It is long and somewhat of a rocky read but does a good job of explaining Natural Law, Morality and their influence on our Founders and Framers.
One does not have to particularly religious to appreciate what they gave to us and what is necessary to preserve their gift.
No other governing document recognized the following Natural Rights that all men are born with: Exclusive right to the profit of one’s writings and inventions, habeas corpus, freedom of the press, speech, the right to peacefully assemble, keep and bear arms, to petition our government, to be secure in our persons, paper and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, speedy public trial, to be confronted by the witnesses against us, equal protection under the laws, non discrimination on the basis of race or sex in voting rights.
Protection against ex-post facto laws, double jeopardy, self incrimination, deprivation of life, liberty or property without due process, taking of private property for public use without just compensation, excessive bail, cruel and unusual punishment, slavery (1865), poll taxes.
And finally the Ninth Amendment, to cover the Natural Rights not enumerated in the Constitution.
Only a moral people will protect the gift of our Founders and Framers.
Since we as a people murder about one million souls a year, and have been doing so for about 30+ years, I guess that means that gift from our Founding Fathers is a little frayed around the edges by now. Moth-eaten. Positively ratty.
Don't you think?
I agree -- one does not have to be particularly religious to appreciate all this, but perhaps one has to be of a particular religion to be in a position to inherit that gift and to be able to preserve it. See the difference?
Let's not forget that the Founding Fathers of the U.S. were not Catholics, Jews, Mormons, Eastern Orthodox, Hindus or Druids. They were a mix of Christian Protestants with Deists/Freethinkers of a decidedly Protestant background. To the extent that "religion" as religion is isolated as the defining factor for the foundation for our "mixed" Republic, this degree of specificity as to WHAT religion we're talking about becomes significant. No doubt a society of Druids in North America would have founded a much different political order based upon much different principles.
Well, I've got things to do. You have a nice day!