Government-enforced morality

[Alcott]

Which biblical morality precepts should be sanctioned by government?

 

[Daisy]

Sanctioned or enforced?

The fourth & the eighth contradict each other, yet someone voted for both (the first was %100).

 

[El_Guero]

I gotta ask - Is it possible that the wording of the poll was (or is) accidental slanted?

2/3rd don't want to have to love their spouse . . . and 1/2 want to be forced to not commit adultery? While 1/2 want welfare. I would think that there would me more people morally opposed to adultery.

Now that is how a social psychologist might read this.

 

[billwald]

Christian Dictatorship?

20% of the list want an American Talaban?

 

[Daisy]

I gotta ask - Is it possible that the wording of the poll was (or is) accidental slanted?

2/3rd don't want to have to love their spouse . . . and 1/2 want to be forced to not commit adultery? While 1/2 want welfare. I would think that there would me more people morally opposed to adultery.

Now that is how a social psychologist might read this.

I read it as 2/3rds don't want the Government telling them they must love their spouse or else...

 

[StefanM]

I read it as 2/3rds don't want the Government telling them they must love their spouse or else...

Exactly. I'd much rather choose to do so.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

#3 and #7 violate the First Amendment free exercise clause.

 

[Alcott]

I read it as 2/3rds don't want the Government telling them they must love their spouse or else...

Exactly. I'd much rather choose to do so.

Would you rather choose to not murder, to not steal, to not lie, to help those in need?

 

[El_Guero]

So 2/3rds think adultery should be legal? Talk about needing to hear Paul preach a little . . .

 

[StefanM]

I read it as 2/3rds don't want the Government telling them they must love their spouse or else...



Would you rather choose to not murder, to not steal, to not lie, to help those in need?

There are fundamental differences between loving your spouse and those things you listed.

Besides, how would you enforce the law to "love your spouse"? Three dinners a week? Four? Then jail time if any less?

As far as murder goes, not loving someone does not take away their rights as a human being like murder does. Stealing deprives one of personal property, a basic concept for civilization. Lying in court destroys the legal system. Helping those in need is a positive function of the government that does not take away basic rights. Sure, it takes away money, but I'm not the average baptist conservative on this issue.

----------------
Do we need the Christian Taliban to tell us how to love our wives? Most certainly not!

As far as adultery goes, I did have to think on that issue before I voted.

I did not check the box next to adultery because I do not think that modern governments could restrain themselves enough if it were a criminal offense. The last thing I want is Big Brother. I do, however, think adultery should be grounds for civil suits.

There does seem to be this attitude on this thread that if you don't want a Fundamentalist Christian State you are somehow less spiritual.

I will tell you what: I would like to have a Christian State...but only with Christ as its head. I don't trust humanity, even redeemed humanity, enough to give them such powers.

 

[The Galatian]

The government is prohibited from enforcing any religious doctrines. It can, however, impose laws for civil purposes, such as "don't steal", "don't kill", etc.

 

[StefanM]

The government is prohibited from enforcing any religious doctrines. It can, however, impose laws for civil purposes, such as "don't steal", "don't kill", etc.

I think we may need clarification.

I thought this thread was about government in general. Are we talking about the US government?

 

[Marcia]

I would really like to know from those who voted for #3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and the last one, how they think those should be enforced?

If you voted for those, you should be able to answer that question, so please speak up!

 

[KenH]

The government can only rightly be involved in #1,#2, and #9.

 

[Alcott]

The government can only rightly be involved in #1,#2, and #9.

It can't make the terms or decrees of a divorce based on whether one spouse committed adultery and the other didn't?

It can't decree revenge [usually in the form of money] to the perpetrator of an injurious act?

It can't steal from the rich and give to the poor?

 

[KenH]

The government has no right to use force to stop someone from committing adultery.

The government has no right to take revenge. The government is to administer justice.

The government has no right to use force to take money from one person and to give it to another person.

Notice I used the the word "right". Government can take power to itself and do anything.

 

[StefanM]

I would really like to know from those who voted for #3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and the last one, how they think those should be enforced?

If you voted for those, you should be able to answer that question, so please speak up!

I voted for six. Three words: existing tax structures.

 

[Alcott]

The government has no right to take revenge. The government is to administer justice.

What is "justice," but legal ['state-sanctioned'] revenge?

 

[Marcia]

What is "justice," but legal ['state-sanctioned'] revenge?

Revenge at the human level is not necessarily justice. You steal my car, and I kill you. To me, that might be revenge, but it sure isn't justice.

Putting the person in prison is not revenge, it's the consequence for the person's crimes. Some call it punishment. But it is a form of justice - of course, our justice is imperfect but that's because we are human. Only God can give perfect justice.

God defines justice and gave the penalties for certain acts in the OT to the Israelites. Under God's law then, many things deserved death, and that was God's perfect justice. I might even say that God's vengeance is his justice, but I would never say our vengeance is justice because we are not righteous enough to take revenge, and God forbids it.

 

[The Galatian]

Deuteronomy 32:35 "To me belongeth vengeance and recompence"
Let Him handle it.