Religion and Politics

[Rapunzel]

Kris, I have a question for you:

Are morals exclusive to those with strong religious convictions?

Further, aren't laws from Hammarabi's Code to the present day governments nothing more than codified morals with those laws differing from nation to nation according to the generalized morality of the societies in those various nations?

I do agree with you, Kris, that by bringing democracy and equality to Afghanistan we are interfering with the morality of that particular society. However, if the morals of our society expect that we do so in certain situations then it makes perfect sense in light of that societal morality and would be considered "moral" by our society.

Jennifer

[PrincessFiona]

Morals are not exclusive to those with strong religious convictions...but I venture to guess that those with strong religious convictions are mobilized more into action because they believe that they are acting on behalf of a higher power.

Well, Hammarabi's code also justified the death penalty for individuals in cases of accidental deaths (ie...I am a carpenter and built your stairs, you slipped down them...I get the death penalty). Hammarabi justified an eye for an eye.....

But yes, the laws in most places are justified by a certain code of moral ethics often defined by religious virtues....which are then further justified by religious writings..."allowing husbands to have multiple wives, devaluing women, chopping off hands for stealing" etc. Who are we then to intervene? Should we not leave others with the rights to believe as they choose.

My greatest problem with organized religion is what I see as a dual morality....Abortion is bad, death penalty is good....Gay marriage is bad, poverty is ok because those lazy SOBs deserve it or should work harder, etc, etc...Children in 3rd world countries not having access to medicine or healthcare is bad, children in America without those things just have to suck it up because we don't want to pay for it.... The teachings of the bibel were that we should help those less fortunate, not deny them healthcare or ridicule their lots in life...We are supposed to love our neighbors as ourselves...but today that only applies to the 'neighbors' that are in our own social classes....it doesn't apply to helping the downtrodden or those unable (for whatever reason) to help themselves. A true christianity-based society would offer healthcare insurance to all individuals, would do everything possible to wipe out the worst poverty in its own country and to ensure that medicines also be availabe. Christian societies would not bow to big business....I have a real beef with that...

[Rapunzel]

I agree with you, Kris, that much of modern religion is quite hypocritical in practice if not in modern teaching. I can say that my own personal religious beliefs are actually not hypocritical and make sense when viewed in their entirety (maybe that is why it's so attractive as to be the second fastest growing religous organization in the world) - but I will only discuss those with you in private if you want to know the religious reasons I have for certain opinions.

I don't view morality as a religious thing. Certainly people with religious beliefs have their own morality - but so do atheists. And, in our nation, all may participate in government regardless of their personal morality. The way our nation is set up is to allow the majority view to choose government officials. Since all individuals vote according to their personal morality, you are going to see government officials whose views *probably* reflect the general personal moral principles of a majority of Americans.

So, I do not equate "morality" with "religion". I think the two are related in that religions can be a form of morality, but I don't think that all morality is religious.

Is it OK to bring faith and feelings into law? By this I assume you mean morality with a religious basis? If that is what you mean then the answer to your question is, "Yes". If it is OK to bring morality based on non-religious principles (such as atheists would have) into law then it should be OK for those with religious morality to do likewise. To disallow one set of morality entirely from law based solely on the fact that it is tied to a religious belief system would be contrary to the 1st Ammendment.

Jennifer