[Avodah] Questions on Parshat Noach

[cantorwolberg at cox.net]

If this is true, then why was the sin of the meraglim - where all of Bnei
Yisrael were united in their sin - punished worse than the sin of the egel
hazahav - where there was opposition and most people were not involved?

First of all, "all" of B'nai Yisroel was not united in their sin. If you recall, Joshua and Caleb opposed the majority.
Secondly, the sin of the egel had to do with a fear that Moshe died and though the ends certainly did not justify
the means, the motivation of B'nai Yisroel was not based on being evil. The sin of the meraglim, on the other hand,
showed a lack of faith in HaShem.