[ POLL ] Morality Laws.

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Persecuting others for their beliefs is what religious extremists do -- not rational, civilized human beings.Don't anti-religious "nuts" who try to impose their beliefs on others deserve to be persecuted too?I hate to see this thread Godwin'ed so soon, but that's exactly the kind of thinking that put the Nationalsozialismus party into power in Germany during the 1930s and sent millions of victims to the gas chambers.Are you implying that anyone who disagrees with you or who has different beliefs than you is your enemy?"Vigilante Justice" is a contradiction in terms.

I disagree. It is perfectly normal and healthy behavior to persecute your enemies.



Just for the record, I'm not trying to impose my beliefs on others.
I'm also not anti-religious. I'm perfectly fine with religions, and many religious people are good people too.

It's just those who want to impose sharia laws or likewise, I want persecuted.



No, certainly not.

I do accept disagreement - to a limit though.
Cross that limit, and one may become my enemy.



Tell me more. Maybe you can convince me. It's not impossible, and I really do want to know why "turning the other cheek", so to speak, or at least not be vengeful, is a bad idea. I just have a hard time figuring it out for myself.

In that case, you won't mind if I put you on my "Do Not Reply" list.

I would hate for you and me to become enemies.
I don't want you as my enemy. I just want to know other perspectives and tell my point of view.

I'm entirely OK with civil authorities enforcing religious doctrines on morality...

.... as long as I get to choose the doctrines.

I think the core tenets would be: "I tell you what to do. You give me your stuff".

I can probably reuse some existing content...

And who are you to say that I am not the returned Christ, the Mahdi, Padmanabha or Maitreya?

(unless any of these guys owe you money, of course, in which case I have never heard of them)

Your perspective is somewhat disturbing. What's the use of doing the same to them that they would? These "enemies" of yours of whom you speak? Is rounding up and persecuting them what you're suggesting?

Punishment. Vengeance. Justice.

And what's the difference between this and Shariah laws? From their point of view, they are doing exactly this.

No. Definitely.

People not of that faith should not have those rules imposed upon them.

Now you're Thulsa Doom. He even has a snake symbol. Snake imagery everywhere.

/\ You've got a deal... Thulsa Doom is also Darth Vader, BTW, and Jediism is a recognized religion in some places… It all fits...

And if people think Old Testament morality laws are tough, then they clearly haven't met the Sith Code…

But what if Christian laws are already being enforced? Maybe not all, but many. Do not murder. Punishment fits the crime. Mercy above law. In other words, the American justice system is an effective realization of Judeo-Christian justice. Rather than blind revenge, the victim of negligence can sue an employer for a monetary sum for an equivalent valuation of the injury plus punitive damages. Insurance exists for the precise purpose of settling liability claims outside of court (New Testament teaching to settle with your enemy before a lawsuit). The demand for witnesses before making criminal claims and holding fair trials before elders (jury trials). Prohibition against perjury in the 10 commandments and stiff penalties for trying to frame someone. Old Testament law indicated what COULD happen to lawbreakers, not always necessarily what MUST be done, and exceptions always exist. Well, for certain misdemeanors and crimes there are minimum and maximum penalties.

The opposite view is literally cutting the hand off of a thief, or gouging out someone’s eye who was involved in an accident, and so forth. Also, while skirting law and order is never an option, the demand to FREELY CHOOSE following in faith is always temporally contingent on the desire of a human being to do so. Freedom to worship (or not) is always a feature of a Christian society, and I question the validity of any theocratic society that makes claims to Christianity when the choice to identify as Christian or otherwise is not present in any real sense.

As such, the Christian religion as codified by Jesus, explained in the epistles, and as is relevant to us in the Old Testament is already the law of the land. Where it is actually practiced AS INTENDED things are going quite well. Where people insist on living with their heads up their butts, not so much.

Other religions you mentioned lack objectivity and reason. It’s no wonder life under Islamist regimes is misery. Of course you wouldn’t want Shariah law. It’s a senseless way to structure any government.

You still miss the point.  This is not about enforcing secular laws that originated in some religions and philosophies; it is about civilian police arresting people for drinking beer on Sundays (Christian Sabbath), eating pork (Jewish trefe and Muslim haram) or beef (Hindu prohibition) or any kind of meat at all (against Buddhism and Veganism), and many other such laws that would not apply to a rational secular society.

What would be the penalty for not attending the local House of Worship?  How much would you fine a person for displaying the "wrong" holy symbol?  How many lashes across the back are sufficient for claiming to be an Atheist?  Should a person's tongue be cut out for uttering blasphemy?  These are the kinds of religious laws I'm talking about -- laws particular to religion, but not to a purely secular society.

I assert, for the record, that morality should be defined by human reason, and not some scribblings on a piece of moldy parchment or some random utterances by a bunch of old men in robes who have never done anything except read those scribblings and interpret them according to their own guilt.

Thinkinginpictures was in touch with me and would like to apologize for the violent tone of his posts here. He's seeking assistance for his intrusive thoughts and has posted about it in the Haven thread.

I hope we can provide him with some assistance.

Here is the link.

Now, can we get back on-topic, please?