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<blockquote>"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of [[citizen|the governed]]." </blockquote>

<blockquote>"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of [[citizen|the governed]]." </blockquote>

The proper role of government is to secure rights, as in a perfect state of nature our unalienable rights are each person's responsibility to insure. Acts by one or a group that violates these rights is rightly labeled a criminal, as it is a crime to violate another person's inalienable rights. Hence, government can be delegated with the power to pursue, prosecute and punish the criminal(s).

The proper role of government is to secure rights, as in a perfect state of nature our unalienable rights are each person's responsibility to ensure. Acts by one or a group that violates these rights are rightly labeled a criminal, as it is a crime to violate another person's inalienable rights. Hence, the government can be delegated the power to pursue, prosecute and punish the criminal(s).

==Background==

==Background==

According to the [[Founding Fathers|Founders]], unalienable rights belong to each person by [[virtue]] of the fact that man is made in God's image, and is therefore endowed with certain attributes, powers, [[freedom]]s, and [[legal]] protections as part of his essence. These rights are thus inseparable—or unalienable—from each person individually and from the human race in general. They are a gift from the Creator and it is impossible for government to alter or nullify mankind's divine inheritance. Except in extremely rare and limited circumstances, the unalienable rights of a particular individual, or the population at large, cannot be suspended, [[abrogate]]d, or diminished by government. When government does take action against a particular right, it may only do so to the extent necessary to address a genuine concern for public safety. (See "Legitimate Exceptions" below.) Unalienable rights automatically belong to each individual at the moment his or her life begins and continue throughout that person's time on earth.

According to the [[Founding Fathers|Founders]], unalienable rights belong to each person by [[virtue]] of the fact that man is made in God's image, and is therefore endowed with certain attributes, powers, [[freedom]]s, and [[legal]] protections as part of his essence. These rights are thus inseparable—or unalienable—from each person individually and from the human race in general. They are a gift from the Creator and it is impossible for government to alter or nullify mankind's divine inheritance. Except in extremely rare and limited circumstances, the unalienable rights of a particular individual, or the population at large, cannot be suspended, [[abrogate]]d, or diminished by government. When the government does take action against a particular right, it may only do so to the extent necessary to address a genuine concern for public safety. (See "Legitimate Exceptions" below.) Unalienable rights automatically belong to each individual at the moment his or her life begins and continues throughout that person's time on earth.

An exhaustive list of the unalienable rights possessed by man would probably fill several volumes. However, at a minimum they include the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In general, the courts have not decided which rights are unalienable and which are not.  Nonetheless, some philosophers have identified the following items, derived from the American Bill of Rights, as expanding on these themes:

An exhaustive list of the unalienable rights possessed by man would probably fill several volumes. However, at a minimum they include the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In general, the courts have not decided which rights are unalienable and which are not.  Nonetheless, some philosophers have identified the following items, derived from the American Bill of Rights, as expanding on these themes:

# To act in self-defense (personal, family, innocents, nation).

# To act in self-defense (personal, family, innocent, nation).

# To own and carry weapons for self-defense and for ensuring that the nation remains free.

# To own and carry weapons for self-defense and to ensure that the nation remains free.

# To own and control [[private property]] (land, money, personal items, intellectual property, etc.)

# To own and control [[private property]] (land, money, personal items, intellectual property, etc.)

# To earn a living and keep the fruit of one's labor.

# To earn a living and keep the fruit of one's labor.

# To suffer no cruel or unusual punishment.

# To suffer no cruel or unusual punishment.

# To establish, monitor, control, and petition our servant government to help secure the above rights.

# To establish, monitor, control, and petition our servant government to help secure the above rights.

# To abolish said government, when it becomes destructive of these rights.

# To abolish said government when it becomes destructive of these rights.

== Early History==

== Early History==

In England as with much of the medieval world until the 16th century, people accepted the view called the "devine right of kings" to govern.  Monarchs claimed that God gave kings the right to govern, and the king would then grant rights, privileges and titles to people.  To the extent that the English people enjoyed freedoms, it was because '''the King of England''' had signed the [[Magna Carta]].  Because rights did not inherently belong to each individual under that current framework, English society accepted many inequities that would not be accepted today, such as [[slavery]], [[indentured servitude]], and limited rights for women (though women's rights differ from men's, rightfully falling within the [[Gender_roles#Gender_Roles_in_the_Bible|bounds ordained by God]])

