The Natural Law Part IV

So what is a law? Aquinas says a law is a rule made through reason for the common good by one who has care of the community. There are basically four types of law: 1) Eternal Law—which is God’s concept of things (and if you don’t believe in God go back to Part I). 2) Divine Law—what God has told us about Himself/us through the Old and New Testaments as well as through Tradition (the Church has custody of that law, especially of interpretation). 3) Natural Law which is the participation of the Eternal Law by rational human beings, people of rational nature. 4) Human Law, which is self explanatory.

Everything in existence has a nature and the ‘nature’ of the thing is built into it by the maker. A car made by GM tells you that in order for that automobile to run properly you should put gas in it not pomegranate juice. Same with a flat. You pull out the manual to find out how to change that flat tire. Now suppose that one, after looking at the manual, decides that GM is full of it. The owner can either ignore the directions or not. If he ignores those directions the car will probably not work correctly or at all for that matter especially if he puts pomegranate juice in the gas tank. But on top of that why would someone ‘resent’ GM for explaining how to maintain and run that car properly? The analogy is the same for human beings. When the remark is made “…this is my body. I can do with it what I want. There are no rules because I make the rules. And I resent anyone who tells me differently, tells me that I can’t do what I want to do. I will.” The breakdown of society begins with the breakdown of the individual and then the family. When one decides that he does not have to adhere to the natural law, he can do whatever he wills what ever and whenever as long as it’s not hurting anyone else, he is creating a situation that is not only going to lead him down the road of misery, but eventually that misery will overflow. And it will overflow first into the family and then society.

Natural law is the story of how things work. It is the cradle of reason given to us by God so that we will know how we should act to achieve our proper end. And the end? To live in perfect happiness for eternity with our Creator.

The Ten Commandments are specifications of the Natural Law. Christ said, “If you love me keep my commandments.” This is rooted in our nature. Aquinas through and with the Church has incorporated the teaching of the Natural Law into the teaching of Christ.

What can we know? And eventually how do we “know” what is wrong? St. Thomas says that you have two aspects of reason a) the speculative and b) the practical.

The object of speculative reasoning is “being”. And the first principle of the speculative reasoning is self-evident. ‘Being’ cannot be ‘non-being’. This involves the principle of contradiction. A thing cannot be and be at the same time under the same aspect. If I hold up a rock and someone says to me “that’s a pen”. No, it’s not. It’s a rock. It doesn’t write nor have any of the attributes of a pen. And no matter how many times that individual tells me or himself, at times over and over again, that the rock is a pen—does not matter. It is not a pen. Chaos does not come out of order.

Practical reasoning involves the good of something. The good is that which all things seek after. True good is that which is in accord with the nature of thing. Driving to England with that car in Part I would not be a good thing—for you or the car.

The first principle of the natural law, which is the imprint of the eternal law on rational beings, is ‘good’ is to be sought after and ‘evil’ avoided. ‘Evil’ is the absence of ‘good’. John Paul II stated many times, “Do good and avoid evil.”

We know ‘naturally’, espoused by Aquinas, that there are five basic inclinations of human nature which we know to be good: 1) seek the good and the highest good is God. 2) preserve yourself 3) preserve the species 4) live in community 5) to know and to choose.

By making ‘deductions’ from those inclinations we decide good or bad on any action. How do we know stealing is wrong? The very concept goes against community. Abortion, permanent marriage between two people other than a man and a woman, adultery, contraception all involve ‘preserving the species’. John Paul II said that same sex marriage is inherently evil. Why? Because it contradicts the Natural Law. Every January, I believe it’s the 22nd, two completely different sets of groups get together and pray for diametrically opposed reasons or beliefs. One group prays for the end of abortion. The second group prays, thanking God for the ‘right’ to abortion. Reason dictates that the two beliefs cannot be morally correct. They are in conflict. Again, diametrically opposed stances. Both cannot be right.

