The Law of Love Vs. Special Privilege. A discussion on Homosexuality, Morality and Religious Law
Over the last few years I have put a lot of thought into the dualism of justice and mercy, or more particularly between Christ’s law of love vs. the concept of special privilege. Nowhere is the dichotomy between these principles more visible than in the personal, religious and cultural debate surrounding homosexuality. How do we reconcile the Christian principles of universal love with the also seemingly “christian principles of special privilege. Does God favor certain people because of behavioral choices or proclivities and relegate or exclude others for the same reasons? If so, how can he be a all-loving God? I don’t pretend there is a simple black and white answer to this, but I’d like to talk about it for a moment and lead the discussion to the conclusion that it is impossible not to have many spectrums of stratification and polarity in society, but the goal of God and all “good” members of society is/should be to procure the most felicity for the most people.
These questions are especially important and meaningful to analyze because the answers which we come to concerning God, society and others, I have learned, will inevitably be used by ourselves to judge ourselves. I find the biblical adage increasingly insightful which says, “beware how ye judge”, for with that same measure ye mete others, it will be met unto you!”. I certainly saw this validated in my own life. Whether it was with the relationship with my parents, my first experiences with sex or pornography, or in marriage–the judgements that I allowed to define my view of the world concerning <em>other’s<em> various behaviors, became the measuring stick I judged myself with when I found myself confronted with the same or similar behaviors.
I think this works socially as well. The judgements that we concoct to judge society are the laws which God (or the natural law) will judge us. God (as he works through us) has given judgement to man. So lets take this argument out of the ignorance of the religious sycophant/exclusivist and into the…
-this is an issue of rewarding behavior that benefits society and deriding behavior that doesn’t. It should not be about love, it should not be about respect; those should be given to all regardless of behavior. It should be about special privilege and loss of privilege.
-But how do you separate love from special privilege? When you withhold privilege, when you deride behavior, people feel unloved and I don’t know that there’s a way around it. Love gets defined by privilege. This is the great challenge, how do we minimize the negative effects of inevitable social stratification caused by moral law? Do we get rid of moral and social law altogether and say no matter what anyone does, we will treat you all equally? In that case the natural law takes over, which is the rule of the jungle. The strong do what they can, and the weak suffer…. and now we’re back to square one.
-talk about how a proper understanding of Oahspe section on “inspiration” and judgment” solve many of these religious issues. and understanding that its really all about our priorities as a society is what it boils down to.
-deciding who we deride. who we elevate? who we give special privilege to? And these judgements should be made on basis of the effects on society, not pretended dictates from one Groups perception of God, because historical evidence truly shows God is laissez faire. The natural law IS God’s law. God’s natural law is God’s punishment for sin. (Even though sometimes the reaction time on natural law can be long). So lets decide as a society what things make society flourish and last and what brings down populations, governments, families and emotional health and make laws based on our understanding of them.
outline.
-first point. our judgements of others dictate our wordview, our self judgements and our happiness. so why not be a lover and not a hater?
-second point. special privilege and relegation on behavior is impossible to avoid. it must and will be done. But unconditional, love is the key to wisdom. (much like the scientists open, unbiased mind is the key to scientific discovery). Wisdom is achieving a worldview and behavioral stratification which give with greatest felicity to the greatest number of people.
-the only way to avoid this is a system where law is not given until people are ready for it… this was satans sin. he gave people law (knowledge of good and evil) before they were ready for it, and it stratified or derided them out of god’s presense.
-third point. Some behaviors give desired results. some don’t. We need to agree on our social values and then stratify behaviors based on this. a correct system of juresprudence would rely on justice which reconciled only percieved injustices. A person has a qualm, they accuse some
