Dennis Prager Show - Open Lines: The Biblical Definition of Murder Aired: 2020-02-08 Duration: 04:08 === Definition Debate (04:08) === [00:00:00] The issue is the definition of murder in the Ten Commandments. [00:00:04] Go ahead. [00:00:05] Okay, so I'll try to be concise. [00:00:08] So, we're instructed in different places in the Bible to allow our government to govern and follow the government, and California definition of murder is the taking of a human life with malice aforethought. [00:00:22] But most places I'm aware of have a similar definition, the unlawful taking of the human life, rather, with malice and forethought. [00:00:30] It's the unlawful part that causes me confusion, because laws, man-made laws can change, and abortion, euthanasia, stand-your-ground laws can cloud the morality of murder. [00:00:43] And I was looking so that when we have a conflict like that, I believe we go to God's law. [00:00:49] Well, yeah, but you could say that about any law. [00:00:54] The Ten Commandments gives you the guideline. [00:00:58] Do not murder. [00:00:59] And the truth is, that is exactly the definition. [00:01:04] Murder is illegal, or more precisely, immoral killing, because there is moral killing and immoral killing. [00:01:14] And you cannot, and by the way, malice aforethought is the biblical definition. [00:01:19] If that's California, unknown to them, they are using the biblical definition. [00:01:27] The Torah, which is where all these laws are located, says if he lies in wait, that's malice aforethought. [00:01:40] So that was, I hope that bails you out. [00:01:44] Anyway, thank you, and I'm honored that you're using my commentary. [00:01:49] Orange County, California. [00:01:51] Bill. [00:01:51] Hello, Bill. [00:01:53] Hi, Dennis. [00:01:54] Happy Friday. [00:01:55] That's correct. [00:01:56] Happy Friday to you. [00:01:58] Yeah. [00:01:59] Thank you. [00:01:59] So, I've been listening to you for years, and consider it a blessing. [00:02:04] Thank you. [00:02:05] And welcome. [00:02:07] So, I have one question. [00:02:08] In the past, when you used to speak about political issues, you often referred to your position as moderate, as if it was virtuous, right? [00:02:17] It was important to you. [00:02:18] Right. [00:02:18] I said I was a passionate moderate. [00:02:22] Yeah, and at some point you stopped that. [00:02:24] That's correct. [00:02:25] I was wondering, what changed in your thinking? [00:02:28] Because nothing changed in my thinking. [00:02:31] What changed is the use of the term. [00:02:35] Very, very little of my thinking has changed since I was a liberal and a Democrat. [00:02:42] But today, to be a liberal Democrat in the way I was is to be a conservative. [00:02:49] If liberals understood... [00:02:52] That's exactly what I thought. [00:02:53] I thought, you know, what does it mean to be a moderate? [00:02:56] That has changed. [00:02:58] That's right. [00:02:59] So, therefore, I can't use the term. [00:03:00] That's exactly right. [00:03:02] Good for you. [00:03:04] Yes, well, thank you for that. [00:03:06] I've given that a lot of thought. [00:03:07] Of course I stopped using it because it doesn't mean what it meant. [00:03:12] I'm tall, right? [00:03:13] Okay, so I'm 6'4". [00:03:14] Let's say everybody became 6'5". [00:03:16] I would no longer be tall. [00:03:18] That's just, that's, it's, it's, all adjectives are dependent upon the context. [00:03:28] Okay. [00:03:30] I ask friends who knew me from the past, name one issue in which I differ from my liberal past. [00:03:41] And I can't... [00:03:43] You guys have become radicals or pro-radical. [00:03:47] I haven't changed. [00:03:49] To be a conservative today is to be what liberalism... [00:03:53] Oh, one exception. [00:03:54] I take it back. [00:03:55] There is one exception. [00:03:56] Big government. [00:03:57] That's correct. [00:03:59] One sentence from Ronald Reagan changed my life. [00:04:02] Government is not the solution, it's the problem. [00:04:05] And that awakened me.