Some people do forget that the ten commandments are an expression of natural law.
Paul, in Galatians, refers to the elemental principles that the Galatians were aware of prior to ever knowing or meeting a Jew.
Lou
Preparing to preach last Sunday on the Covenant with Noah, I was reminded again how fruitful it is to review Jewish thought on a Universal Moral Code. For those who have never glanced in this direction, I found
http://www.geocities.com/rachav/Chazon/Universal_Moral_Code_Seven_Precepts.html to be a helpful quick review.
Tom Pearson has repeatedly mentioned our Lutheran theological weakness when it comes to "natural law," and I keep suspecting that we (i.e. "I") should be doing more with God's governance of the Kingdom of the Left when I think about the sexuality statement.
As I understand it, Jews do not regard the 613 laws of the Torah as binding on anybody who's not Jewish. But the Ten Words -- except perhaps for the Sabbath observance -- encompass the code governing everyone.
As the Talmud has it, a universal moral code is clearly established. It includes:
1. Establish courts of justice - a systematic way of balancing responsibility, supplanting vendettas or other personal retributive action
2. Monotheism. Respect for the "higher power," called by whatever name in whatever state of ignorance
3. Do not set up idols - the deification of any object, being, or power other than the One God (especially prohibiting appeasement and fertility cults)
4. Do not murder - human life is to be respected
5. Do not commit incest or adultery - I understand both of these to imply and include the protection of children
6. Do not steal. Property is to be respected.
7. Humane treatment of animals (even those used for food)