by Anonymous on December 27th, 2006

Anonymous

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Do we have a moral obligation to disobey the law in certain circumstances?

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  • by Carmella on December 27th, 2006

    Carmella

    Of course we do. Somewhat recently there was a case in England where an ambulance driver was delivering an organ to a hospital for transplantation. He had his light on and was driving through towns pretty fast. Apparently he was supposed to get clearance from the police in each town before he passed through at speed. He didn't have time to do that, and was subsequently charged for dangerous driving. In my opinion, that driver had a moral obligation to the organ recipient and their family to break the law if he needed to, so long as he didn't cause serious injury to others.

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  • by Inspector Javert on January 3rd, 2007

    Inspector Javert

    I'm going to have to say yes to this.

    My absolute favorite example for this would have to be the novel "Les Miserables".

    It's a very long example, but here's a link to the summary.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Miserables

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  • by Roger Kovaciny on December 27th, 2006

    Roger Kovaciny

    In general, there are three levels of disobedience: Not complying with a demand, doing the opposite of a command, and openly rebelling and flouting the command. If you believe that the commands of your God and the demands of the law are in direct conflict, you can do level one or two, but almost never level three. And you should try to find a way to both obey the law and obey the higher moral law, perhaps by leaving the country. If none of these are possible, then you should be willing to obey the moral law and take the consequences of disobeying the governmental law--for example all the Soviet citizens who refused to give up their religion even though it meant no higher education and menial jobs for themselves and their children.

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  • by tris992000 on December 27th, 2006

    tris992000

    No.

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  • by tigueron on January 11th, 2007

    tigueron

    of course we do, laws can't possible foresee every single circumstance and sometimes we are held accountable to a superior duty.

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  • by Vesper on January 8th, 2007

    Vesper

    Definately.

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  • by Koh Javier on January 8th, 2007

    Koh Javier

    An excellent example comes in John Grisham's A Time to Kill. A black plans and kills the 2 white man (drugheads, child rapist, abusers) who raped his daughter. We don't have the right to pass judgement on certain things but laws are set by humans. Everyone deserves a chance at JUSTICE, even if he's broken the LAW.

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  • by thefunkyone on December 28th, 2006

    thefunkyone

    only if the law asks you to personally denounce what you believe

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  • by PurpleRN on December 27th, 2006

    PurpleRN

    No, there's no moral obligation to do anything you don't feel the need to do(unless your morals do not agree with the laws then do as you please). However when it comes to functionalism, according to society(not me) there needs to be crime for it to function properly; because without crime many many people would not have a job (how many people do you think work in criminal justice, law enforcement, even the news? etc),and functionalists also believe that by these people commiting crimes it helps others learn a lesson that these are the things you are not supposed to do.

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  • by ----------- on December 27th, 2006

    -----------

    yes

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  • by RedScareX on January 11th, 2007

    RedScareX

    In America at least, if the government disobeys the costitution then YES YOU CAN. Americans have forgotten this awhile back when "terrorists" were "bambarding American soil." It's sad that the citizens let the extremists win....

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  • by Perryman on January 17th, 2007

    Perryman

    In most modern nations today, there is often very little conflict between what the government , or “Caesar” requires of us and what the Bible shows us is God’s will for us to do.
    Jesus once said: “If someone under authority impresses you into service for a mile, go with him two miles.” (Matthew 5:41) On hearing that, some must have thought him unreasonable. Just what did he mean?
    Put simply, Jesus was telling his listeners that if an authority compelled them into some kind of legitimate service, they should perform it willingly and without resentment. They were thus to pay “Caesar’s things to Caesar” but not overlook the obligation to pay “God’s things to God.”—Mark 12:17.
    At Romans 13:1-4, The apostle Paul exhorted Christians: “Let every soul be in subjection to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except by God; the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God. Therefore he who opposes the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of God . . . If you are doing what is bad, be in fear: for it is not without purpose that it bears the sword.”
    Sometimes there is a conflict between laws.
    A civil government may require something that God forbids. Or civil law may forbid a thing that God commands Christians to do. What then?
    Such a conflict occurred when rulers forbade the apostles to preach about the resurrected Jesus Christ. Read the faith-strengthening account at Acts 4:1-23; 5:12-42.
    Though imprisoned and flogged, the apostles would not stop preaching. Peter said: “We must obey God as ruler rather than men.”—Acts 5:29.

    So a Christian’s subjection to the governmental authorities is a relative subjection. His first obligation is to obey the Supreme Authority. If, as a result, he suffers punishment, he can gain comfort in knowing that God approves of what he is doing.—1 Peter 2:20-23.

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  • by wander-er-er the vulcanologist on November 28th, 2007

    wander-er-er the vulcanologist

    Yes, of course. I think that the best example of this is defending or aiding someone who is helpless or in self defense.

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  • by Goldberry on November 28th, 2007

    Goldberry

    Of course, we do.

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