An interesting point. Putting my Sunday School hat on, if I commit Sin, enough, I go to hell. So if I refuse to help my neighbour and watch him starve to death then, I've sinned I go to hell. But what if the government came around took my money and gave it to my friend. Would I go to hell because I had INTENDED to commit sin but was not able to?

If I want to terminate a pregnancy but it was Ilegal, would I have sinned because I really wanted a termination but could not through no self restraint of my own but that of government. Ignoreing non religious arguments, should the religious simply let sinners sin (advise or "molest" as I believe it says in King James but take no action) or activly stop then. If the only argument for abortion was religious then it has to by asked should we be free to brake spirtual law if it does not effect temporal law.

Are you asking whether or not U.S. law should be based around the Bible?

In that case, no. It is up to the people and society to decide what is moral and not. The law should do no more than protect individual's freedoms.

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“In my lifetime, we've gone from Eisenhower to George W. Bush. We've gone from John F. Kennedy to Al Gore. If this is evolution, I believe that in twelve years, we'll be voting for plants.”
-Lewis Black

"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both."
-Benjamin Franklin

"A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine. "
-Thomas Jefferson

No I'm not talking practically about government policy merely that in a theological sense if you wanted to commit an "act against God" but were prevented from doing so, but you still wanted to do it, would you have sinned?

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Remember that you are an Englishman, and have consequently won first prize in the lottery of life.
- Cecil Rhodes

http://www.thechap.net/

A magazine for the dsicerning gentleman.

Im sure God would know alot more about it then someone on this forum. In Christianity, Christ follows a certain amount of spiritual principles (acceptance, trust, honesty, integrity, kindness.....) When we act this way in all areas of our lives, things run smoothly. People are born with sin, and the ten commandments were created for man to live safely and happily. We will break the commandments. To have sex before marriage as JUST as bad as murder. Lying is just as bad as murder. If we start taking about religous beliefs and abortion, we need to take into accout that in God's eyes we are all the same. In God's eyes any of you are as great as Ted Bundy. You take the Lords name in vain? OHMYGOSH ABORTION! Ever tell a little white lie?-you just killed a little fetus!
good night!

If you think it you commited it.

Matthew 5:21-30 (New International Version)

Murder

21"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder,[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother[b]will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,[c]' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.

23"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
25"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.[d]
Adultery

27"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'[e] 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

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People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp92vkXcC0w

Don't know what this is, but it's not Christianity. Things running smoothly has nothing to do with Christianity. Ask the Sudanese Christians, etc.

your saved by grace not good works

Now I have no eyes nor hands. Life is going to be hard from now on.

I think sin is based on intent. Grace would be based on actions. Why the difference? Don't have a damn clue, but it makes sense to me.

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Gun control WORKS! That's why it is so safe to walk the streets of L.A., Chicago, and D.C. at night.

Christ is not talking self mutilation here. He is simple saying how far we should go to avoid sin. We should try to avoid it at all costs. The act of self mutilation is, in my opinion, a sin. I do not know of any Christian organization or segment that takes these versus literally. It was just meant to show how we should try our hardest to avoid sin.

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"Those who stand for nothing fall for anything." Alexander Hamilton

The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.
Plato