Okay so i've been wondering recently about the selective application of religious doctrine into United States Law. My example being the legality (or illegality) of homosexual relations and union. Now we know the basis of the opposition is on religious grounds. Most common examples are "it's in the bible as being a sin so therefore it shouldn't be legal". Or something to that effect.
My question though is why is there a selective application of these rules and sins in American Law. For example working on the Sabbath is punishable by death if you were to take literally some passages, but almost every single major retail chain is open 7 days a week. What is it that makes this not followable or applicable? Is it the callousness of killing someone who is working for a better life? Is it the ludicrous notion that working on the Sabbath is punishable by death? And what makes anti-homosexual passages more tolerable for the American people? Why be selective either the bible is the word of law or it isn't. If it is then enforce all laws, if it isn't then why use it as a basis to enforce anything?
Discuss...
You're missing the forest for the proverbial trees. For example, the 8th commandment says,
"Thou shalt not steal. In our country, we have varying degrees of punishment for theft. A guy who steals a TV from the store isn't going to get the same sentence as a jewel thief, hitting a diamond shop. Plus, unlike Biblical law, thieves here aren't require to compensate their victims at least TWICE the value of the items they stole (if you steal my car, the legal system ain't ordering you to give me two cars, of the monetary equivalent of such).
Does the severity of the punishment negate the principle that stealing is wrong? NO.
The same would apply to homosexuality and adultery. Is adultery any less wrong, simply because the participants aren't executed in the USA? NO!
Therefore, it's not that hard to suggest that homosexuality is sinful and wrong, even if homosexual acts aren't capital offenses.
Same goes for rape, which was a capital offense. Yet, rapists don't get executed in America, nor are they require to financially compensate their victims for life.
The punishments for those acts may not be as severe, as they were in ancient Israel. But, that doesn't mean they must get a ringing endorsement from our citizens, either.