The Bible provides context for understanding the complete picture of the Evolution of Morality. The Old Testament’s Ten Commandments are a good starting place not because of their moral superiority, but because of their historical relevance.
Take the Bible’s commandment of "Thou shall not murder" for example. How far has this moral come? We wouldn't know the answer to that question unless we considered the Bible's, as well as other historical documents, words. We live under a system of law that most people agree is fundamentally needed. Even the Jehovah’s Witnesses yearn for their future utopian government which, nonetheless, will be a system of perfect law.
When I heard that the US Supreme Court displays the Ten Commandments, for all to see, I wholeheartedly supported their gesture. What we have today is owed to the past, not arbitrarily, but to the people and events that have been deemed worthy of that credit even if anonymous. The fact is that someone laid down the building blocks for what would eventually become a powerful force of morality and justice in the future: us. As the historical and fossil records evidence, "Thou Shall Not Murder" was not always as concrete as it is in many civilizations today.
As Charles Darwin discovered humans were not created, but rather were in the midst of their own creation. Every generation has the chance of bringing forth true change to the whole. This phenomenon can be observed in the human behavior of morals. Morals, as we read in our history, started out rough around the edges and slowly, with a lot of failures in between, formed into brilliant pieces of art.
Disaster relief effort agencies that helped in the recent Indonesian, Haitian and Japanese earthquakes were great examples of the strong morality that has evolved. People on this very forum have recounted heroic stories of selflessness and bravery. The fact that we all found our way out of the maze that is a high control group is owed to the past, to our ancestors, in some fashion.
Governing Rick Perry of Texas was recently asked a question by a mother, through her young child rather shamelessly, if he believed in science. His response was that evolution was "just a theory" and that he promoted schools that taught creation. This is a good example of where morals can fail, just as when a species evolves a flaw and eventually goes extinct. Rick Perry cannot accept the truth of evolution so the question of whether he believes in the system of science at all is valid. Commentary from national news networks referred to the question as “a non issue” which is perplexing to me.
As can be observed the Bible can be a powerful tool or a dangerous weapon. The ones who left their lives to go help tsunami victims across the sea are using the Bible, if at all, as a guide for the here and now effectively. Governor Perry misplaces the Bible’s ancient context for the here and now which blinds him to the truth about the very nature of our existence. His blindless doesn’t stop with him, but goes as far as to teach the fallacy, that he's become acustomed to, to the youth he has power over. The truth that morals refine over time is lost on Governor Perry, as it is on many people.
-Sab
The Evolution of Morality
by sabastious 9 Replies latest watchtower bible
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sabastious
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Pig
I'm sure there was a footnote on thou shall not murder. what if you have a gay son who uses gods name in vain?
there are cultures who have no problem with murder. Murder is even honerable to Muslims who kill their children, it's called honour killings.
In Africa they are still burning witches. After the Haitai disaster the sick people started killing the healthy because they thought they had cast a spell on them, when it was really the filthy water.
so, no we dont have some kind of in built morality that tells us right from wrong.
Evolution has made it so piranhas dont eat eachother. This isnt morality, it's how the species has survived
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sabastious
This isnt morality, it's how the species has survived
Survival was a key factor in the spark of evolutionary morality (hey maybe if we don't kill each other we could enjoy life more?). At this point in time morals have transcended survival. I don't believe there is reason to deny that.
-Sab
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PSacramento
Its a huge debate of course, there is no proof that morals have evolved via the biological evolutionary road ( survival of the fittest in many ways is counter to the morals we hold dear) BUT morals HAVE evolved, and the bible is a perfect example of such.
The morals of the NT as preached by Christ are viewed as superiour than the morals of the OT Laws and yet they have that "big 10" as their core.
I know that many a scientist and atheist pihilosopher has tried to solve the "absolute moral" dilema, Sam Harris book is a prime example, but they tend to raise more questions then they answer.
I have not read Sam's book yet, but I have some of the rather scathing reviews, even from other atheist BUT I will reserve comment until I have read it.
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sabastious
there is no proof that morals have evolved via the biological evolutionary road
Evidence exists that proves we came from the evolutionary road. Morals come from us so it could be said that we are evidence that morals came from the evolutionary road, correct?
-Sab
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leavingwt
Sabastious: You need to add a little magic to your thinking.
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sabastious
You need to add a little magic to your thinking.
Eh?
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leavingwt
Evidence exists that proves we came from the evolutionary road. Morals come from us so it could be said that we are evidence that morals came from the evolutionary road, correct?
I was suggesting that rather than us being simply evolved life forms, a higher power zapped us with his wand to give us real pizazz.
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botchtowersociety
Morals are laws or codes that are a way for social creatures to operate together successfully. In a sense, they are as "baked into the cake" as the laws of physics.
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sabastious
I was suggesting that rather than us being simply evolved life forms, a higher power zapped us with his wand to give us real pizazz.
That brand isn't selling as much as it used to.
-Sab