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Government-enforced morality

Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by Alcott, Aug 10, 2006.

?
  1. Do not steal

    22 vote(s)
    100.0%
  2. Do not bear false witness [in legal documents or proceedings]

    22 vote(s)
    100.0%
  3. Have no god other than the god of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus

    3 vote(s)
    13.6%
  4. Do not seek revenge for a wrong [“turn the other cheek”]

    6 vote(s)
    27.3%
  5. Do not commit adultery

    8 vote(s)
    36.4%
  6. Give of your own resources to those more in need [taxation and welfare]

    9 vote(s)
    40.9%
  7. In all our ways acknowledge Him [e.g., invocation; prayer]

    2 vote(s)
    9.1%
  8. Seek revenge equal to the wrong incurred [“an eye for an eye”]

    5 vote(s)
    22.7%
  9. Do not murder

    22 vote(s)
    100.0%
  10. Love and respect one’s spouse

    4 vote(s)
    18.2%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
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    Which biblical morality precepts should be sanctioned by government?
     
  2. Daisy

    Daisy New Member

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    Sanctioned or enforced?

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

    El_Guero New Member

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    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.
     
  4. billwald

    billwald New Member

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    Christian Dictatorship?

    20% of the list want an American Talaban?
     
  5. Daisy

    Daisy New Member

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

    StefanM Well-Known Member
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    Exactly. I'd much rather choose to do so.
     
  7. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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

    Alcott Well-Known Member
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    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?
     
  9. El_Guero

    El_Guero New Member

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

    StefanM Well-Known Member
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    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.
     
  11. The Galatian

    The Galatian Active Member

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    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.
     
  12. StefanM

    StefanM Well-Known Member
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    I think we may need clarification.

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

    Marcia Active Member

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    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!
     
  14. KenH

    KenH Well-Known Member

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

    Alcott Well-Known Member
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    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?
     
  16. KenH

    KenH Well-Known Member

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    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.
     
  17. StefanM

    StefanM Well-Known Member
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    I voted for six. Three words: existing tax structures.
     
  18. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
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    What is "justice," but legal ['state-sanctioned'] revenge?
     
  19. Marcia

    Marcia Active Member

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    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.
     
  20. The Galatian

    The Galatian Active Member

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    #20 The Galatian, Aug 12, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 12, 2006
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