From: MANDTBACKA@FINABO.ABO.FI (Mats Andtbacka) Subject: Re: After 2000 years, can we say that Christian Morality is Organization: Unorganized Usenet Postings UnInc. Lines: 51 In-Reply-To: cobb@alexia.lis.uiuc.edu's message of Fri, 16 Apr 1993 15:32:04 GMT X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.24 In cobb@alexia.lis.uiuc.edu writes: > If some society came up with a good reason for why rape and murder are ok I > would be consistent with my position and hold that it was still wrong. My > basis of morality is not on societal norms, or on current legalities. My > basis is, surprise surprise, on both the Bible and on inherent moral > abhorrences, AH! But what, exactly, is "inherently abhorrent" and WHY is it so? What you're saying is, in effect, "I think some things are repulsive, and I know a whole bunch of other people who agree with me, so they should be deemed absolutely immoral now and forever, period". Which in and of itself is nice enough; to some extent I agree with you. But I do _not_ agree that things are 'inherently' or 'absolutely' immoral; they are labeled 'immoral' each for its own good reason, and if the reason can even theoretically change, then so can the label. [...] > Yes, that's vague, and the only way I know off the top of my head to > defend it is to say that all humans are similarly made. Yes, that falls > into the trap of creation, No it doesn't. Humans are to some extent similar, because we all belong to the same species; that that species has evolved is another story altogether. To a certain extent evolution can even lend credence to moral absolutism (of a flavour). [...] > My arguments are that it is better to exhibit trust, goodness, > love, respect, courage, and honesty in any society rather than deceipt, > hatred, disrespect, "cowardness", and dishonesty. You're saying morality is what'll keep society alive and kicking. It is, I think, up to a point; but societies are not all alike, and neither are their moralities. > No, I haven't been everywhere and > seen everyone, but, according to my thesis, I don't have to, since I hold that > we were all created similarly. Similar != identical. > If that makes an unfalsifiable thesis, just say > so, and I'll both work out what I can and punt to fellow theists. No, it's falsifiable through finding someoe who was "created different", whatever that might be in the "real" world. -- Disclaimer? "It's great to be young and insane!"