The role of religion is foundational
Religion as the Anchor of Public Morality:
The Founders believed that laws alone are insufficient to control a population that has no internal moral compass. Religion provides the framework for the "virtue" mentioned in the second and third principles.
The Internal Policeman: Religion encourages individuals to act rightly even when no one is watching, reducing the need for an expansive, "policed" state.
Source of Inalienable Rights: The concept that rights come from a "Creator" rather than government is a religious one; if rights come from the state, the state can take them away.
Foundation of Oaths: George Washington noted in his Farewell Address that the "sense of religious obligation" is what makes oaths in courts of justice binding and meaningful.
The "Common Religion" of America
While the Founders were diverse in their specific denominations, they identified a "public religion" or "fundamental religious system" that all shared, which they deemed necessary for liberty. This included:
The Existence of a Creator: The belief in a higher power to whom all are ultimately accountable.
Moral Absolute: The belief that there is a right and wrong that does not change based on political trends or social movements.
Service to Others: A religious duty to help one's neighbor, which strengthens the community and reduces dependency on the state.
The Danger of Secularism in Governance
The principle warns that as religion is removed from the public square, the government must become more coercive to maintain order.
The Vacuum of Values: When religious values are discarded, they are often replaced by "social theories" or state-mandated ideologies that prioritize the collective over individual liberty.
Historical Warning: Many Founders looked to history and argued that no nation had ever remained free once it had abandoned the religious principles that fostered its growth.
Summary of the Principle's Utility
Religious Foundation Result for Liberty Belief in divine accountability: Citizens govern their own conduct
Recognition of God-given rights: Government is limited in its power
Emphasis on charity/duty: Stronger local communities, less state growth
Posted on 08 May 2026, 13:14 - Category: The People Are Screwed