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To: kjvail
The Founders (especially Jefferson) relied extensively upon the writings and philosophy of John Locke, among others, who taught clearly that a Natural Law exists; and from that, man derives natural rights:

The state of Nature has a law of Nature to govern it, which obliges every one, and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions; for men being all the workmanship of one omnipotent and infinitely wise Maker; all the servants of one sovereign Master, sent into the world by His order and about his business; they are His property, whose workmanship they are made to last during His, not one another's pleasure. And, being furnished with like faculties, sharing all in one community of Nature, there cannot be supposed any such subordination among us that may authorise us to destroy one another, as if we were made for one another's uses, as the inferior ranks of creatures are for ours. Every one as he is bound to preserve himself, and not to quit his station wilfully, so by the like reason, when his own preservation comes not in competition, ought he as much as he can to preserve the rest of mankind, and not unless it be to do justice on an offender, take away or impair the life, or what tends to the preservation of the life, the liberty, health, limb, or goods of another. (Two Treatises on Civil Government)

23 posted on 09/03/2004 8:24:07 PM PDT by Choose Ye This Day (Kerry sees two Americas. America sees two John Kerrys. It's mutual.)
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To: Choose Ye This Day

With all due respects to the founding fathers, just because they may have thought Natural Law existed doesn't make it so. For many years the church also taught and believed that the world was flat using scriptures (wrongly I might add) to prove their case. They had to make some adjustments to their theology once it was proven that wasn't the case.


31 posted on 09/04/2004 2:50:38 AM PDT by HarleyD (For strong is he who carries out God's word. (Joel 2:11))
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