by PSacramento 24 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
If morals come from god how come there are so many opinions on the specifics of right and wrong among believers? God is the ultimate sock-puppet, every believer thinks god agrees with her/his opinion on every moral dilemma.
The basics of morality is not a mystery. We all flinch from pain; physical and emotional. Avoid causing unnecessary suffering, that is the foundation of every moral "law" that is worth observing.
Survival of the fittest is practical living.
What can you DO to your immediate social group that you'd get away with?
What is tolerated?
It becomes de facto morality.
Morality is practical living.
What society would tolerate being robbed or murdered or treated badly by a member without having a hand in removing that person?
Lying destroys trust. Without trust and good will from others you can't position yourself with leverage to succeed for long.
Suvival, after all, is a social effort and strategy that runs smack into OTHERS.
It is the contact and interaction with the OTHER that shapes and defines Morality.
A pronouncement from "on high" doesn't trump everyday interaction with people.
Has there ever been a significant change to church doctrine that wasn't dictated by external forces?
In the 1950's, Watchtower cites Cesar's law as (seemingly) the only reason they don't KILL apostates today.
Just posting a reply so I can see past the first post...
The basics of morality is not a mystery. We all flinch from pain; physical and emotional. Avoid causing unnecessary suffering, that is the foundation of every moral "law" that is worth observing.
Sometimes being moral DOES cause unnecessary suffering, does that make the action immoral then?
If by me giving food to someone when I am hungry, causes me to be hungry, is it immoral to give food?
btt
All chaotic systems will eventually form order. I think this true of behaviour too. Chaotic behaviour does not promote an environment for the species to thrive. Morals are a way of the humans, a herding animal, to create order that benefits the majority of the members of the herd. They are created out of necessity and not by divine intervention.
Sometimes being moral DOES cause unnecessary suffering
In what way is Morality unnecessary?
If Morality is necessary (it is, in order to survive in society) then what enforcement of Morality requires is necessary.
The result of enforcement is consequently necessary.
PSAC, I do appreciate your personal experience with Christ. I'd like to add that you Canadian snipers are some of the best in the world. World record sniper shot was in Afghanistan at a distance of nearly 2.5 kilometers. .50 caliber helps of course.
But, regarding God and Morals. Morality is that which allows individuals to work and live together peacefully and with justice. It is a natural law, and an outcome of biological evolution.
The Universe expresses what is true.
http://www.ted.com/talks/robert_wright_the_evolution_of_compassion.html
That said, I think that morality has the same ultimate source as all other things. And you know what I think that is.
By the way, you have a PM.
BTS
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