In England as with much of the medieval world until the 16th century, people accepted the view called the "divine right of kings" to govern.  Monarchs claimed that God gave kings the right to govern, and the king would then grant rights, privileges and titles to people.  To the extent that the English people enjoyed freedoms, it was because '''the King of England''' had signed the [[Magna Carta]].  Because rights did not inherently belong to each individual under that current framework, English society accepted many inequities that would not be accepted today, such as [[slavery]], [[indentured servitude]], and limited rights for women (though women's rights differ from men's, rightfully falling within the [[Gender_roles#Gender_Roles_in_the_Bible|bounds ordained by God]])

The concept of unalienable rights in America extends as far back as 1620, when the first Pilgrims arrived on the shores of what is now [[Massachusetts]], in search of religious freedom. According to Governor [[William Bradford]], it was the unending attack on the rights of religious minorities in [[Britain]] which convinced the [[Pilgrims]] that leaving [[England]] was the only way to secure their liberties:  

The concept of unalienable rights in America extends as far back as 1620, when the first Pilgrims arrived on the shores of what is now [[Massachusetts]], in search of religious freedom. According to Governor [[William Bradford]], it was the unending attack on the rights of religious minorities in [[Britain]] that convinced the [[Pilgrims]] that leaving [[England]] was the only way to secure their liberties:  

<blockquote>

<blockquote>

Other pilgrims soon followed those carried by the ''[[Mayflower]]''.     

Other pilgrims soon followed those carried by the ''[[Mayflower]]''.     

As these early [[Christian]] communities continued to grow and flourish in the new world, the notion that each individual possesses inherent dignity, value, and freedoms which the government ought to protect, became a recurring theme in political discussions and in religious writings and sermons.  Preachers, pastors, civic leaders, and lawyers drew extensively from the [[Bible|Bible's]] teachings on morality, Creation, and the nature of God to support this position, and the American public was very receptive.  By 1775 the concept of unalienable rights was firmly entrenched in the collective consciousness of the thirteen colonies, having been sharpened by decades of abuse and taxation under British colonial rule. The time was right for change. In the hope of achieving a new political construct dedicated to preserving each person's God-given rights and liberties, American patriots severed all ties with the British Crown and initiated a [[Revolutionary War|daring war]] against the most powerful nation at that time:

As these early [[Christian]] communities continued to grow and flourish in the new world, the notion that each individual possesses inherent dignity, value, and freedoms that the government ought to protect, became a recurring theme in political discussions and in religious writings and sermons.  Preachers, pastors, civic leaders, and lawyers drew extensively from the [[Bible|Bible's]] teachings on morality, Creation, and the nature of God to support this position, and the American public was very receptive.  By 1775 the concept of unalienable rights was firmly entrenched in the collective consciousness of the thirteen colonies, having been sharpened by decades of abuse and taxation under British colonial rule. The time was right for change. In the hope of achieving a new political construct dedicated to preserving each person's God-given rights and liberties, American patriots severed all ties with the British Crown and initiated a [[Revolutionary War|daring war]] against the most powerful nation at that time:

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<blockquote>

The successful conclusion of the [[Revolutionary War|War for Independence]] in 1783 left the Americans free of their British oppressors, but faced with the daunting task of creating a new type of government that would transform the dream of ''universally protected God-given rights'' into a practical reality. Nothing like this before had ever been attempted. Consequently, the representatives of the thirteen states who assembled for the constitutional convention in Philadelphia (1787) had no illusions that the destiny of the new nation lay in their hands. To their great credit, they soon produced a legal manuscript which is arguably the greatest charter of liberty the world has ever known: the Constitution of the United States of America. This document, along with its first ten amendments—commonly called the Bill of Rights—set forth the framework and mechanisms by which the unalienable rights of the People would be recognized and protected from overreaching officials.  Simply put, the Constitution establishes a limited government (a [[Constitutional Republic]]) that is empowered to protect the unalienable rights of the People, and is prohibited from doing virtually anything else. After two hundred years, the principle of unalienable rights, though buffeted by statism, atheism, communism, and individual ambition, remains at the core of American political, legal, economic, and social theory:  

