(August 25, 2021 at 1:43 pm)Astreja Wrote: Yes, predators are everywhere. However, people who claim to be following a superior divinely-mandated moral code need to adhere to a higher standard -- to walk the walk. (Either that, or we need to just laugh uproariously as we shoo them off the moral high ground that they've usurped.)
(August 25, 2021 at 1:47 pm)Ahriman Wrote: Religious people who do that stuff, should be imprisoned for life, because clearly they don't fear God's judgment, or at least not enough to abstain from the immoral behavior, so locking them up and throwing away the key, would be an appropriate thing to do.
I disagree. Laws and punishments should never, ever be based on religion. The law needs to be neutral, with neither favours nor extra punishments given to people because of what they believe or don't believe. If the sentence for sexual abuse of a minor is 20 years, then 20 years it should be, even for believers who have violated a tenet of their beliefs. If your god wants to hand out additional punishment, that's a separate issue.
