Replies

"If evolution is true, then there is no basis for moral law."

I don't see how that necessarily follows. In fact, I think it shortchanges the human capacity for kindness, goodness, even greatness, whether that capacity be God given or otherwise.

And it doesn't really address the validity of the theory.

"How can anyone say Hitler was wrong in a world that evolved by chance?"

IMO, if Hitler and others have used the theory of evolution to justify atrocities, it is because they assigned a moral code to the theory that in actuality is not a part of it.

I personally don't have any trouble knowing that Hitler was wrong, whether or not we "evolved by chance." I know it intuitively, in my bones, because I have a conscience. If somehow I became convinced that there is no God, I would still know it. Perhaps others, if they didn't believe in God, would ignore morality, thinking that there was no higher authority around to punish them. But that wouldn't, IMO, mean that there was no difference between right and wrong.

BTW, I have no problem with the Crusades, or most of what I consider to be Christian teaching, for that matter.

"If evolution is true, then there is no basis for moral law."

I don't see how that necessarily follows. In fact, I think it shortchanges the human capacity for kindness, goodness, even greatness, whether that capacity be God given or otherwise.

If there is no moral law-giver, there is no moral law. Man may claim to be that law-giver, but if that is so, morality varies from society to society and nothing is absolute. I also believe you overestimate man's inherent goodness.

And it doesn't really address the validity of the theory.

"How can anyone say Hitler was wrong in a world that evolved by chance?"

IMO, if Hitler and others have used the theory of evolution to justify atrocities, it is because they assigned a moral code to the theory that in actuality is not a part of it.

Darwin drew conclusions (What I wrote above about those with mental illness is an example) that had profound moral implications. It's only one step away from saying the weak in society are detrimental to humanity and doing away with those weak people.

I personally don't have any trouble knowing that Hitler was wrong, whether or not we "evolved by chance." I know it intuitively, in my bones, because I have a conscience. If somehow I became convinced that there is no God, I would still know it. Perhaps others, if they didn't believe in God, would ignore morality, thinking that there was no higher authority around to punish them. But that wouldn't, IMO, mean that there was no difference between right and wrong.
You have to have more than your conscious to go by though. What you are advocating is that every person decide for themselves. You are also giving no foundation for right and wrong, whatsoever. It's each person's "feeling" or "intuition" which they call "conscience."

BTW, I have no problem with the Crusades, or most of what I consider to be Christian teaching, for that matter.
Very good. Most of the time the Crusades are thrown up against Christians without understanding, as a slur. This is the same with the great flat earth conspiracy. Neither of the depictions are true of Christians through the ages.