The successful conclusion of the [[Revolutionary War|War for Independence]] in 1783 left the Americans free of their British oppressors, but faced with the daunting task of creating a new type of government that would transform the dream of ''universally protected God-given rights'' into a practical reality. Nothing like this before had ever been attempted. Consequently, the representatives of the thirteen states who assembled for the constitutional convention in Philadelphia (1787) had no illusions that the destiny of the new nation lay in their hands. To their great credit, they soon produced a legal manuscript that is arguably the greatest charter of liberty the world has ever known: the Constitution of the United States of America. This document, along with its first ten amendments—commonly called the Bill of Rights—set forth the framework and mechanisms by which the unalienable rights of the People would be recognized and protected from overreaching officials.  Simply put, the Constitution establishes a limited government (a [[Constitutional Republic]]) that is empowered to protect the unalienable rights of the People, and is prohibited from doing virtually anything else. After two hundred years, the principle of unalienable rights, though buffeted by statism, atheism, communism, and individual ambition, remains at the core of American political, legal, economic, and social theory:  

===Injunctions===

===Injunctions===

A court may also issue an injunction to temporarily suspend a person's right to conduct certain activities.  Technically speaking, an injunction does not constitute due process, since no jury is involved. However, an injunction is generally regarded as an acceptable infringement on personal rights, inasmuch as it is a temporary measure and seeks only to block activities which may be harmful to others, or which may be found illegal at a subsequent trial. Nevertheless, injunctions cannot compel any person to do what is otherwise illegal or unconstitutional, such as forcing a witness to testify against himself or forcing a witness to change testimony which the witness believes to be true.  

A court may also issue an injunction to temporarily suspend a person's right to conduct certain activities.  Technically speaking, an injunction does not constitute due process, since no jury is involved. However, an injunction is generally regarded as an acceptable infringement on personal rights, inasmuch as it is a temporary measure and seeks only to block activities that may be harmful to others, or which may be found illegal at a subsequent trial. Nevertheless, injunctions cannot compel any person to do what is otherwise illegal or unconstitutional, such as forcing a witness to testify against himself or forcing a witness to change testimony which the witness believes to be true.  

===Lawsuits to protect the rights of others===

===Lawsuits to protect the rights of others===

* Limitation on [[Enumerated Powers]] to 19 (plus the power to remove the President)

* Limitation on [[Enumerated Powers]] to 19 (plus the power to remove the President)

* The right to appeal executive or agency actions and lower court decisions to a higher court

* The right to appeal executive or agency actions and lower court decisions to a higher court

* The right to place referenda or citizen originated questions on the ballot

* The right to place referenda or citizen-originated questions on the ballot

* The right to abolish the government and start over

* The right to abolish the government and start over

== Human rights==

== Human rights==

"[[Human rights]]" is often used interchangeably with the term "unalienable rights." The difference between these two concepts, however, is that unalienable rights are those authored by God. They are thus both irrevocable and nearly unlimited in scope. Man's role is simply to discover and protect them. The common idea stems from the belief that the rights are inherent in all mankind.  People from across the spectrum of political thought can protect these rights whether they believe in God or moral philosophy.

"[[Human rights]]" is often used interchangeably with the term "unalienable rights." The difference between these two concepts, however, is that unalienable rights are those authored by God. They are thus both irrevocable and nearly unlimited in scope. Man's role is simply to discover and protect them. The common idea stems from the belief that rights are inherent in all mankind.  People from across the spectrum of political thought can protect these rights whether they believe in God or moral philosophy.

The fundamental challenge is the difficulty to assert a right in a government or society that denies its existence.  So, if a member of a society wants a new right recognized, a local political or legal process is involved. But if there were a universally recognized set of unalienable or human rights, then that person could argue that the universal right should apply in all societies.

