The following excerpt was written by Mark Meckler and originally published on The Washington Times. Click here to read the entire article there!
In C.S. Lewis’ “The Abolition of Man,” the Christian apologist delved into what he called the Tao, or natural law. The Tao, he argued, consisted of a set of objective moral principles so commonly acknowledged as to be considered almost universal.
He summarized that this standard encapsulates the custom of treating others as you would want to be treated. For example, you wouldn’t want someone to lie to you; therefore, you know lying is wrong. You wouldn’t want your wife to cheat on you; therefore, you know adultery is wrong.
Lewis believed the West should take great care to conserve many of these practices and beliefs — derived from the Ten Commandments. While distinctly rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition, the Ten Commandments, presented to Moses on Mount Sinai, have historically been recognized as useful directives for any society to follow. Who wouldn’t want laws that teach against killing or stealing?
Regardless of one’s religious beliefs, it should be recognized that a nation adhering to these ancient Hebrew laws will enjoy greater happiness, safety and prosperity than those that do not.
Recently, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed a bill ordering all classrooms in the state to display the Ten Commandments, an effort to promote the values upon which our nation was founded. Each poster must also feature a paragraph describing the role the Decalogue used to play in American education. Unfortunately, the measure was met with swift rebuttal from the left.
“Louisiana Republicans are signing onto an overt Christian nationalist agenda,” Salon wrote. “It really isn’t about sincere religious faith … which is being polluted by this association with open bigotry and crass politicking.”
“I don’t understand why you’re telling me you’re concerned about children learning things,” Whoopi Goldberg declared on “The View.” “If you want your child to have a religious education, send them to a religious school. There’s nothing stopping you. Get out of my pocket, get out of my body, and get out of my school.”
Those who oppose this law seem to gravely underestimate the vitality behind having the commandments at the center of American public life.
The Ten Commandments are the foundation of the Judeo-Christian worldview, yes. But they are much more than that. They form the basis for living a good life. And many good lives stitched together form a good community. Spread that across the country, and you have a recipe for American greatness.
America is great because of the extent to which its founders were influenced by moral law and the objective religious principles of right and wrong. The Constitution, for all its many strengths, could not make us a decent or self-governing people. The founders knew they needed “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God” to do that.
“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion,” John Adams wrote. “Avarice, ambition, and revenge … would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
Our Constitution enabled us to live freely; the Bible showed us how to conduct ourselves in that environment.
Read the rest of the article here!
