by cantleave 122 Replies latest watchtower bible
Show me a Sam Harris book and I'll show you a good door stopper
This from the man who won't affirm that the earth is not flat.
As you said in another thread just a few minutes ago...
" I am afraid I am compelled to diagnose an extreme case of malignant obscurantism associated with a pathological deficit in common sense. "
To me, the original question has only one answer. Theists believe that morality requires the existence of god because that's what they've been taught to believe. Based on a book. A book that states that god commanded it's people to hide, abduct and rape woman. Not ideal in my view.
I think you mean some theists, right?
JI don't think it's useful to say anything is definitely this or that. It may be useful in certain circumstances to think and talk as if the earth is flat, as on a map for example. Or as if it is a sphere, as with a globe. But in reality it may be neither, and we may never pin down with clumsy language definitively what it "is" as in the final say.
You are drifting heavily from the topic of ethics I notice.
I have read The End of Faith and Letter to a Christian Nation. I gather he uses his ostensible anti-religion stance to argue for a militant response to extremist Muslims, wears the American flag on his sleeve, and weirdly ends up endorsing a sort of Buddhism. Not exactly my cup of tea, on many fonts. He is right and everone else is wrong, dangerously wrong if they don't accept his portrayal of the dangers of faith.
FlyingHighNow - Yes, that's what I meant. Although I was under the impression that those who believed in the god of the bible believed that's where morals came from? I'm happy to stand corrected if that's not the case for all believers.
FlyingHighNow - Yes, that's what I meant. Although I was under the impression that those who believed in the god of the bible believed that's where morals came from? I'm happy to stand corrected if that's not the case for all believers.
Theist doesn't automatically mean Christian. Christians would probably be the minority of theists. And even speaking of Christians, they don't all believe in creation or that the Bible is written by God. It's just a good thing to keep in mind in a discussion like this.
I am a thiest. I am free spirited when it comes to morals, rules and law. I am not a letter of the law person. I am a spirit of the law person. If laws are made to generally protect individuals, the public good, animals and the environment, then any judge should know there are times the law hurts more than it helps.There are extenuating circumstances for almost anyone, in this very imperfect world. I don't think most morals are extreme black and white. Most people seem to have a basic sense of what is moral. Sadly, not everyone can see when there are extenuating circumstances that change the dynamics of the expected norm.
Apologies, of course you are correct. I should have stated that I was referring only to Christians who believe in the god of the bible. Sorry I wasn't clear on that. :)
iCeltic, it's all cool.
FHN - You are of course correct, my original loaded question was a resonse to Sam Whiskey's stupid comment here...
Since Cofty seems to have given up, is there anyone else who believes there can be an objective basis for morality without God who can explain what it should be?
I had/have much more to say.
I started with the top post on page 5 but you responded in the way I feared you would. You wouldn't even grant that a world with happiness was better than a world where everybody experienced maximum misery all the time.
You won't even affirm that the earth isn't flat!
Its like having a conversation with somebody who chooses to not understand English and only communicate in Arabic.
The only sensible thing to do is walk away.
