Natural Law and Christian Civilization Research Paper

The philosophical attempts to find a suitable way the development of humanity resulted in the emergence of the theory of natural law. From the Christian perspective, this approach is advantageous for proving the importance of religion for citizens. This view emphasizing the critical role of God in the process is underpinned by the ideas of Aristotle. According to him, the ultimate perfection of human beings is directly connected to the need of people to live in accordance with the demands of nature.¹ Therefore, a Christian civilization should be built on the principles of this theory as it allows establishing boundaries regulating people’s behavior in an authentic way.

The principal consideration confirming the suitability of the natural law to the needs of humanity is its applicability to the task of explaining objective moral principles inherent in both religion and society. Without a solid basis, they might evoke concerns of people regarding their reasonability, whereas the evidence for it is the agreement of most authors writing about the theory in basic provisions. Thus, they all claim that the behavior of human beings is primarily guided by intrinsic values rather than external circumstances.² For a Christian community, this stance indicates the dominant importance of the mentioned ideas for complementing the Bible, and it contributes to the acceptance of natural law as a vital instrument.

Another factor adding to the usefulness of the specified theoretical basis for Christianity is the ambiguity of the role of experience in developing morality contrasted by a clear mechanism of action of nature. The latter was described by Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas, and they both agreed on the finite nature of human reasoning as opposed to God’s infinite powers, and the assistance of the sacred Scripture is important.³ Meanwhile, the former’s claim presented by John Locke was not connected to any considerations except for a firm belief in the central role of cognition in acquiring any kind of knowledge, including moral principles.⁴ However, a suitable theory reflecting the need of Christians to understand the process should address it logically. In this way, it can be concluded that the natural law is a better option for humanity.

The final circumstance defining the applicability of the theory under consideration to the creation of a prosperous Christian civilization based on inherent morality is the connection between the principles mentioned above and the revelations. As it is stated by Budziszewski, the examination of Scripture contributes to the reasonability of the adoption of natural law for the promotion of critical values.⁵ According to him, the works of God, the law of Moses, and the Messiah prophecy reflect on the way God makes himself known and thereby provides guidance.⁶ The philosophy behind this idea is confirmed by the verse, which states that “through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”⁷ Hence, the theory explaining the morality of Christians through the values is suitable for ensuring people’s understanding of this aspect.

To summarize, the practical application of the principles of natural law is the key to prosperity stemming from the acceptance of the reasoning related to Scripture. It provides a solid basis for the central role of intrinsic values in the formation of morality in contrast to a dubious claim of acquiring it through cognition. Thus, a Christian civilization must be built on natural law since its ideas correlated with the sacred writings.

References

Bible Study Tools. “John 1:3.”. n.d. Web.

Budziszewski, J. Written on the Heart: The Case for Natural Law. Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 1997.

Footnotes

1. J. Budziszewski, Written on the Heart: The Case for Natural Law (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 1997), 16.
2. Budziszewski, Written on the Heart, 65.
3. Budziszewski, 54.
4. Budziszewski, 108.
5. Budziszewski, 179.
6. Budziszewski, 180.
7. “John 1:3,” Bible Study Tools. n.d. Web.