Natural law is defined as which of the following?

• A. It is humanity's participation in eternal/divine law, discoverable by reason
• B. It is a purely human invention with no connection to God
• C. It is identical to civil law
• D. It applies only to religious communities

Answer: (A)

Natural law rests on the idea that there is a universal divine order guiding creation, and human reason can grasp the principles that flow from that order. This means morality is not just what people happen to agree on or what rulers decree, but a participation in the eternal law that governs all beings. Because of that, natural law is universal and accessible to all humans through rational reflection, regardless of specific beliefs. It serves as a standard by which laws and actions can be measured, even when civil laws differ or fail. It is not identical to civil law, which is human-made and may be flawed or imposed by rulers, nor is it confined to religious communities—people of various backgrounds can recognize fundamental moral truths through reason. Hence, natural law is humanity's participation in eternal/divine law, discoverable by reason.