In a fantastic book I read, called K-PAX, (you may have seen the film with Kevin Spacey), an idea is thrown out by the main character. He suggests that because of the evolution of culture among mankind, some things become outdated. Things like moral laws. For example, we now give men nd women equal rights and do not keep slaves. These things used to be against moral law, but we updated it. Is it therefore aboslutly necessary, every centuray or so, to update the morals of any society? And if it is, why does this not happen in Christianity? Could the mishmash of confused moral advice given by the bibe be clarified in some way, removing old and outdated moral laws like how to sell your slaves, and allowing someone to wear more than one sort of fabric at once?

Question:
So, summing up for the poll question:

Should we update moral laws, from places like the Bible and the Koran, as often as we update civil laws?

Choices:
Yes, we need new guidance for a new age
No, I am disgusted by the idea
I don't care; this issue is irrelevant to how I live

 

But surely civil law is based on moral law, and therefore moral law needs to be updated when humanity experiances a change such that a new moral code is necessary. Moral law is the source of much debate throughout the Christian church. If we removed some of it, there would be fewer schisms and a greater cohesion of the church round the world, surely a good thing.

I know that the last verse of the Bible curses anyone who changes it, but there were many gospels that were written at the point of the Bibles origin, and I am sure that people now are inspired by God to write new chapters to the Bible. It is theologically possible that this already happened with the Koran, but I mean much more recent.

quote:

Could the mishmash of confused moral advice given by the bibe be clarified in some way, removing old and outdated moral laws like how to sell your slaves, and allowing someone to wear more than one sort of fabric at once?

What you are referring to here are ancient laws from the Old Testament, particularly Leviticus. This was used as a guidance for the Israelites and people of that time, and specifically the priests.
Christianity is based more on Jesus' teachings and what is written in the New Testament. AS people, we have the ability to use our discernment. Moral laws are very different from civil laws. Civil laws give into what is or is becoming the norm in society. Moral laws, on the other hand, are very much foundations for humanity. The Bible, in this case, does not need to be updated, it needs to be discerned.

Revisions of moral codes are necessary for true social progress, and such has occurred in most modern societies. Major religions may be outdated, but people avoid that by living secularized lives. It isn't as much of a problem these days since religion plays a rather minor role in the life of the average Westerner. It is, however, much different in cultures where religion is an integral part of day-to-day life, such as in many Islamic nations.

But the problem is that most, if not all, religions would rather their patron deity or deities change the rules, instead of mere mortals.

Addendum; I ddon't mean to pick on either Christianity or Islam, I didn't intend for this to become a thread for bashing one or the other. I meant all religious moral codes.