Atheism

I think our understanding and clarification of moral right evolved and continue to do some as we as individuals and society continue to grow. I'm contending that morals didn't evolve the way our hands and feet have. Our morals have not adapted to our changing environment because if they did they'd be subjective and therefore would have no real basis. If they were really the product of evolution I think we'd see human life a lot more similar to that of the animal kingdom.

It varies in context but the actual definition of the world doesn't change. Murder is the unlawful killing of one human by another, especially with premeditated malice. (thank you dictionary.com) The confusion I speak of comes from what is or isn't unlawful.

My contention is we're more than that. If we're just intelligent animals then why try to be moral at all? Why be good? Our society could run just fine without any morals as societies do in the animal kingdom. Our intelligence would tell us to use our animals reflexes and get out of the way of that oncoming truck and let the little girl get run over. But our morals dictate us to react differently. To go against biology and evolution. You might say, well, society would tell me to try and save the girl but what if no one was around to judge you. Your morality would still tell you to save the girl therefore it's not society. We can put ourselves in a number of hypothetical moral situations and test our reactions. We'd find actions and attitudes and modes of thinking that are MORE than that just those you'd find in intelligent animals.

I was reading an article today that hit directly on something you talked about in your last post that I though was interesting. You said there aren't any universal truths. That's a self-refuting statement. To say there aren't any universal truths would in itself be a universal truth. It's like me say, "I can't type in English" when I just did. So it can't be true. There must therefore be universal truths.

I call that grand measure God.

Thank you.

 

Wow. Am I like a prophet now?

 

Thank you. And I didn't really mean to apply that to anyone here, really. I just found it relevant in the context of BV's comment on God's "relativism" and mortality. The natural inclination is to say or think it isn't fair that this should happen to me. Then I ask why isn't it happening to someone else.... etc.

Eventually one gets around to getting a little ticked at the Big Man.

 

Training is just a conditioned response to a stimuli. Pavlov's dog and all that. I'd saying it only has a bearing on morality in humans in so far as a person's external world would influence and condition him beyond reason in relation to morality.

For instance if a child from birth was conditioned to murder or kill without conscious that might diminish or eliminate his natural inner knowledge of the correct moral that murder is wrong.

Training takes away the choice in an animal which really wasn't a choice to begin with since their decisions are based on biology and evolution.

 

kshead - I really want to respond to your question but I have to run some errands. Your basic question of why bad things happen is a good one. I hope to respond shortly. I am sorry for your loss.

 

We can rationalize the actions of "God" however we wish to. It's apparent to me that the OT god is a very tribal god. His ethics were intertwined closely with those of His people. Again, it may be a bit flippant, but if you weren't one of His, to hell with you.

Not sure that really changed that much with the new covenant. If you aren't part of his tribe, to hell with you still. Doesn't seem very objective from a morality standpoint for the One who supposedly gave us our morals.

When I view it, I see how we as humans cast God in our image.

 

Absolutely. Been there, done that.

 

True, but that's where that "I'm God and you're not" thing comes into play again. That's the difference.

 

Yep, and that's one of my major problems with traditional Christianity. That's a topic for another thread though.

 

snl went down the tubes when god started doing the news.