Not only did CS Lewis state that Christianity was the most perfect religion but D’Souza premise in his book which I read, “What’s so Great About Christianity?” had the same premise: That of all religions, Christianity is the most rational religion based on the perfect example for life that Jesus Christ gives—and his elevation of all people, not just certain groups, even the lepers—as no other religion does. BUT, it also is about Free Will, where people are their own agents.
It was no accident that USA was founded during the Age of Reason and before Voltaire and the Enlightenment did their total damage on Christianity like the Marxists/postmodernists did to destroy Reason and Logic which Christianity always has championed. In fact, they say there is NO SEPARATION of Faith and Reason. NONE. You are not human if you separate the two—there is always faith in something.
We have seen societies that put their faith in Marxism/Atheism/paganism etc. and they are all ugly, ugly cultures especially for women and children. Christianity is what rid the world of slavery, child sacrifice, pederasty and homosexuality—all widely practiced in other cultures except with the orthodox Jews who were more exclusive than Christians.
However, it is not accurate to say that there is "no comparison" between Christianity and Hinduism. There are striking dissimilarities, some of them fundamental; but on the other hand, it is Natural Law itself which points to the fact that there are important convergences. This is precisely because the One God is the Author of both the Book of Nature and the Book of Scripture. It is He who has planted Natural Law in all of us -- all --- when He planted Reason and Free Will.
One can be too hasty in accepting only a few, possibly biased and necessarily incomplete, sources. What of it if Dinesh D'zouza's parents were Hindu, "so he should know" the deficiencies of Hinduism? Think what absolute rot Nancy Pelosi's children could say about Catholcism, based on their parents!!
As I understand it, in the Manu Samhita sodomy is punishable by death for males. The M.S. is no longer followed, but it is the ancient (up until the British) law book of Hinduism. Or the main one. Many state laws in India still have some edicts of the Manu Samhita. And infanticide or abortion were absolutely illegal.
It’s all online on the Sacred Texts website, which is a fascinating site.
I have a great respect for Ratzinger, too. I am very willingly his ecclesiastical subject, and we are both disciples of the Lord Jesus.
I am convinced that any rape, statutory or forcible, of a person of either sex, by a person of either sex, should incur criminal penalties which are swift, severe, and certain. Anal sodomy would be an aggravating factor.
I would not say it should be the death penalty. If long-term imprisonment could realistically protect society from such exploiters and aggressors, then prison would be justly required rather than death.