Atheism

Can you cite an example of Christ being "imposed" on helpless citizens?

 

and how do you figure this?

 

Ima gonna go with the Beyonder...BV help me out on this one

 

Sorry Dax, I think you're beyonder help.

 

DAMMIT....BUSTED!!!!

 

I'm pretty sure you are using circular reasoning.

 

Mainly because of all the destruction of End Times prophecy. Theoretically an entity other than Jesus could follow the prophecies to a certain point (even through the millenial reign), but eventually the entity would have to assume the identity of Jesus to make everything true.

 

How so?

 

It's been a couple of pages back but I wanted to delve back into the idea of subjective morality or ethical standards. For me this is one of the easier ideas or reasons for belief in God. I think that God created morals and "decided" what was good. Moreover, I think everyone is given this knowledge internally.

I think that voice in the back of everyone's head telling them right from wrong is ultimately God.

I believe this because I believe that morals are objective and exist outside of my belief for or against them. If they're just based on social or biological herd mentality and are subjective then we could conceivably say that raping a child is not objectively wrong but just wrong because I think it is. That would put my belief that it is wrong on the same level as someone who believed that it is not wrong.

 

That is some really backwards logic.

Morals, and more specifically, all more standards evolved from standard observation (aka scienitific process). Predating the Bible and other religious texts (Code of Hammurabi circa 1800 BC), morals evolved as stated conclusions of the observation of the consequences of human interaction with each other and the world. In earlier societies, they were sometimes skewed in favor of a patriachal/theological "god-king" who delivered and therefore determined them in his favor. Over time though, and across cultures, morals have normalized to produce a basicly functioning society (no doubt there is universal disfunction and there are pockets of intense disfunction and rebellion), hence why there are universal truths such as the "golden rule".

Now, if you want to debate the influence of a creator in the grand design - physics, biology, and all the other sciences, knock you socks off. It's a question neither side can ultimately answer. But do not misunderstand this - the evolution of morality is very predictable, almost mechanical. We do not do things because there are consequences, and I'm specifically talking about those on this world and not the afterlife. If you want to add in the afterlife component too, again, do what you want.

But I will say, those that profess that the ONLY reason they dont do horrible things to others is their fear of God/Hell, well you scare me... shitless (sorry Hasbeen). That automatically assumes that you and mankind are horrible constructions of your creator held in check only by his wrath.... probably at a much later date (some biblical stories notwithstanding). That sounds like absolute hell... on earth. What an awful existence.