Ethics

Liberty & God

By Ed Brayton

America's Founders believed political liberty derived from an unalienable -- that is God given -- natural right to liberty. The ones most notable for articulating this theory were not orthodox Trinitarian Christians who believed the Bible the infallible Word of God. And the Bible itself, from a strict literal interpretation, is entirely unconcerned with political liberty. The Founders did sometimes write and speak as though God in the Bible grants political liberty. But as I have noted (after more distinguished scholars) these were unitarians like Jefferson who believed in a partially inspired Bible and therefore were more free to "read in" their desires to the good book.

I write this because I wonder what we think of the idea of a God granted right to political liberty. As a libertarian I value political liberty and would like to think human beings have an inalienable right to be free. I do believe that liberty inheres in human nature. I'm not sure if I can prove it does; and I know I can't prove a God given right to political liberty.

Full post as published by Dispatches from the Culture Wars on January 13, 2009 (boomark / email).