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I have heard a lot of people say that our laws come from the bible. As I would think, there similar laws in areas where the bible isn't such a big deal.
Most laws are in existence so that society can keep going. Rampant theft would lead to no one working, rampant murder... well that's enough said...
What I was wondering is where in the bible most of these laws come from? And why does the bible get the credit for being the source of these laws when societies before biblical times and societies that have never been associated with Judaism or Christianity have/had most of the same laws?
Most of the laws on our law books are in some way, a means of implementing the basic Ten Commandments. These Laws, if you look at them in a practical way, form a concept that show a lot of good common sense. The only one that would not fit all societies at any time would be the one about having only one god.
But the other "thou shalt not" laws show an understanding of the weakness of people in general. They would work in small tribal groups as well as in large civilizations. They were developed long before Moses and his stone tablets.
First four commandments would violate the constitution of the United States. Claiming our laws stem from the 10 commandments of the Bible is misguided
First would be the Code of Hammurabi (written a thousand or so years before the 10 commandments appeared). The 10 commandments mirror in many ways the Code of Hammurabi.
There is also the Magna Carta (ruler bound by rules). You also have English common law which is viewed as being natural or arising from custom. American law, at least a good portion, is based on English common law.
We can point to Justinian's Code, English and Scandinavian law (the northmen brough their legal traditions with them during the time of the Danelaw in England).
Most of the laws of the Old Testament don't have parallels in our modern system of laws, but the fundamental attitudes of Christianity about the inherent worth of individuals and about compassion echo through out our legal system. Our laws are in part based on our Christian foundation, but not on the cultural codes of the Old Testament.
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