Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: arm@Neon.Stanford.EDU (Alexander d Macalalad) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Separation of Church and State Message-ID: Date: 1 Oct 90 00:41:36 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Computer Science Department, Stanford University Lines: 30 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article jhpb@granjon.garage.att.com writes: >The Catholic attitude towards religion and government might be explained >in no better way than to imagine that the 12 Apostles were still alive. >Consider how governments of Christians would work given such authorities >in matters of faith and morals. > >Joe Buehler Perhaps more telling would be to consider if Jesus were still walking on this planet teaching and preaching. My understanding is that Jesus did not concern himself much with the politics of his day. No fasts protesting inhumane capital punishment (such as the crucifixion) and no civil disobedience protesting Roman rule. Further, he took a rather dim view to those who would take a legalistic approach to morality, and his teachings were at once stricter yet more compassionate and merciful. No, the way to salvation was through faith, through healing, and through developing a relationship with God through Christ. These are things that cannot be legislated. I do agree that human law should ideally mirror the Law of God. But that is quite different from saying that we should impose our conception of the Law of God in an effort to legislate morality. Our work, as a Catholic or a Christian, is to mirror the Law of God in our lives, as an example to others. Human law will follow. Oh, and Joe, there are many Catholic attitudes of the relationship between religion and government. I hope that your presentation of "the" Catholic attitude does not imply that you are open to only one view -- your own. Alex