Government Printing Office, 1931, p. 365).

Throughout their lives the brave founders of this nation battled the forces of Protestantism and Christianity that threatened to hold back the growth and success of this nation. It's been a long battle, and it's still going strong.

Answer 2

No matter what side of the fence your on politically, the USA was formed because of the principles of religious freedom.

Our founding fathers (ooh, that will upset the NOW crowd) penned the Constitution with God as their "leader". All laws in this land are based on the scriptures and what is morally and ethically correct.

Now, even though I am a republican, I don't feel the governments sole purpose should be to legislate morality. God gave us free will, and so should the government... to a point.

Answer 3

The basis for all law is morality. From which traditions this morality derives has long been of contention in our society. Are we a Greco-Roman society based upon Natural Rights and Natural Law or are we a Judeo-Christian society based upon prohibitions (a la the 10 Commandments) ostensibly laid down by a supernatural power? The Constitution answers this in part by protecting individual rights rather by limiting government power. However, government is not the every day life of the common man. Indeed, economic factors of markets and capital affect the Average Joe on a daily basis far more than the news from Washington or the state capitol. Our economic system has been said to mirror the Judeo-Christian values and virtues in so much as its contractual aspects which form much of the basis of our free enterprise system. Should government legislate morality? It already does. Should it continue to do so? Certainly so within its limited jurisdiction and mostly to regulate itself. Should morality flow from relgious sources? It already does in part and we should continue to take the best parts of any culture and tradition and make it a part of our system.

Answer 4

Yes and Yes, Yes God does have a role but certain people like to play God like a flute and use God when it fits their political agenda. They say things like this country was founded on morals: But this country was founded on all the wrong things and I will name a few

Thief: we stole land froms the Native Americans (granted the weren't using it but still)

Laziness: that's okay I don't want to plant crops why not get slaves from Africa to do it for me

But, anyways back to your second question: We should legislate morality but we should also practice what we preach. Ex: The U.S. is talking about how a sunni/shiite(I don't remember which one) has never been president. Let me ask you a question Has any race other than white in the U.S. been president. answer No

In conclusion, We can only talk of Morality if we ourselves practice it and show everyone else by example that we have created a system that is for the people and by the people until then the rest of the world will not listen to us and/or take us seriously...

Sorry for long answer!!!!!

Answer 5

All laws are supposed to be based on a moral fairness derived from one source or another. But the message gets lost when you go to court and find yourself up against the power of politics and/or money. Then morality doesn't come into play. We have the best justice that "money can buy".

Morality only applies to the common people. Why else would so many law makers become law breakers? Look at the headlines today. All you see is "immoral" acts being performed by political leaders and religious icons.

Morality just gives legislatures the tool to use to point their finger at the lower classes who are by nature many times forced to do what is considered to be "immoral" things in order to survive.

Answer 6

yes, if we dont ban gay marriage, where will it stop? Incest Bestiality, Pedophilia. We must draw the line. We need to stop the perversion of america before it begins.
oh, and Zacattack, benjamin franklin didnt come up with the amendments. Alexander Hamiliton came up with the constitution, and the Bill of Rights was a compromise.
Ive also heard people say that the first amendment prohibits religion in laws. So they say a "law banning gay marriage is unconstitutional", except if we use that reasoning, a law baning murder is unconstitutional because the Bible prohibits that as well.

And there is no such thing as seperation of church and state. The term came from a personal letter written by thomas jefferson. The first amendment just says that congress cant outlaw any religion or stop someone from practicing a religion.

Answer 7

In God we trust, all others pay cash. Morality has been legislated unsuccessfully sine time began. Morality can not be legislated. Example, prohibition in the 1930's, a total failure, not to mention prostitution.

Answer 8

no to the first question
to the second qusetion, it's impossible for the government to
legislate morality.Morality presumes independent though, and the government can't legislate thought.

Answer 9

He can help but what are we/you doing besides sitting at the computer? The founding fathers talked but also acted. They didn't wait for an election they acted. We need to March on Washington and get their attention. Much damage can be done by these people in the next few months. Look what has been done in the past few months.

Answer 10

The Government is evil and corrupt, god gave Benjamin Franklin the idea of the constitution(the amendments) but like every thing in this world it has gone evil and will be in till Armageddon