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This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

Laws, religion inseparable

Contrary to the statements in K. C. Binegar’s letter to the Spokesman-Review (“Laws independent from religion,” Feb. 1), American law and religion cannot be independent. Religion is the philosophy of the relationship between mankind and their creator. Whether one calls their creator Nature, Jehovah or Allah, that creator gave mankind life, and laws.

The underpinning principle of American law is stated in the Declaration of Independence. All mankind are given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness by their creator at birth. America’s founding documents imply that any law in conflict with this natural law is tyrannical, demeaning and an affront to mankind’s creator.

Adherence to those natural rights produces as free and happy a people as is possible. Therefore, the writers of the primary federal law, called the United States Constitution, designed it to govern a free and happy people, and then declared that it couldn’t govern an immoral people, for an immoral people cannot be free and happy.

Mankind is taught morality by religion as the word “religion” is defined above. In the Judeo-Christian culture that spawned the discovery of Natural law, and inspired the Constitution, morality is expressed in the Ten Commandments, which includes “Thou shalt not murder.” The right to life doesn’t establish a religion as stated by K. C. Binegar. It is moral.

Duncan Bean

Spokane Valley

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