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One Nation Under God

This chapter covers America's history and relationship with God.

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Have American laws always acknowledged God?

Yes!

The foremost legal authority of the Founder's day was William Blackstone. Introduced in 1766, Blackstone's Commentaries on the laws became the legal guidebook of early American leaders. Blackstone's Commentaries, in fact, formed the basis of American law until 1920, considered authoritative even in the U.S. Supreme Court. Commenting on the need to keep our laws consistent with God's laws, Blackstone states:

"To instance in the case of murder: this is expressly forbidden by the Divine...If any human law should allow or enjoin us to commit it, we are bound to transgress that human law...But, with regard to matters that are...not commanded or forbidden by those superior laws such for instance, as exporting wool into foreign countries; here the...legislature has scope and opportunity to interpose."[2]

Source: Brannon Howse (NewsWithViews.com)

1(Alexander Hamilton, The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, Harold C. Syrett, editor. New York: Columbia University Press, 1961, Vol. I, p. 87, February 23, 1775, quoting William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England. Philadelphia: Robert Bell, 1771, Vol. I, p. 41.)

This question was answered by Gary Van Horn.
It was last updated on April 18, 2006 at 12:39:40 PM CDT.

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