Legislating Morality

[Kabowd]

I've heard more and more people lately say "you can't legislate morality". I would expect this from nonbelievers, but I've heard it lately from believers also. So I'm wondering if the majority of believers on this board ascribe to this idea, and if so...what do you mean by it? In context, most have been referring to laws against same-sex marriages and even polygamy. I'm interested in hearing some opinions and the basis for these thoughts. Thanks.

[LadyRaven]

I've heard more and more people lately say "you can't legislate morality". I would expect this from nonbelievers, but I've heard it lately from believers also. So I'm wondering if the majority of believers on this board ascribe to this idea, and if so...what do you mean by it? In context, most have been referring to laws against same-sex marriages and even polygamy. I'm interested in hearing some opinions and the basis for these thoughts. Thanks.

When I say it I'm referring to not being able to change the condition of a person's heart by legislation. For instance in some states it's still illegal to commit adultery. However, has that stopped anybody? Prohibition was a flop, anti drug laws don't stop drug use and anti prostitution statues haven't stopped that industry either.

Practically however, any legislation which gets submitted is either someone's morality or based on it, so in a sense you can and DO legislate morality.

[Guest LadyC]

you can legislate anything, even morality. that doesn't mean you can enforce it, or that it will eliminate IMmorality!

[Kabowd]

Maybe I didn't communicate this very clearly. They are saying this implying that it's futile (wrong, or unconstitutional even) to make laws based on moral values. Specifically, some are suggesting that the Judeo-Christian values should not be "forced" on the general public via laws. Thoughts?

[billie]

Almost all of our laws are based on Judeo-Christian values. If someone wants to take those values out of our legal system, they're going to have to rewrite American history, the Declaration, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and almost all our other important legal documents.

[tah]

They are working on it...

as far as I can see they started back when I was a kid by taking prayer out of school and replacing it with a moment of silence...

before then I am not aware of as I was not there...

[Guest LadyC]

replacing prayer was a huge mistake, although a moment of silence didn't re-write history. it's still a principal that is based on judeo christian values, it's just the terminology that has become politically correct and made more palatable to non-christians by removing the word prayer.

i think the OP may be referring to things such as marriage laws. absolutely those should be legislated, and it doesn't mean it's forcing judeo-christian values down anyone's throat. it's part of world history. no country nor any religion in the world has EVER (until recently) allowed homosexual marriages. so for those who say it's forcing christian values on them, they're using a very lame excuse.

[Floatingaxe]

Seeing as my country, Canada has legislated immorality(same-sex marriages), my hopes are that the opposite is true! Alas---it may just be a pipedream!

[Marnie]

Just laws are laws that protect me from you and you from me. Laws that enforce/restrict certain behavior (non-smoking laws, seatbelt laws, drug laws, certain blue laws) are not appropriate at a Federal level, IMO. At the community level, it's different. If a town says no smoking even out doors, so be it. Just light up outside the corporate limits. Creating an facade of morality is no morality at all.

[CoramDeo]

Just laws are laws that protect me from you and you from me. Laws that enforce/restrict certain behavior (non-smoking laws, seatbelt laws, drug laws, certain blue laws) are not appropriate at a Federal level, IMO. At the community level, it's different. If a town says no smoking even out doors, so be it. Just light up outside the corporate limits. Creating an facade of morality is no morality at all.

Anyone can change behavior, but only God can change a heart.