Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!bcm!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: kbowman@eng.auburn.edu (Kevin Bowman) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Imposing Christian morality on nonbelievers Message-ID: Date: 11 Feb 91 01:15:04 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Auburn University Engineering Lines: 52 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article DOUG@ysub.ysu.edu (Doug Sewell) writes: >It's becoming more common for Christians to attempt (through boycotts >or legislation) to impose their moral standards on nonbelievers. > >What are we trying to say: > >(1) If they won't repent, then at least we won't allow them to sin. > (this is the way many non-believers take it) > >(2) I detest xxxxx particular sin(s), so I don't want anyone sinning that > way around me (this sounds like bigotry, not Christianity, and > gives the impression that some sins are "worse" than others). > >(3) I don't like to be tempted with this sin, nor do I want my family > to face this temptation, so I'm going to put it out-of-sight (it's > not a sin to be tempted). > >(4) something else ? > >Whenever I see this happening, I wonder if the Christianity they practice >has any real power or virtue of its own, or whether it's just a form of >making rules rather than living by faith and trust. > >Doug >-- You are addressing an admittedly difficult question. There are, however, some important points to consider. Some moral standard will be imposed on other people whether it be christian or otherwise. Where the German Christians during the Hitler regime wrong in demanding that Jews not be discriminated against? If it be true that we live under transcendent moral norms then I can not help but believe that they should required by all people, Christian or otherwise. The relevant question is what role does the state have in enforcing Divinely given precepts? For example: "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted amoung men .... who are sent to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right" (I Peter 2:13,14) This implies to me that we as Christians should work to have our our governmental bodies reflect this above mentioned function. In deference to the spirit of your letter I would note that no where in the New Testament is there any command that we should attempt to enforce subscription to the gospel through governmental bodies. But this *does not* mean that a government is free to repudiate their God-given responsibilities to uphold justice and order. Kevin Bowman (kbowman@eng.auburn.edu) Two Foundational Facts of Human Enlightenment: 1. There is a God 2. You are not Him