Letter: A nation where all beliefs must be tolerated

Thursday, March 24, 2005 | 9:03 a.m.

In his letter of March 22 ("Nation's basic principles: 10 Commandments"), Timothy R. Carroll is wrong in his assertion that our laws come from a god. In this country laws come from the U.S. Constitution and various legislative enactments that conform to constitutional requirements. Carroll may follow laws that come from his perceived "Judeo-Christian God," but those are not the laws governing our country (yet).

If Carroll's god has commanded him, he may follow those commands, but he cannot impose them on those who believe in other gods or no god (e.g. Buddhists, Hindus, Pagans, Agnostics, Humanists).

His letter cites comments from Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, whose personal opinion is that government derives its authority from God. That opinion of Scalia is not supported by the majority of justices on the Supreme Court who seek to uphold the principles upon which our constitutional republic was formed (including separation of church and state).

Carroll accuses "secular America" of striving to "escape from the Christian standard of morality." He inexplicably cites Roe v. Wade as an example. Apparently Carroll's standard of morality includes forcing his supernatural beliefs on others. I prefer my own Humanist "morality," which respects the beliefs of others and which allows me to lead an ethical life without supernaturalism.

By seeking to force others to accept the commands of his god, Carroll demonstrates his lack of respect for the rights of others to believe differently than he does.

MEL LIPMAN