The law of America should just follow the "laws of Christianity" or the "laws of the Bible".
Sounds simple, right?
Today's American Taliban (Christian Theocrats, Religious Right, whatever) appear to want all the laws of the Old Testament (over 600 of them) to be enforced, with the penalties as written in the scriptures - many of which call for death.
But that's the problem. Claiming to be Christian and insisting on enforcement of Old Testament Laws doesn't mix.
There's a reason the Old Testament (the Hebrew Bible) is also called the "Old Covenant" by Christians.
In the Christian view of the New Testament, Paul and others assert very clearly that no one can possibly satisfy all of the Laws.
Everyone is and will be guilty of breaking some law or other, and no amount of work on our part will change that.
Therefore, our neighbors or fellow citizens should have killed everyone else as punishment, leaving one person left to kill themself, I guess.
Just read the book of Galatians to see what Paul thought of trying to be Christian by following the Old Covenant Law. As an example:
"Anyone who tries to please God by obeying the Law is under a curse.
The Scriptures say, 'Everyone who doesn't obey everything in the Law is under a curse.'
No one can please God by obeying the Law.
The Scriptures also say, 'The people God accepts because of their faith will live.' " Galatians 3:10-11 (CEV)
The entire book of Galatians says this over and over again.
Christian faith cannot invoke Mosaic Law and all it's punishments as a litmus test of faith without denying the core of the gospel.
If I understand my readings correctly, someone who claims faith in Jesus is free of the strict confines of the law.
That's why it was supposed to be the gospel, the "good news".
Jesus is now your advocate, and meanwhile the Spirit (also spirit of the Law, maybe?) would work from within you. Basicly you'll become a better person, closer to God.
The idea, as I have been reading it, is that the workings of the "Spirit" inside each of us will, over time, change our outward behavior. We have to want to change but our own efforts won't be any good by themselves, only with help from God.
It's a complicated life in some ways. There isn't a little checklist that lets you know you've done everything you're supposed to.
But the American Taliban want it to be exactly like that for modern American Christians: Strict adherence to laws will be more important than actual faith in God.
A question to Christians (and all others) who do not subscribe to the American Taliban's goals: Is there a way we can be more organized in pointing the others away from the radical and false goals of the Religious Right and towards the truth?