Throughout centuries, humanity constructed many complex political structures that strive to uphold the harmonious existence of civil society. During its formation, the United States used a solid foundation for this purpose that remains critical for its peaceful and prosperous existence. This essay will analyze how natural and revealed laws affect the country’s politics. By reviewing the official documents which led to the creation of the United States, it is possible to perceive the application of the concept of God-given rights.
First of all, the basis for this notion is linked to the Bible and the teachings of theologists of the past. It is crucial to understand that in Christianity, “there is no authority except God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (The Holy Bible: English standard version, 2021, Romans 13:1). Therefore, laws must follow the idea of the common good that is seen by Christians as following the teachings of Christ. St. Augustine’s works also reflect this idea, as he considers that the God-given truth must always serve as guidance of civil society to ensure its naturalness and instill a concept of justice (Strauss & Cropsey, 2012). It is apparent that the notion of revealed law implies the existence of inherent liberties and boundaries.
As long as the United States continues to rely on its founding documents, it pursues natural law. It is clear that the country was created with a solid basis on the revealed law philosophy, as people are considered to be “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights” (“Declaration of Independence: A transcription,” n.d.). All political decisions in the country consider the impact on said inherent rights.
It is also worth noting that the Constitution of the United States also refers to the relationship between politics and God. The document emphasizes that people will “secure the Blessings of Liberty,” which indicates a connection between divine law and human law (“Constitution of the United States: A transcription,” n.d.). This statement is a form of interpretation of revealed law that is focused on one of the cornerstones of the country. Both documents set the path toward the common good, as seen by the people of the nation. Such an approach is close to Augustine’s popular republic, which is good when it reflects the will of people who seek to pursue the interests of the public as a whole (Kries, 2021). Therefore, the reasoning behind the political philosophy of the United States remains anchored in natural law.
The Bill of Rights also connects back to the topic of revealed law, which can be seen in the Federalist Papers. Hamilton (1788) outlines that such strict concepts “are not only unnecessary in the proposed Constitution, but would even be dangerous” since they would imply that rights outside of the list could be considered unprotected (para. 8). People’s basic rights are never meant to be contained in a series of documents. Even in modern political practice, they are not seen as given by authorities but delegated from common sense and natural law (Sawyer, 2018). Therefore, Americans remain deeply connected to the concept of God-given rights.
In conclusion, natural and revealed laws lie at the core of the United States and serve as a solid foundation for the rights of Americans even nowadays. Through the works of St. Augustine, it is possible to perceive the impact of the universal truth and the pursuit of the common good in political philosophies. The United States has a clear and concise outline that its citizens’ rights stem from revealed law that must be protected at all costs.
References
The Constitution of the United States: A transcription. (n.d.). National Archives. Web.
Declaration of Independence: A transcription. (n.d.). National Archives. Web.
Hamilton, A. (1788). Certain general and miscellaneous objections to the Constitution considered and answered. Research Guides at Library of Congress. Web.
The Holy Bible: English standard version. (2021). William Collins.
Kries, D. (2021). Democracy and the history of political thought. P. N. Cain, S. P. Sims, & S. A. Block (Eds.). Rowman & Littlefield.
Sawyer, J. K. (2018). Diminishing the Bill of Rights: Barron v. Baltimore and the foundations of American liberty. Journal of American History, 105(1), 159-160. Web.
Strauss, L., & Cropsey, J. (2012). History of political philosophy (3rd ed.). University of Chicago Press.