[KayEyeDoubleDee]

Well, that's the big question: Is it possible to have a moral society without that morality being reflected in and enforced by the law/state?

[Tomalak]

Indeed. The answer given here is that a small state is only possible if people are moral enough not to require government coercion.

[Maelstrom]

Yes. Morality *can* exist without being legislated.

Here's How: A Moral, Ethical lifestyle can *easily* be seen to provide the very greatest quality of life at the very *least* cost to the family and individual.

I'll put my Christian lifestyle to bat, with God on my side, and dare *anyone* to find a better lifestyle at this cost.

You can clearly see, a Moral lifestyle wins every time. The marketplace supports it. Now, nobody is perfect, and nobody is going to be able to lead the life of a saint (except saints, of course), however, with a minimum amount of correction when the line between force and fraud is crossed, I think Americans can approach a more libertarian government.

[ArGee]

Well, that's the big question: Is it possible to have a moral society without that morality being reflected in and enforced by the law/state?

I would say that it is impossible to have a moral society if the morality is being reflected in and enforced by the law/state. In fact, one Biblical passage (forgive me for not citing the reference) points out that making a law against something automatically plants the idea in the mind of the person reading the law.

Legal codes grow when people make bad choices. There is no requirement for a law against murder until men start murdering.

The biggest problem is how does a society choose its morality. Is it merely an opportunity for majority opinion, or is there an actual moral law which governs the universe and which men must strive to learn and apply - like the physical law? I believe there is a moral law and that violation of that law is destructive, just as violating physical law is (although it is not nearly as immediate).

Shalom.