The fundamental challenge is the difficulty to assert a right in a government or society that denies its existence.  So, if a member of a society wants a new right recognized, a local political or legal process is involved. But if there were a universally recognized set of unalienable or human rights, then that person could argue that the universal right should apply in all societies.

===India===

===India===

Deeply influenced by the UN's 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the [[India]]n constitution provides for a host of rights, including the right of equality, cultural and religious freedoms, and the right to education. Discrimination based on race, caste, gender, birthplace, and religion was subsequently outlawed. Yet, political and social realities have intruded. Because of India's multiplicity of religious and ethnic groups, each with their own traditions and beliefs, and the complex interplay between these groups, the principles contained in the constitution have not always been followed in practice.

Deeply influenced by the UN's 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the [[India]]n constitution provides for a host of rights, including the right of equality, cultural and religious freedoms, and the right to education. Discrimination based on race, caste, gender, birthplace, and religion was subsequently outlawed. Yet, political and social realities have intruded. Because of India's multiplicity of religious and ethnic groups, each with its own traditions and beliefs, and the complex interplay between these groups, the principles contained in the constitution have not always been followed in practice.

== God given unalienable rights contrasted with state atheism ==

== God-given unalienable rights contrasted with state atheism ==

''See also:'' [[State atheism]]

''See also:'' [[State atheism]]

Supreme Court Justice [[Antonin Scalia]] said that the U.S. Constitution can favor religion over "non-religion".<ref>[https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2016/02/justice_scalia_atheists_and_mass_murder.html Justice Scalia, Atheists, and Mass Murder] by Frank R. Gunter, ''American Thinker''</ref>  

Supreme Court Justice [[Antonin Scalia]] said that the U.S. Constitution can favor religion over "non-religion".<ref>[https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2016/02/justice_scalia_atheists_and_mass_murder.html Justice Scalia, Atheists, and Mass Murder] by Frank R. Gunter, ''American Thinker''</ref>  

[[Image:Stalin-140508 27880t.jpg|right|185px|thumb|[[Joseph Stalin]], the Premier of the [[Soviet Union]] from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953, patronised the [[League of Militant Atheists]], whose chief aim, under the leadership of Yemelyan Yaroslavsky, was to propagate militant [[atheism]] and eradicate [[religion]].<ref name=Hesemann-Strieber>{{cite book|author=Michael Hesemann, Whitley Strieber|title=The Fatima Secret|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tx-BEpkJBq8C&pg=PT107&dq=Joseph+Stalin+militant+atheism&hl=en&ei=-DeRTpLrJoPi0QHo88wi&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q=Joseph%20Stalin%20militant%20atheism&f=false|quote=Lenin's death in 1924 was followed by the rise of Joseph Stalin, "the man of steel," who founded the "Union of Militant Atheists," whose chief aim was to spread atheism and eradicate religion. In the following years it devastated hundreds of churches, destroyed old icons and relics, and persecuted the clergy with unimaginable brutality.|publisher=Random House Digital, Inc.|date=2000|accessdate=9 October 2011}}</ref><ref name=Steeves>{{cite book|author=Paul D. Steeves|title=Keeping the faiths: religion and ideology in the Soviet Union|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l7soAAAAYAAJ&q=%22When+a+priest+is+deprived+of+his+congregation,+that+does+not%22&dq=%22When+a+priest+is+deprived+of+his+congregation,+that+does+not%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=_ijVUemwOoXRyQGqkICwBA&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAQ|quote=The League of Militant Atheists was formed in 1926 and by 1930 had recruited three million members. Five years later there were 50,000 local groups affiliated to the League and the nominal membership had risen to five million. Children from 8-14 years of age were enrolled in Groups of Godless Youth, and the League of Communist Youth (Komsomol) took a vigorous anti- religious line. Several antireligious museums were opened in former churches and a number of Chairs of Atheism were established in Soviet universities. Prizes were offered for the best 'Godless hymns' and for alternative versions of the Bible from which ... the leader of the League of Militant Atheists, Yemelian Yaroslavsky, said: "When a priest is deprived of his congregation, that does not mean that he stops being a priest. He changes into an itinerant priest. He travels around with his primitive tools in the villages, performs religious rites, reads prayers, baptizes children. Such wandering priests are at times more dangerous than those who carry on their work at a designated place of residence." The intensified persecution, which was a part of the general terror inflicted upon Soviet society by Stalin's policy, ...|publisher=Holmes & Meier|date=1989|accessdate=4 July 2013}}</ref>]]

