Natural

 Does morality depend upon religion? The answer is no, although I would suggest the majority of people, if asked, would say otherwise. Morality, morals are a collection of values. That is to say, the things we value as a society regarding behaviors. Honesty, integrity, loyalty, trust, empathy and tolerance are among those values. You certainly don't need to be religious to have any of those qualities. But religion, the belief that one will receive a final judgement, is the impetus to comply. 

 Today you will hear many scholars saying the Constitution and other founding documents were not based on Christian principles. I'd have to use a phrase we are hearing a lot these days, partly true. Some of the founding fathers declared themselves Deists. What does that mean? Simply that they believed in a divine power higher than themselves that they declined to name. So, Christians, followers of Christ, is not one hundred percent accurate. Partly true. That they all believed in a higher power is not disputed. None made claim to being an agnostic or an atheist. 

 The Constitution and other founding documents were written to define a moral code, a value system. We hold these "truths" to be self-evident. All men are created equal, a moral statement, not a religious one. The right to life, a moral statement, not a religious one. It is only when religion interferes with morality that troubles begin. When religion is used as the source of political power, morality declines. That has been proven throughout history. 

 Religion, belief, whatever term you wish to apply is an emotional thing. Emotions are great motivators but seldom good guides. The reason for that is emotions tend to guide us the way we want to go, not necessarily the moral way to go. Hence, the term sin was invented to define that. It's sinful to not obey the religious doctrine. The religious doctrine being a political motivation, whether it is individually or as a whole. Each of us are individual political entities. The goal of all politics is the exercise of power. Religious doctrines often require the surrender of that power. The church, that is to say the governing body of a religion, will wield ultimate authority over religious values as they relate to moral values. Take the Catholic church as an example. That church places the power of absolution with the priests. That power stems from the Bible, that is the "law" book. In the past one could simply pay the priests to obtain absolution. The Pope has affirmed that a Priest can grant absolution for abortion. So, in this instance the Pope has ruled over morality. The ruling that birth control is wrong still stands, however. The moral ruling there in opposition to the moral decision to abort a child. 

 I mention of all that as an example of politics. The exercise of power. When you can exercise emotional control over the people, you have gained control of the people. Religion can be that tool. Today it's the FDA exercising that emotional control. Our government agency exercising emotional control over the population. The government attempting to legislate moral choices. The government has decided abortion as a moral choice, is an acceptable moral choice. No judgement there! The government has decided it is immoral for me to refuse a vaccination, and there will be judgement passed. All of that can be transposed to every facet in life. The government deciding upon charity. Who will receive this charity, who is eligible, and who is not? Government attempting to replace religion. Yes, and that is the exact reason those founding father insisted upon the separation of church and state.

 Those founding fathers held to an ideal. The ideal is that every man conduct himself in a moral fashion, despite any religious instruction or influence. Perhaps that is why those that declare themselves deists make that statement. They are declaring they believe a higher power than themselves exists, and they must conduct themselves according to "nature" and natures laws" to receive the ultimate reward. Jefferson most famously wrote of these natural laws. By rejecting any association with an established denomination of religious belief, they excuse themselves from adhering to the "rules" established by the political leaders of those denominations. Makes little difference the title you apply. King, Priest, President, Grand Poo Pah, whatever. Those controlling the emotional response of the people, control the people. That's true, even when it is accomplished by force, by the rejection of the moral action altogether. And that is why these words were written:

"The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."