Those that believe the Ancient Greek Government was non-religious and atheistic secular give misinformed nonsence. The tenents of Greek law were formulated about 700 BC from the earlier influence of their Hittites neighbours. The Hitites as well as the ancient Greeks had mythological legend and multiple gods at the basis of their cultural and daily thought.

The fact is their laws were not designed to enforce the will of the ruling Monarch or primary gods, but the betterment of all members of their society. They upheld the equality of the individual in their society, which also is the basis of a Christian view of man. Christ saw equality as a universal principle that included those barbaric Roman occupation forces that the Jews hated. The apostle Paul encounted Greek attitudes to their gods in Athens - Acts 17: 16 - 34. He presents God as in whom we live move and have being, which reflects much of Aristotle thought.

This universal principle of justice for everyone encourages the best development in the individual. Unfortunately for Christianity it became submerged in a cruel Roman political system and it was not till the reformation did the true message of Christ begin to emerge.

The Greeks belief in law strengthened their ethnic pride, they spoke the same language, worshipped the same gods and observed the same customs which meant they saw themselves as superior to other races or nations. Their view of equality only applied to members of their own nation or their allies.

Alchemist,
Your dishonesty betrays you. I suggest you read again the Hammurabi Code as I find reference to at least 23 different gods. Gods that granted him power to make laws as ruler and to enforce the law upon injustice and opression. Gods whose curse will fall upon those that violate the laws. It is based in religion. Read carefully the introduction and prologue and you will see that the laws have a religious signifance.

Our own Constitution in the preamble gives reference to; "humbly relying upon the blessing of Almighty God". Our initial secular laws were formulated by Christian Clergy and Christian Lawyers. It appears you believe Christians pronounce curses in every phrase upon lawbreakers.

The Christian agencies assist in the welfare of prisoners and their families. You have a belief that if a law applies to secular [material] things it must be atheists that formulated the law.

Job was one of the earliest monotheists and a grandson of Abraham. Reference in not made to any of his seven sons, but his three daughters are mentioned by name as beautiful Queens in about 1700 BC [Job 42: 13 - 15]. The Jewess Esther was Queen in Persia whose story appears in the OT under her name. More attention is given to her than her husband King. The view that women were some subservient chatel of a man is not the picture of women in Israel or the NT where the men loved and respected their wives.

Shari'ah laws followed in the tradition of the Jewish zealots of Jesus day who wanted to eradicate pagan Romans from their land. They were totally intolerant of unclean gentiles and pagan visitors. It was the Zealots who fled to Babylon [see second Talmud] that deeply influenced Mohammet and the formation of Shari'ah.

The leader of the zealots challenged Jesus to, single handedly cast down the the two Roman guards that kept watch over the city from the tiny temple turret [pinnacle]. The Jews believed the Romans defiled the holy place because of their unclean practises and presence. Jesus identified this zealot who challenged him as an enemy of God [opponent / satan]. Why? Because Jesus believed in universal principles of love and not the exclusive nationalist pride of Israel

Jesus teaching was do good to your enemy, if he is hungry feed him, if thirsty give him drink. When Jesus announced himself as the Christ in his hometown they were excited, but when he told stories of gentiles with great faith, eg widow of Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian they wanted to stone him to death. Jesus stated they had greater faith than what he had seen in Israel

The OT prophet Jeremiah just prior to the Babylonian invasion spoke out against the religious falsness of mere keeping of religious ritual as laid down in the Moses laws. He spoke of a new concept where love would rule in their hearts and minds to guide their behaviour and they would be good neighbours [Jeremiah 31: 31 - 34 ].

The strict observence of laws do not create love and forgiveness in those enforcing the law. Universal principles of justice are based in love, forgiveness and the sacrificial service to others. Jesus was more influenced by the latter prophets and the emergence of love as the guiding force in behaviour than defending the strict observance of laws

The fact is that sharia law was created thousands of years ago, has never really been amended over those thousands of years, and should be treated as such outdated and obsolete. It is islam and it's followers way, of getting thier own way when they see fit to judge persecute and any other injustices the religion see fit to exploit, especially now in australia. We are talking about a law that allows the stoning of a female for looking in the wrong direction of another male besides her husband, and is classed adultery. If this were not such a serious issue, i would class islam and sharia law a big joke. But since it is not a joke i feel both need to be abolished from the australian way of life immediately, before both the religion and the law that governs it damage the australian way of life permanently. If there is a debate to be had, it would be that this is australia and we are governed by australian law which has been ammended over the years to make exceptions for other religions in some cases far to many exceptions. It is islam that has benefited from these amendments the most .The inability of the police to search a muslim female wether the officer is a female or not is just another way the muslims exploit the law in this country.So in reality sharia law has already got a foothold in this country. Our polititions with their own agendas have made incredible concessions to assist in this transition by stripping the police of their powers to arrest and search. And what has followed this is unprecedented crime rate among a minority race in this country .All the while claims are made of rasism and media bias.We are talking about a law and religion thats resolution process usually ends with a death or permanent injury of another human being without any real judgitial process.Now muslims upon reading this will throw their hands up in the air and scream lies that is just not true,

but the fact is it is the truth and we true australians know it.The day that sharia law is used in any way to settle any dispute amongst any australian wether muslim, hindu, or christian background is the day australia truly has died,call me melodramatic but you only have to look at the countries that practice this law, their is nothing but war and chaos which is why sections of their population end up here. What baffles me is if they left their own country to get away from the wars and the persecution, that their religion and laws that govern it cause why would they be practicing those same ways of life here?My only answer is that they see how placid and easy going true australians are and seek to exploit that and become our masters. Young muslim men are always commenting on how they feel they are superior and prove that fact by setting out in packs and bashing australians as they see fit. Is this another facet of sharia law that has not been revealed to the australian public yet? Time will only tell. All i do know is that inviting the muslim population into this country will prove to be the biggest mistake australia ever made and could quite realistictly be a catalyst to australias first ever civil war.Hopefully they will continue to wipe each other out in the sydney gang wars,another example of sharia law i wonder?

Sharia this!!

http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=2006-04-03T150400Z_01_L0311784_RTRUKOC_0_US-SAUDI-SEX.xml