To the editor:

Nina George害羞草研究所檚 letter to the editor (Faith-based groups have to respect human rights, Capital News, Feb. 14) is based on the assumption that her particular views害羞草研究所攁nd those of the current federal government害羞草研究所攁re correct. Throughout our history, societal morals have evolved and changed. Things that were okay or not okay 50 years ago are now considered the reverse. How will we know when we have reached the point of finality on this?

Some might suggest that moral principles are based on a social contract but contracts are typically only binding on those who sign them. Without objective moral principles (principles that are infallible), no one can legitimately criticize anyone else害羞草研究所檚 values or declare them to be wrong as Ms. George害羞草研究所攁nd Prime Minister Trudeau害羞草研究所攈ave done. There is no way to prove that one ethical set of beliefs is superior to, or more binding, than another unless at some point, an evaluator is asserted to have the final, indisputable last word.

J.L. Mackie, one of the most outspoken atheists of this century, denied that objective moral principles existed but admitted that if one did hold to objective standards of right and wrong, then God was the best explanation for their existence. If there is no God, the only available unquestionable evaluators are people. Who in this nation has the capacity to play that role? To definitively say what is right and wrong and, with integrity, make the statement that one group of people contravenes human rights while another does not? Is there any such infallible person in the world today or who has ever existed?

I personally believe so. I believe His name is Jesus, and I believe He stood up for human rights and women害羞草研究所檚 rights, and children害羞草研究所檚 rights more than any other person in history害羞草研究所攕o much so that He willingly laid down His life to save life. But I don害羞草研究所檛 hold it against anyone害羞草研究所攁nd certainly don害羞草研究所檛 begrudge taxpayer funds害羞草研究所攋ust because they happen to disagree with my deeply held beliefs. In Canada today, we are moving to a place where tolerance害羞草研究所攁nd federal funding害羞草研究所攁re reserved only for those who adhere to a particular set of social views. This smacks of nothing less than a new civil religion and deification of the state. God help us all.

Laurie Bowen, West Kelowna

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