Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: coatta@cs.ubc.ca (Terry Coatta) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Separation of Church and State Message-ID: Date: 24 Aug 90 08:25:14 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 48 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu Joe Buehler writes: > Because, of course, no one has the right to commit sin. Whether the > sins that people commit involve "bothering others" at some level is > immaterial. No one has a right to commit sin. Nonsense. Everyone has the right to sin -- that is just free will. But we must also accept the responsibility for our actions. We do not have the right to expect forgiveness. > Liberalism is quite blasphemous, because it sees the basis of human laws > in Man, rather than God. When considering a new law, liberal > governments consider "how does this affect the rights of men?", rather > than "how is this law in accordance with the eternal law of God?". I don't think you understand Liberalism properly. Liberalism sees the basis of laws in indivduals. Liberalism does not prevent God from entering into the establishment of laws. A Christian liberal (such as myself) may very well derive his concept of laws and morality from God. An Christian liberal when considering a new law will ask himself ``how is this law in accordance with the law of God, and how does this law affect the rights of men.'' Your posting implies that ``the rights of men'' are somehow in conflict with the ``eternal law of God.'' I believe this is false. God calls on us to love one another. Where there is no respect there is no love. Fundamental rights and freedoms are the embodiment of that respect. This places no barriers on the advancement of God's will. You seem to believe that the secular nature of government has promoted evil in society. Rubbish! Evil exists in society because we, as Christians, tolerate it. We sit in our houses, being ever so comfortable, and feeling ever so smug that we've got all the right answers. The tools for us to change society are there. How often do we lend support to charities? How often do we get involved to protect the poor or the suffering? How often do we permit actions for the ``good of the nation'' or ``the good of the economy'' that we know are wrong? How often do we base our actions on economics rather than Christian ethics? Legislated Christianity is a cheap shot. Make a bunch of rules that say ``Hey, our nation is Christian'' and suddenly you've solved all your problems? I doubt it. Legislation does not make Christians. The problem with the nation is not lack of Christian law, ITS LACK OF CHRISTIANS who have the dedication and the sincerity to translate their beliefs into actions. Terry Coatta (coatta@cs.ubc.ca) Dept. of Computer Science, UBC, Vancouver BC, Canada `What I lack in intelligence, I more than compensate for with stupidity'