I'm curious - which Chapters and verses do you use to define these sins?
Should the government be empowered to fight both racism and gluttony? Should the government also be empowered to penalize anyone who questions the laws on race relations and personal diet, since these critics would be arguing for the social acceptance of sinful behavior?
The examples you note are fairly self-policing. Adultery might be a rampant sin -- but it is still treated as shameful (except perhaps in Hollywood), and we don't see parades with people celebrating this sin. Nor do we see parades for rapists, drug addicts, or thieves. Nor do we see people demanding their rights to be racists and gluttons. People may be fallen in these sins - but they don't celebrate it. And when societies do celebrate them - as did Nazi Germany when they exulted the 'ideal' of the 'Master Race' -- it would not have been a bad idea for society, and the government, to have stepped in and taken the position that this idea was an abomination (I'm not going to quote you the verse -- because I want to see what verses you find to show that this is a sin) and that these celebrations were unacceptable. It might have saved a certain amount of unpleasantness that took place in the 1930s and 1940s.
Sin is to be opposed at every opportunity. We're sinners by nature - and once you begin to tolerate it and excuse it - it destroys. Society and the individual.
None really. I'm far from a Biblical scholar. After a little searching, I've found the following sites with quite a few Biblical citations relating to racism an gluttony.
On racism: See here and here.
On gluttony: See here
Based on what I read on those sites, I would define the sins as follows:
Racism- treating someone of another race as less than a human being or not deserving of the same fair treatment as everyone else solely because of that person's race.
Gluttony- being completely unrestrained in satisfying one's natural appetites, eating far more than is necessary to maintain one's health, and putting your own appetites ahead of the needs of your family, friends, or community.
Are these fair definitions?
The examples you note are fairly self-policing...
With racism perhaps, but it's taken a few hundred years to get to this point. As for gluttony, well, have you read about the obesity rates in this country?
... Nor do we see parades for rapists, drug addicts, or thieves. Nor do we see people demanding their rights to be racists and gluttons. People may be fallen in these sins - but they don't celebrate it.
There are people who celebrate racism. There's your obvious groups like the KKK, Black Panthers, etc. and there are also rap "artists" and comedians who frequently use racist language and themes as a part of their act. I guess the latter don't really "celebrate" racism but they are a factor in social acceptance of racism. Heck, even the gluttons have various "fat acceptance" groups to advocate on their behalf. Not to mention all the advertisements for all-you-can-eat buffets and national eating competitions.
These groups may not have the numbers or the media attention of gay rights activists but they are still out there trying to get the rest of society to accept sin. So should the government categorize their behavior as criminal, even if it decides not to expend too many resources prosecuting them?
As another example, consider the trend of immodest dress among young people today. It's a trend that's celebrated in magazines and on tv shows. Is that something else the government should criminalize?
...And when societies do celebrate them - as did Nazi Germany when they exulted the 'ideal' of the 'Master Race' -- it would not have been a bad idea for society, and the government, to have stepped in and taken the position that this idea was an abomination
It's hard to argue against getting rid of the Nazis. IMO though, for every instance of a vigilant and noble government agent quashing a nascent fascist movement there's probably going to be 100 instances of corruptible and small-minded government agents quashing movements that might deserve to see the light of day.
Sin is to be opposed at every opportunity. We're sinners by nature - and once you begin to tolerate it and excuse it - it destroys. Society and the individual.
Would you say then that any sinful activity, once it becomes celebrated or tolerated in society, should be criminalized?
If so, how do we decide once things have reached the "tipping point" where government action is needed? Do we leave that decision up to the democratic process or is there some other way?