"Whatsoever is good; the same is also approved of God"

Richard Hooker’s assertion, “Whatsoever is good; the same is also approved of God,” encapsulates a deeply significant perspective on ethics, divinity, and the nature of moral authority. At its heart, the statement posits that goodness, wherever it is found and however it is discerned, aligns intrinsically with divine approval. Hooker was a theologian wrestling with the balance between scriptural authority and natural reason, and his words reflect an embrace of natural law, that is, the principle that reason and moral intuition guide human beings toward what is genuinely good.

The phrase suggests that goodness is not defined solely by arbitrary commandments or external decrees, but by objective moral value. Human beings possess the capacity to recognize goodness independently, through reason and conscience. Accordingly, acts or intentions that are genuinely good, promoting justice, love, truth, charity or wisdom, bear an inherent divine endorsement, even if not explicitly prescribed in religious law. God’s will is not at odds with what is truly good; rather, the two are harmonious and interwoven.

This perspective carries important implications for moral discernment. It invites individuals and societies to use their rational faculties, experiences, and shared sense of justice to evaluate right and wrong. God’s approval does not sanctify harmful customs or unjust practices merely because they are religiously affiliated; instead, God’s affirmation is reserved for that which is authentically good by nature. Hooker’s viewpoint ultimately encourages a dynamic interaction between faith and reason, where religious belief does not negate the value of ethical reflection or common sense.

Such a principle underlies pluralism and coexistence, emphasizing that truth and goodness may arise in diverse cultures, traditions, and human experiences, all bearing God’s implicit favor. By esteeming whatever is genuinely good, Hooker unites the moral sphere with the divine, providing a framework for both faithful adherence and critical thinking.