[[Image:Stalin-140508 27880t.jpg|right|185px|thumb|[[Joseph Stalin]], the Premier of the [[Soviet Union]] from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953, patronised the [[League of Militant Atheists]], whose chief aim, under the leadership of Yemelyan Yaroslavsky, was to propagate militant [[atheism]] and eradicate [[religion]].<ref name=Hesemann-Strieber>{{cite book|author=Michael Hesemann, Whitley Strieber|title=The Fatima Secret|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tx-BEpkJBq8C&pg=PT107&dq=Joseph+Stalin+militant+atheism&hl=en&ei=-DeRTpLrJoPi0QHo88wi&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q=Joseph%20Stalin%20militant%20atheism&f=false|quote=Lenin's death in 1924 was followed by the rise of Joseph Stalin, "the man of steel," who founded the "Union of Militant Atheists," whose chief aim was to spread atheism and eradicate religion. In the following years it devastated hundreds of churches, destroyed old icons and relics, and persecuted the clergy with unimaginable brutality.|publisher=Random House Digital, Inc.|date=2000|accessdate=9 October 2011}}</ref><ref name=Steeves>{{cite book|author=Paul D. Steeves|title=Keeping the faiths: religion and ideology in the Soviet Union|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l7soAAAAYAAJ&q=%22When+a+priest+is+deprived+of+his+congregation,+that+does+not%22&dq=%22When+a+priest+is+deprived+of+his+congregation,+that+does+not%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=_ijVUemwOoXRyQGqkICwBA&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAQ|quote=The League of Militant Atheists was formed in 1926 and by 1930 had recruited three million members. Five years later there were 50,000 local groups affiliated to the League and the nominal membership had risen to five million. Children from 8-14 years of age were enrolled in Groups of Godless Youth, and the League of Communist Youth (Komsomol) took a vigorous anti-religious line. Several antireligious museums were opened in former churches and a number of Chairs of Atheism were established in Soviet universities. Prizes were offered for the best 'Godless hymns' and for alternative versions of the Bible from which ... the leader of the League of Militant Atheists, Yemelian Yaroslavsky, said: "When a priest is deprived of his congregation, that does not mean that he stops being a priest. He changes into an itinerant priest. He travels around with his primitive tools in the villages, performs religious rites, reads prayers, baptizes children. Such wandering priests are at times more dangerous than those who carry on their work at a designated place of residence." The intensified persecution, which was a part of the general terror inflicted upon Soviet society by Stalin's policy, ...|publisher=Holmes & Meier|date=1989|accessdate=4 July 2013}}</ref>]]

Frank R. Gunter wrote in the ''American Thinker'':

Frank R. Gunter wrote in the ''American Thinker'':

{{Cquote|Why should the Constitution favor religious belief over unbelief -- [[atheism]]? History provides an answer. Many atheists are fond of reminding people that when it comes to crimes against humanity, Christianity has much to answer for including the Thirty Years War, the Inquisition, and involvement with slavery. But two out of three of the [[Atheism and Mass Murder|worst mass murderers in all of history were atheists]] and the third might best be described as pagan.

{{Cquote|Why should the Constitution favor religious belief over unbelief -- [[atheism]]? History provides an answer. Many atheists are fond of reminding people that when it comes to crimes against humanity, Christianity has much to answer for including the Thirty Years War, the Inquisition, and involvement with slavery. But two out of three of the [[Atheism and Mass Murder|worst mass murderers in all of history were atheists]] and the third might best be described as pagan.