Posted on 06/20/2005 4:38:37 AM PDT by HarleyD
I don't know what you want to hear. I have told you what the basis for my beliefs is, if you don't consider it valid, then so be it...it doesn't change anything for me...but I'm sure it will give you an opportunity to say something about how I believe.
I didn't know that was your question. I don't even know what a Utilitarian is.
I said we agree on the relativity of taking a human life, that's all. Isn't saying that the taking of a human life is OK sometimes, dependent upon the situation....relative? If not, please give me an example of something that is morally relative.
In Christianity, human logic comes from God, an aspect of creation that is derived from His own character.
OK, we don't agree.
Do you know who John Stuart Mill is and do you agree with his "greater good" philosophy?
You said, "taking a human life is not an absolute, but relative to the situation." I say, "taking a human life is not an absolute, because the sanction may change." In other words, the act that determined the judgement of taking the life is still morally wrong. However, the sanction for the act may change.
Murder is morally wrong, but capital punishment may be tempered with mercy. So that, life imprisonment is the sanction rather than death.
I am not familiar with his philosophy.
As you say, taking a human life is not an absolute.
While murder is morally wrong, is war? They both take human lives.
If someone claimed that God told them to kill their family, would you accept this as God communicating with that individual? Would you have a problem with them doing that?
You mean like what Abraham was told to do? Yes, but I would have a problem with it, besides, it's against the law.
But, according to your beliefs, you can't have a problem with it,since that is just how God communicates with others. You are straddling the fence. You can't have it both ways.
The Word of God is God's final revelation to man. There is no need for individual communication directly between God and man anymore.
I do not believe that a Christian is called to be a Pacifist.
When you say that you believe in God, what does that mean to you?
I didn't say I can't have a problem with it, I said that is the way it is. It doesn't have anything to do with the way God made me feel about things.
You are claiming that God will allow one person to view something as wrong, and yet another person to view it as right. That is not logical.
So taking human life in war is OK? Isn't that relative to something? How does one know they are on the morally right side of a war?
Basically, it means I believe there is a creator of all things, that is ultimately responsible for everything.
So it's not logical to us, maybe it is to God.
Do you believe it is morally right or wrong to take a human life?
God knowing the choices you make 1000 years before your birth has nothing to do with the choices you make; just like God knowing you will alway take the car to work has nothing to do with you rejecting the rollerskates. The problem isn't that you don't see the difference. You're too smart for that. The problem is you really don't wish to understand this.
"Besides, how do you really know that you could have chosen differently? I understand you believe you could, but there is no way of knowing."
I didn't say you could have chosen differently. I said God knows the choices you will make. Perhaps you meant to say, "..how do you really know that you could NOT have chosen differently?" Simply. God knows everything, there is a plan, and there is a path that God leads a person on. God is not fooled by the direction one takes.
stuartcr: "besides, I really don't care how you believe."
You don't care how I believe only as long as it does not affect you. That is the point in my previous post/offer. When our beliefs result in action (which they ultimately always do), these actions often conflict with others of opposing beliefs. This is why moral relativism is untenable and cannot thrive - total anarchy results when moral relativism is practiced by all.
Your refusal to provide the requested information proves that you do, in fact, care how I believe...
I do not wish to go around in circles with someone who doesn't even believe in logic and absolute truth. You are free to believe what you will, but I pray that you will decide to trust God's Word to be your guide.
God Bless.
Well, it seems that we disagree.
The Word of God tells us the God grants authority to governments to protect the oppressed and to punish the evildoers.
that is ultimately responsible for everything.
Responsible to who?
How can what you believe about me, affect my beliefs?
My refusal was strictly financial, and had nothing to do with what you think about my beliefs about God.
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