[MD] Christian Ethics and U.S. Law

[Khaled Alkotob]

> [Arlo]
Yes, notice your own sentence... "against making Christian ethics INTO
LAW". Am I intolerant of Hinduism because I'd also argue that  their
ethical system is not what I want for a basis of law?

What I rail against is someone else's literalized religion used as a
legal means to control my life. As I said several times, I no more want a
Taliban telling me I have to live according to Islamic law  than I want a
Christian Coalition telling me I have to live by  Christian law. I am
content making law based on Reason. And leave  the worshipping to be done
in private.


[Khaled}
Excuse the intrusion here.

Great point Arlo. I thought that's what we are trying to do in places
like Afghanistan, to tell them that there is another world out there
aside form the stone age one the have invented for themselves.

And here lies the crux of the matter. While Christianity does have some
latitude in the interpretation of the Bible, the Qur'an is the Literal
word of God. IT came down by fax.
While the Miracle in Christianity is Jesus, the Miracle in Islam is the
book, the Qur'an.
Allowing no room for error, and having people interpreting it literarily,
is probably what got us into some of the mess we are in now. No one wants
to live under Sariaa law.
We do have the opportunity here to learn from other's mistakes and let
common sense prevail and rule.

Take the gay marriage issue. Keep the state out of it, if two people want
to get married, let the state allow that. If their church refuse to allow
the union in the eyes of god, that's fine. They can leave the church or
go find one that is acceptable.

As for the other laws, such as stealing and killing, I think these are
universal and would be the basis for the civil laws on the books.

Just a thought