VERSION|0.5.1|NAME|Dinah|DATE|1387447481|CONTENT|A person will only be described as a ‘loveable rogue’ by himself or by other people who have not been affected by his criminal acts.  If one ‘loveable rogue’ steals from another ‘loveable rogue’ the biter will have ended up bitten, and out for revenge.  Neither will end up feeling or being very loveable.  Criminals like Biggs can only survive and even flourish when they can rely on the majority of their fellow citizens not behaving like themselves.  Once everybody acts like Biggs and takes what they want by coshing other people over the head, then the veneer of civilisation wears away and the social order breaks down.  Those who wish to live in a humane, civilised society need to subscribe to a social contract whereby they agree to abide by certain rules of behaviour, restraint and regard for the needs of others. In return, they expect others to do the same and to be punished if they don’t.

It isn’t necessary to sign up to a world view which regards the supernatural as real in order to understand this.  Or, as Mary Warnock admirably puts it, ‘Religion is optional.  Morality and the law are not.’ 

As for what Jesus thinks of Biggs, I think we can take it as read that he forgave him before despatching him to the fires of Hell.
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