What is more important? The laws of religion or the laws of society?

The Swedish law allows gays and lesbians to marry. God's law tells us that homosexuality shall be considered as a sin and therefore not be allowed. So, how do you do when the laws of society and the laws of God oppose each other? This article will enlighten you about the situation the Christians find themselves in.

To begin with I would like to quote (and I will probably bore you) some extracts from the Swedish fundamental law:

"Basic principles of the form of government; Chapter 1, Art 1; Every citizen shall be protected in his relations with the public institutions against any coercion to divulge an opinion in any political, religious, cultural or other such connection. He shall further be protected in his relations with the public institutions against any coercion to participate in a meeting for the formation of opinion or a demonstration or other manifestation of opinion, or belong to a political association, religious community or other association for the manifestation of opinion referred to in sentence one.

Fundamental rights and freedoms Chapter 2. Art. 1. Every citizen shall be guaranteed the following rights and freedoms in his relations with the public institutions: 1. Freedom of expression: that is, the freedom to communicate information and express ideas, opinions and sentiments, whether orally, pictorially, in writing, or in any other way. The Criminal code chapter 16 Act.8; Those who in a statement or in a message that is spread threatens or expresses disrespect against any ethnic group or any other group of persons with allusion to race, colour, national or ethnic origin, profession of faith or sexual disposition, will be convicted for baiting of an ethnic group and will be sentenced to prison for maximum two years, or, if it is a slight crime, to pay a fine."


Now I will show you some extracts from The Holy Bible:

Romans first chapter v. 25-27
"They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator -who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion." Genesis second chapter v. 24
"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh."((And not that a man shall leave his family for another man)my own remarking). 1 Corinthians sixth chapter v. 9
"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders not thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."

The reflection:
Now we have something to reflect over. The Swedish law says that it is a right to express your opinions and at the same time it says that if you express disrespect against a homosexual you will commit a crime. Am I not then a criminal if I say that homosexuality is a sin and is not acceptable neither by God or Christians (shall it be considered as disrespect if you say that the word of God does not allow homosexuality?). And it must now be remembered that Sweden is a democracy with the freedom to practice any religion. So I have the right to practice Christianity but am not allowed to read the Holy Bible loud? What kind of religious freedom is that? Shall mankind put their words and decisions over God's? Even if you are not a believer you must agree to the fact that religious freedom is fundamental in a democratic society. Shall I be put into prison in two years for reading the Holy Bible? Is it not the Holy Bible that is the base for the laws of today in almost every country in the west? If you wonder why I ask so many questions it's because I want you to start to reflect over this bizarre situation. I mean, should there be laws of society that oppose each other as in this case( referring to the religious freedom and the fact that you can be sentenced to prison for reading the Holy Bible out loud). This is so paradox that it even puts a smile on my face. I can say that I am willing to go to prison for reading the Holy Bible loud, just to wake people up from this naive dream. Listen to it; Go to prison for reading the Holy Bible loud. It scares me. How are we to call Sweden a state of democracy when the right to practice religion disappears? From my view it rather looks like communism. So, what is the most ethically correct choice you can make in this situation. To go along with the laws of society or to follow the religious conviction in your heart? It's a hard question. What if everyone followed their religious conviction? Then we would have extreme-Muslims killing and terrorising "the big Satan" also called the U.S. But what if everyone did as the law says, what would happen? I would say that if mankind would do that it would be a declaration that we are God because the law is considered blameless. The best solution would be if everyone followed their religious or political conviction in the peaceful way so no one hurts one another (especially in a physical way). Can it harm any man to hear that you are doing something wrong? I think it is childish to not be able to be criticised without being offended. And I think you agree to that. If we cannot criticize one another any more, where will we be in about ten years. If we don't criticize each other we indirectly claim that mankind is flawless. Are we really that good? Let's say that we would try to give the greatest amount of people the biggest possible happiness. Should Christians then shut up because of how the homosexuals will react? There are definitely more Christians than gays in Sweden. Should we then deprive Christians the freedom of expression and the freedom of religion? That would not be fair since the Christians are the majority.

Accordingly the society wants to change the word of God. OK, if you are not a believer this may not seem so solemn. But in fact it is. Personally I believe that religious convictions are more worth than any law. Because religion brings you into further dimensions in life. It also brings more depth and meaning into life. In what way am I now to end this discussion? What makes more sense? I think that the important thing is to keep Sweden a democratic state by preserving the rights to express and the right to practice any religion. If you want to be a gay, then go ahead. But don't expect me to like it!




© 2003 Freeway
Writers:"Steven O" Sp05-50@park.se
HTML by:Elin Hörnqvist Te04-63@park.se