To: Sir Francis Dashwood
I can't speak to polygamy. I DO know that Christ made it clear that the Mosaic Law re: divorce/remarriage was not up to God's standards. That was specifically referenced in the Gospel.
The Church's teaching on marriage was based on two items known in the Gospel: first, Christ's sanctification of marriage through his action at the Wedding at Cana; and secondly, his comments (op.cit.) on the Mosaic Law.
The balance of the Church's teachings on marriage are either logical and precise development of the above two OR are drawn from Apostolic Tradition (commonly thought to be based on words/teachings of Christ NOT written in the New Testament.)
As to Natural Law--I think an earlier outline is found in Thomas Aquinas. Hobbes' take on the same is 'secular;' TA's is 'religious.' If I am not mistaken (and I could be,) Thomas A drew his teaching on the topic from Aristotle.
There is quite a body of literature which serves to argue whether or not Hobbes' view of NL should predominate in secular affairs, or whether it should be TA's. I think Mike Novak and Richard Neuhaus (among others) are in the fray...
41 posted on
03/09/2003 3:44:02 PM PST by
ninenot
To: ninenot
If I am not mistaken (and I could be,) Thomas A drew his teaching on the topic from Aristotle.I do not think you are mistaken. This was one of Hobbes' criticisms of Aquinas and Augustine.
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