Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 15, 1990 TAG: 9005150493
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The editorial centered on recent adultery charges brought against Donna E. Carroll of Ashland, Wis. You stated: "Society is far more tolerant than when Wisconsin's adultery law was passed in the 19th century. For the most part government has gotten out of the business of trying to legislate morality."
We must realize that all governments legislate morality. After all, morality is right conduct. Law sets forth right and wrong for a society. If civil government sets a speed limit of 65 mph, I am wrong if I go over the limit, right if I stay under it. This is morality legislated.
Perhaps what you meant was that civil government no longer legislates morality from a Christian perspective. If so, you are right.
All law reflects some view of God. The adultery laws that "are still on the books in 27 states, including Virginia" reflect the strong Christian influence in the founding of our states and nation.
Today's laws reflect another god - that of man himself. Man declares what is right in his own eyes, with no desire to look at or live under the law of God.
Humanistic man's society is not more tolerant than earlier societies. Just ask the unborn baby whose mother is in an abortion clinic. Ask anyone who seeks to bring Christianity into the public school. Ask those Christians who try to get involved in politics as they try to promote Christian ethics. Ask Christian editorial cartoonists and columnists if the majority of the media is tolerant of their views.
Humanistic man is more tolerant of those morals that are anti-Christian. Such morals include adultery, abortion and homosexuality. We can expect continued attacks on Christian-based law and increased partiality in administering law as long as humanistic man selectively judges man's law to be better than God's law. BYRON SNAPP CEDAR BLUFF
by CNB