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Comment by redthrowaway | Hacker News Reader

"Render unto Caesar that which is due Caesar", etc. Most religions stress adherence to the laws of the land, except where those laws conflict with the edicts of the religion.

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As far as Christianity is concerned, that's a guideline, not a sin. Churches have been known to harbor and protect people that broke the law.

Biblically, obeying the authorities set over you is a command from God, not a guideline. Disobeying God is sin, so disobeying the law is sin. The exception is when this obedience conflicts with other commands from God.

Exactly where the line between respect for the law and conflict with God's commands lie is a favorite topic for Christian ethics debates, but probably not relevant to the linked article. ;)

> "Render unto Caesar that which is due Caesar", etc.

Not all Christians have the same interpretation. I was taught in Catholic school that this meant that everything is God's and nothing is Caesar's.

It appears you are correct. [1] I was always taught that it was Jesus' way of telling his followers to obey the earthly laws (pay yo' taxes) only inasmuch as they do not conflict with the laws of Heaven.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Render_unto_Caesar...#Modern_in...

I was taught it in the context of Haggai, a book that would have been known by both Jesus and the Pharisees:

2:8 - "The silver is mine and the gold is mine, saith the Lord.

Great answer to a trick question.

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