Use clear reasoning, not holy book
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Editor,
Contrary to the opinion expressed by Rick Jore in his letter published in the July 23 issue of the Journal the phrase “nature’s God” in the Declaration of Independence is not an endorsement of the Christian nor any other religion. Words and phrases take on different implications over time. In the 18th century “nature’s God” had a well known and clear meaning which is quite contrary to what Jore seems to believe.
The Declaration is a product of the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment was about human rights, equality, science and political and moral thinking. Its position on religion was simple: God and nature are the same thing.
The complete phrase in the Declaration is “the laws of nature and nature’s God.” To learn these laws, therefore, we turn to science and clear reasoning, not to a holy book.
Harold Young
St. Ignatius