What is needed to be kept in mind, about the Natural Law, is between the subjective and the objective view. In stealing, is one culpable in that did he know it was wrong to steal and chose to do it anyway. Aquinas says that a specific action can be both morally right and wrong. Was the individual stealing a loaf of bread to keep from starvation? Was there no other way this person could feed himself. Stealing is in and of itself morally wrong. The action is condemned but we are never free to condemn the individual. Not our job.

Subjective culpability is rampant through our culture. Why? Because a major portion of society has either had an incorrect formation of conscience, and ignoring of conscience or a lack of will, laziness, in regards to finding truth and how it should, could and does affect conscience. Why is the Natural Law so important? It is the essential ingredient for the recovery of reason. Moral decisions should not be a question of ‘feeling’. One of the problems of society today is that individuals are ‘feeling’ that some action is correct because it doesn’t hurt anyone else and it ‘feels’ right. Conscience is not an expression of ‘feeling’ or ‘will’ but of judgment.

Do good which is the nature of the thing. A friend wouldn’t tell me to put pomegranate juice in my car in place of gasoline. It is the nature of the car to have gasoline put in it in order for it to run properly. If you are a friend then you want the best advice going to your friend. Gas vs. pomegranate juice. The same applies to abortion. Even though an individual may react by stating that it’s my body and I can do what I want with it, does not preclude the element of stating the reasons and consequences of why abortion is evil and why it should not be committed.

Freedom involves being committed to the “Truth”. If you are not committed to the “Truth” you will end up being a slave in one form or another.

A Wonderful, Holy and Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah

For all of you politically correct bloggers out there we want to wish you a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah! May the Lord's Peace, as only He can give it, be upon you, your families and your countrymen.

For you politically incorrect bloggers, family members, friends and acquaintances, my family and I wish yours also......A Very, Very, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!!!

Part IV of the Natural Law will be posted sometime in the next couple of days. God Bless.

The Management and Tim Crawley

The List Part II

One day I was sitting on the grass in the front yard of our home. My three children came up to me, plopped their little rear ends in my lap and asked, although Paddy couldn't speak at the time since he was only one, "Why did you marry Mommy?"
I thought about it for a moment before I answered Brianna who was asking the question. I looked at all three of them and answered, "I had a List".
Timmy asked, "Was it a long list, Daddy?"
"Not so long..." I answered.
"What was on the List, Dad?"
"Things I wanted in a mommy for you guys."
"Like a Santa Claus List?"
"Sort of."
"Did you send it to Santa?"
"No. It's not quite that kind of list."
"What kind of List?" asked Brianna.
"What was on it?" added Timmy.
"Well, let's see if I can remember some of the things. I knew you guys would want a mommy that was beautiful...."
"And Mommy is beautiful," added Brianna. "So you got that."
"Yes I did. In spades."
"What are spades?"
"They're in a deck of cards."
"Oh."
"And I wanted someone who could and would stay home with you...."
"God that in spades, too." Brianna, thinking herself clever, added again.
"Yes, I did. And I wanted someone who could teach you about music and how to play the piano...."
Timmy said, "Brianna has started piano. How come I can't?"
"Because you're still too little. That will come soon enough. But you know what?"
"What?" two out of the three chimed in.
"I really wanted someone who would sprinkle Fairy Dust on your cereal in the morning and help me read to you and pray with you at bed time....."
"Mmlubjhghjojddkg..." drooled Paddy.
"Exactly." I said.
"And did you get everything on the List, Daddy?"
I could feel the smile growing over my face and if I would have had a mirror at the moment I would have seen that smile curing upwards, paradoxically, probably wrapped in an enigma. And looking at my three beautiful children, I answered,
"....and a lot more...."



I have often wondered through the years what "a lot more" meant when my Mother mentioned the List so long ago. And after thirty-two years of marriage, five years of courtship (because I wanted to make sure) and three kids later, I now know what Mom meant. I did get everything on my list...and a lot more.

