Something I always understood at a basic level, but has become increasingly apparent in what many are now calling the Post-Christian Era, is that Judeo-Christian Religious rules are solidly based on a clear understanding of human behavior.
The story of Moses is a great example. Moses obviously recognized the need to establish laws to manage his very large contingent of former Egyptian slaves. I don't dismiss the biblical account of God writing the law on stone tablets on top of Mount Sinai, but what better way to introduce laws to an unruly mob of thousands of ex-slaves suddenly set free than to obtain them directly from God on the mountain-top?
A recurring theme used by modern gay rights advocates is that we wouldn't stone them for their sexual behavior today, therefore why would we place any credence in the old Mosaic laws condemning that behavior? It's a specious argument that could be applied to any illegal behavior; if their contention about gay activity is accepted, then wouldn't it also apply equally to adultery, polygamy, even murder?
Harsh punishment was deemed necessary for the nomadic Hebrew tribes to keep them from destroying themselves from within. Adultery in that infant society might lead to inter-tribal wars, therefore a strict law was imposed to make it clear that the leadership would handle violations so the tribes would not be tempted to seek revenge themselves.
Homosexual behavior, not to mention heterosexual promiscuity, has always come with an extremely high risk of disease. Therefore as a practical matter, strict rules favoring monogamy and punishing risky behavior make a lot of sense.
In the Exodus accounts, the Israelites were constantly losing faith and falling back on their old, bad habits. And they always suffered the consequences.
Just listen to "Doctor Laura" on the radio for ten minutes, and you'll get a modern real-life example of what happens universally to those of us that make bad choices. How often are the bad things that happen to us today directly traceable to our own poor judgement? Sure, it's possible to be victimized by unscrupulous business people, and there are many diseases that are not tied to our behavior. But the vast majority of people's problems these days are self-inflicted by a simple abandonment of commonsense morality.
The fundamental point is about the value of morality coming from God. Those who seem to have succeeded in removing God from America bear the greatest blame for our country's decline. Because without God, there's no reason to behave.
Apply the most obvious example, smoking. The health risks of tobacco use are well known, so why do so many people choose to smoke? Because they attach no moral stigma to the behavior.
Isn't the same true of illegal drugs, promiscuity, homosexuality, reckless driving, insurance scams, welfare fraud, theft, murder? If there's no God, no heaven, no hell, and no severe punishment for behavior that's destructive to ourselves and others, then why not do whatever makes us feel good?
This is the place America has arrived. I am certain that a horrible catastrophe is near, which was the only way to bring the ancient Israelites back to God, is the only way to bring America back to God.
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