How do you know when modern law is influenced by old archaic religious rules? At least one of the criteria is when it becomes too “recursive” – when it starts heavily dealing with itself. Laws about the law.
Ancient legislators were well-aware of the fact that things may change in the future. Anxious to preserve their own (as well as their families’) high status, they came up with some brilliant solutions, such as involving God in their descendants’ authority.
“…and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they shall teach thee.”
(Deuteronomy, chapter 17, verse 10).
This is indeed a closed loop: God supposedly says I should listen to my future priests, which in turn teach me that everything God says is right!
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Pressed by (among others) the ultra-Orthodox parties of the ‘Knesset’ – the Israeli parliament – our current regime also came up with a similar brilliant solution, known as the “re-enactment clause” or “override clause” commonly known as “overcome clause”. According to this, the ‘Knesset’ members can re-establish a law after it has been rejected by the Supreme Court as being unconstitutional.
Thus, modern democracy gradually turns into ancient theocracy. “God” is silently introduced again. You don’t like something we want? It’s not legal? Legality doesn’t count. You shall observe to do according to all we shall teach you.