For example, I'm sure it came as an amusing surprize to many Americans a couple months ago when they learned, due to the Supreme Court's sodomy decision, that certain consensual sex acts were illegal in several states. Amusing, of course, because the idea of anyone being sent to prison for such things is so absurd as to be laughable. Even more laughable is the idea that such silly laws would actually prevent anyone from engaging in these acts if they were so disposed. But by supporting and defending these kinds of unenforceable laws -- and by making them central to their social/cultural plan of action -- social conservatives damage their own credibility. Meanwhile, there may be other, less coercive, but more effective, ways to deal with perceived social problems that go unconsidered due to the focus being at a different level.
And when people know that law enforcement either can't or won't enforce a law, they will engage in the prohibited activity with gusto if they wish to. The law then becomes a joke. How that serves any purpose other than reducing general respect for the law is unknown to me.
I respect religious people and even share many of their values, but this tendency to want to use the criminal justice system as a social reformer of first resort is very disturbing.
I agree. The trouble I see with Conservative Christians is they believe on the one hand that they can use law to enforce behavior they find in violation of their religious beliefs. Moreover, they generally believe that rule of law will solve these societal ills.
On the other hand, they preach that law (Mosaic or otherwise) cannot save them from themselves. Well, then, why are they trying to force people to behave through our system of law?
The trend I see as a result of Conservative Christian policy-making is exactly what the Congregationalists were trying to escape from our English brothers-state sanctioned religion. The real danger of this is it's insatiable draw toward a fascist regime.
While I truly believe that our Founders built our system of government upon Christian principles, and while I also believe that their moral life was intricately connected to their political life, there is no evidence whatsoever of the kind of policy-making we see coming from the influence of the Christian Right today.
Their type of activity in policy-making suggests to me that first, they having little understanding of the true message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and second, how that understanding is the very essence of freedom. This whole spiritual as well as political war we all suffer is ultimately related to one side who wants to force obedience to what they believe is right to the other who understands that freedom does not hinge on forced obedience.
The latter understands that there is opposition in all things. Forcing the evil to be good is an evil within itself. Good i.e. freedom, is best expressed by the example one sets and the fruits he receives as a result. Evil is persuaded by good acts, and not force of law.
Arrowhead------lawless laws----->