How about dictate peace?
Spread 'freedom'?
Force faith on people that don't want it?
Why or why not?
2006-11-05 08:40:39 · 16 answers · asked by morgorond 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Some beautiful, heartfelt answers here! Keep it coming. I really do love hearing other people's point of view on such questions.
2006-11-05 08:54:14 · update #1
Note in the question I did not claim to have faith forced on me (people have tried, but failed). I just asked if you could have it done or not, and why you felt that way.
2006-11-05 09:38:01 · update #2
There is a name for people who think it is a violation of their rights if they are denied the opportunity to use the coercive power of the state to shove their god down every ones throat (legislate morality) that name is "Bible Nazi".
2006-11-05 09:13:40 · answer #1 · answered by iknowtruthismine 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not to all of them.
Morality is a personal thing. You cannot impose a morality on everybody (although it's done, too often, I don't think it should be done).
Actual peace (not as a political concept) is a state of mind of the people. If people aren't at peace, a decree cannot change it. You can only stop wars by decree. But that doesn't guarantee peace.
Freedom is a personal conquest. It cannot come from outside, because you become a slave to those who freed you.
Faith is a matter of personal choice. If I don't have it, or want to have it, all you can get me to do is follow the external appearance of a person of faith. But you won't get me to feel faith deep inside.
2006-11-05 16:46:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have always thought of myself as an Evangelical Christian. The past few years, I have seen more of a trend to legislate morality, like you mentioned in your question.
Even though I believe many of the people doing this have good intentions, I believe Evangelicals are being swayed to do this by political influences, and I don't like it. I personally believe many politicians are using the power of the Church to gain power for their own political motives.
I think we should be getting our point across by our personal witnessing and not through political means. Christ and the early Church didn't try to change the world through politics, why should we do it now?
I believe all of the questions you asked should be accomplished by example and not through force of anything.
2006-11-05 16:55:05 · answer #3 · answered by paulsamuel33 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Laws are based upon moral presuppositions. There is no way to separate the two. The above questions happen in all coutries. Totalitarian regimes are more overt. Democracies have more plurality in power, but do the same thing. They have to in order to establish and maintain legitmacy--rightful rule.
2006-11-05 16:47:08 · answer #4 · answered by Walter R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who is forcing faith on those who don't want it? Kind of an unusual statement being made in a religion and spirituality forum. What did you think they talked about in here? (Please don't misinterpret this as a suggestion that anyone is unwelcome). I just hear claims of forcing faith and it strikes me as unrealistic. I think if we visited countries where real persecution and intolerance exists we wouldn't use these terms so lightly.
2006-11-05 16:58:11 · answer #5 · answered by Edward J 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, mortality comes from within, not without. However, laws are needed to keep those who don't know the difference between right and wrong in check. By the way, interesting bit of trivia....before the fall of the great Roman Empire, they were squabbling over which vices to legalize.
2006-11-05 16:44:35 · answer #6 · answered by Esther 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
morality legislates itself. what is unfortunate: it is often not taught, followed, or enforced.
peace is a set of concepts in the heads of those who speak the word "peace." peace for me may not be peace for you. what there is, is harmony and dissonance. dissonance "feels" weird and creates strife, suffering, and despair. Harmony cultivates and breeds joy, love, and bliss.
freedom is available to all in every moment. it only needs to be embraced by all.
faith can never be forced, only lies can be forced
2006-11-05 16:47:25 · answer #7 · answered by ỉη ץ٥ڵ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You cannot do any of the above .
People don`t really want to live in peace .
Someone always wants to be the Alpha.
2006-11-05 16:44:55 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
In the old days before political correctness, you most certainly could. Hell the Romans did it for centuries. Today, not so much...though we do try.
2006-11-05 16:43:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Not from politicians. That's almost funny. Not from christian preachers either. Or so it would seem lately.
2006-11-05 16:57:19 · answer #10 · answered by flip4449 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