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Is the Bill of Rights a religious document?

Many people, both conservative and liberal, cite the Bill of Rights as a moral authority when discussing the behaviour of individuals.

Indeed, their references to the Bill of Rights are identical in form to peoples' references to the Bible or to the Koran.

Update:

Light,

It hasn't always been that way. The mythologies of Christianity, the state, and capitalism have been intentionally merged since the 30's.

Update 2:

it is a legal document, but most people use it as a religious document. Accordingly, it is bot a legal document and a religious document.

Update 3:

it is a legal document, but most people use it as a religious document. Accordingly, it is bot a legal document and a religious document.

Update 4:

When a person want so to explain why it is morally good to own a gun, they will almost always cite the Bill of Rights.

Update 5:

Likewise, when a person explains why it is morally wrong for one private person to stop another private person from speaking, they will also always cite the constitution.

6 Answers

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  • 9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    No. The Bill of Rights is part of the US Constitution, the Supreme Law of the Land.

  • Anonymous
    9 years ago

    the Bill of Rights outlines the secular rights that we, as citizens of a secular society, enjoy. there is a reference to the State making no law that inhibits or promotes any particular religion.

    the original "motto" of our country was E Pluribus Unim - out of many, one. sometime in the 1940s or so One Nation Under God started creeping in. given that we don;t all believe in god and can't agree which one the saying refers to I am in favor of going back to the original.

  • Anonymous
    9 years ago

    Let me guess ... you're another American who doesn't understand

    you are on the WORLD WIDE WEB - posting this question that is

    online in countries all over this world.

    (What are those 26 flags doing at the bottom of this page?) DUH !!

    You're talking about a document of your local political system.

    Many countries have a different Bill of Rights .... some have NONE.

  • 9 years ago

    Well, here they are, and I don't see much about them that relates to any moral authority, except in the most general sense that protection of individual rights and freedoms is a good thing.

    1. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

    2. A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

    3. No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

    4. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

    5. No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

    6. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

    7. In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

    8. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

    9. The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

    10. The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

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  • !?!
    Lv 6
    9 years ago

    No, but, in some ways, I think it is spiritual...

    Source(s): Pax.
  • Anonymous
    9 years ago

    Now you are starting to figure out where "One Nation Under God" comes from.

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