The List Part I

Somewhere between my fifth and sixth birthday in Manhattan Beach, California, I stuttered one day and, looking up at my mother, said,

“Mom, what did you ever see in Dad?”

“What do you mean, what did I see in Dad?”

“Why did you marry Dad?”

“I had a lot of reasons.”

“Like what?”

“Well, I had a List.”

“A List?”

“Yes, I had a List of what I wanted in a husband…a father, a friend.”

“Like a grocery List?”

“Yes, well, kind of….”

I chuckled at my first grade humor, “…no tomatoes, right?”

“No. No tomatoes.”

“Well….what was on the List?”

“Lots of things.”

“Like what?”

“I wanted someone who was handsome, musical….”

“Is Dad handsome?”

“Yes. Very.”

“Was it a long list?”

“Somewhat.”

“How long.”

“Long enough.”

“What did you do about it?”

“About the List?”

“Yeah, do you still have it?”

“No. No I don’t have it anymore. I shouldn’t say that. I still kind of have it.” She pointed towards her head.

“Did you check stuff off? You know, like you do when you put the tomatoes in the grocery basket.”

“You mean when I saw your father?”

“Yeah.”

“Sort of.”

“So what’d you do about it....the List?”

“Well, I asked God to give me what was on the List?”

“You did?”

“Yes.

“Did he answer you?”

“Are you talking about Dad or God now?”

“God. You mean God answers people?”

“Of course.”

"Like wow. Was it in a hugely loud voice?"

"No. It was more of a whisper. As a matter of fact, it wasn't even that loud."

“Did you read the List to God?”

“Yes. I went to Mass several times a week and asked God to give me what was on the List. If it was His will.”

“He really answered, huh?”

“Yes. The Lord always answers. Not always the way we’d like, but He answered.”

“And did you get everything on the List you wanted? Did God give you everything on the List?”

She smiled, a very particular and peculiar smile. One that I have never seen before or since. She said simply, “….and a lot more….”

God vs. Science

God vs. Science

'Let me explain the problem science has with religion.' The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'

'Yes sir,' the student says.

'So you believe in God?'

'Absolutely. '

'Is God good?'

'Sure! God's good.'

'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'

'Yes'

'Are you good or evil?'

'The Bible says I'm evil.'

The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible! He considers for a moment. 'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'

'Yes sir, I would.'

'So you're good!'

'I wouldn't say that.'

'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. 'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Can you answer that one?'

The student remains silent. 'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax. 'Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?'

'Er..yes,' the student says.

'Is Satan good?'

The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'

'Then where does Satan come from?'

The student falters. 'From God'

'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?'

'Yes, sir..'

'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?'

'Yes'

'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'

Again, the student has no answer. 'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?'

The student squirms on his feet. 'Yes.'

'So who created them?'

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. 'Who created them?' There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. 'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?'

The student's voice betrays him and cracks. 'Yes, professor, I do.'

The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'

'No sir. I've never seen Him.'

'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'

'No, sir, I have not..'

'Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?'

'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'

'Yet you still believe in him?'

'Yes'

'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?'

'Nothing,' the student replies.. 'I only have my faith.'

'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of His own. 'Professor, is there such thing as heat? '

Yes.

'And is there such a thing as cold?'

'Yes, son, there's cold too.'

'No sir, there isn't.'

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. ' You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit d own to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold Is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.'

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?'

'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation. 'What is night if it isn't darkness?'

'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. 'So what point are you making, young man?'

'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. 'Flawed? Can you explain how?'

'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought.' 'It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.' 'Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?'

'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do.'

'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?'

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided. 'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.' The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?' The class breaks out into laughter. 'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir.' 'So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?'

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable. Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. 'I Guess you'll have to take them on faith.'

'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?' Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'

To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.'

The professor sat down.



If you read it all the way through and had a smile on your face when you finished, mail to your friends and family with the title 'God vs. Science'

PS: the student was Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein wrote a book titled God vs. Science in 1921.


Noone can change truth.
Saint Maxmillian Kolbe