Summations Only

You need to read some early American history to see how Christian the laws of this country were originally. Better, you should read the first three hundred years (from the early 17th century), and read at least a hundred writers per century.

I appreciate the recommendation, but I am not so ignorant, and I know what I would find.First of all, your comment would not appear to be relevant to what South Carolina law is today. Second of all, I am not overly impressed with the original laws of this country. I understand that at one point in American history, you could hang witches (before you jerk your knee notice that I said "hang"). In North Carolina the state could execute bigamists and people who helped a slave run away. I find on balance that the departure from the laws in the early part of this countries history to be an improvement. But of course that's just my opinionEdited by NoNukes, : No reason given.

US law has never been based on the bible. The basis of US law is english common law and roman law.

You would then be very surprised to find out that English Common Law was based on the Bible.

I understand why the state might favor putting murderers to death. But why does Faith?Don't you know that by supporting, voting for, and condoning those "state authorities" who implement the death penalty that you also have the blood of the executed on your hands? I sure as hell hope not!

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Proverbs 20:22 (NRSV):

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Do not say, 'I will repay evil'; wait for the Lord, and he will help you.

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Romans 12:17—21 (NRSV):

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Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' No, 'if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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Right. YOU aren't impressed with the original laws of the country, therefore the laws of the original thirteen colonies, which were of course based on the Bible, should have been ignored completely and treated as trash. They almost were, in the effort to establish tolerance of all beliefs, but in those days tolerance did not mean equality of belief because that would encourage overthrowing the original Christianity by all the anti-Christian religions. So it wasn't until very recently that people of YOUR opinion made it mean equality of belief. Hello Sharia Law. I wonder how happy that's going to make you in the end.You really should make it a project to find out what they thought in those days.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

Of course as usual we get confusion between rules for the individual and rules for government. So what else is new. You don't like the idea of punishing an outright murderer? No, you'd rather punish the judge. Amazing.It is only the blood of the innocent one has on one's hands, not the blood of the guilty. Slager has the blood of Scott on his hands, but a just determination and punishment of his guilt would bring peace and not bloodguilt on the nation.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

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Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England. The Project Gutenberg eBook of Commentaries on the Laws of England, Book 1 of 4, by William Blackstone. Search on "God" and "Christ" not "Bible."ABE: You deleted your message?Another copy of Blackstone, Table of Contents:Avalon Project - Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of EnglandEdited by Faith, : No reason given.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

There's undeniably some influence from the bible, but Roman law and local custom have a greater influence. The English legal system is the biggest mish-mash of origins and influences imaginable - and it continues to evolve. Works quite well though.

You have that backwards. The application of the death penalty in accordance with the original laws of the colonies, whatever its basis, were ridiculous on its face, and therefore I am glad to see that law gone. I gave a few examples of what I was talking about. Unless you are prepared to defend those as correct applications of God's law, then you would not seem to have made a point. Actually, the original idea was that individual states would be set up based on whatever religion they wanted. Primarily that turned out to be the Catholic Church and the Church of England although there were some small enclaves of other religions.In any event, the original idea of equality in this country was extremely limited to the point of being morally indefensible. It is absolutely no guide a system of equality anyone ought to find tolerable. Yet you seem to think of it as freedom. Typical.Edited by NoNukes, : No reason given.

"Works quite well though."Yeah, for blokes with lots of lolly. Edited by 1.61803, : No reason given.

I don't disagree, but that's more to do with the inherent cost of the legal system, than with the laws themselves.Off topic though ;-)

Well lets see if I can get back on topic.....Faith says English law is based on the Bible.And......... many of those English laws were, as mentioned, borrowed from the Greeks & Romans .A couple of openly gay civilizations. oh my!!

Blackstone's commentaries on criminal law are by and large post law apologetics. That is they attempt to show us that laws which are as they are are just and correct. This is not a source to be relied on for defending the Biblical basis of the law can be defended.Commentaries on the Laws of England - Wikipedia

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Of Public Wrongs is Blackstone's treatise on criminal law. Here, Blackstone the apologist takes centre stage; he seeks to explain how the criminal laws of England were just and merciful, despite becoming later known as the Bloody Code for their severity. He does however accept that "It is a melancholy truth, that among the variety of actions which men are daily liable to commit, no less than an hundred and sixty have been declared by Act of Parliament to be felonious without benefit of clergy; or, in other words, to be worthy of instant death". Blackstone frequently had to resort to the devices of assuring his reader that the laws as written were not actually enforced, and that the King's power of pardon existed to correct any hardships or injustices.

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That's Blackstone's criminal law. Unduly harsh, relying on the King to fix things, and in some cases celebrated by departure from what was actually applied.