Benchmark Christianity and Natural Law& Rights Theory
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Apr 3, 2024
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Benchmark: Christianity and Natural Law& Rights Theory Jezzelle K. Rivera
College of Science in Justice Studies, Grand Canyon University
Course Number: JUS-104
Armando Carbajal
March 6, 2022
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Christianity Influence on the American justice system
Basic Christian faith is held by the idea that God has created the world, and through this creation he has also created moral law. It is also believed that God has created us all equal with the same moral understanding of what is right and wrong. Everyone is expected to know about God’s nature and his moral demands, everyone is expected to know what the standards are to be righteous and if one may fall short, they are to be held accountable (Mathewson, 1999). It is through the moral law and moral demands God has set that has created the base line for the American justice system that is known today. Gods’ moral demands are enforced through the natural laws and natural rights that American citizens are held to today.
Many do not realize; how much Christianity has actually influenced the creation of the American justice system. Christianity has influenced the American court system because it has assisted in the guidance and establishment of what right and wrong is, and those who do wrong shall be judged and or punished. This idea was originally enforced through Gods moral demands.
For instance, in Romans 13:1-7 it is stated “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” Those who rebelled against God’s moral standard were judged and punished, this ultimately assisted in keeping order. Very similar to today’s justice system laws are put in place to keep order within America, those who rebel against the law shall pay the consequences and shall be put in front of a judge for sentencing. 2
In addition, to Gods moral demands and the way order was kept being an example to America in the creation of its justice system natural law and natural rights also played a role in the creation as well. The natural law theory is a system of law that is based on the close observation of human nature. Natural law is the entirety of law given to us by God, God created all to be morally equal, therefore natural law binds mankind in all places at all times (LaRowe, 2014). This ties into the creation of Americas justice system because helps create a standard for judging. Nature law takes human nature into consideration, this is needed in the justice system to
make sure individuals are being judged correctly and fairly. For instance, it is human nature for one to want to protect their family and what they possess, if a father fights off a man who poses a
threat to his family or possessions and in the process injures the man these circumstances need to
be taken into consideration. Natural rights on the other hand, is unidentifiable freedoms by virtue
given due to human’s nature (Gray, 2014). Examples of natural rights is a human being right to be alive, have freedom and to be happy these are inevitable rights provided from God’s creations
of mankind. These rights influence the American justice system in many ways one way being, the justice system cannot take away one’s freedom or life without probable cause. Moreover, the concepts of Christianity have a lot in common with the natural law and natural right theory. Christianity faith is held from the belief that God has created mankind to be equal and even more so created mankind in his image to be good. Natural law states all are born with the same morality and basics of knowing from right and wrong, natural rights covers that all
have the right to be alive and be free. Each tie into what Christians believe God wanted for mankind and how he expected his creation to be. 3
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In conclusion, Christianity has influences Americas justice system whether many choose to believe it or not. The American justice system was created through the natural right and law theory which ultimately holds many similarities to the concepts of Christianity. Essentially God created the blueprints of the world, and how it is to be ran, he also exemplified how to keep order. Today the justice system follows these same guidelines to keep order within America, the use of the natural law and rights theories is to ensure they are keeping order fairly.
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References
Gray, E. G. (2014).
Natural rights. In M. Spencer (Ed.),
The Bloomsbury encyclopedia of the American Enlightenment
. Bloomsbury. Credo Reference: https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?
url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/bloome/natural_rights/0?institutionId=5865
Mathewson, M. D. (1999). Moral Intuitionism and the Law Inscribed on Our Hearts. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 42(4), 629–643.
LaRowe, N. L. (2014). Natural law. In M. Spencer (Ed.), The Bloomsbury encyclopedia of the American Enlightenment. Bloomsbury. Credo Reference: https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?
url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/bloome/natural_law/0?institutionId=5865
Romans 13:1-7. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+13%3A1-
7&version=NIV
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