RE: Religion is a poor source of morality
October 4, 2015 at 9:36 pm
(This post was last modified: October 4, 2015 at 10:05 pm by RoadRunner79.)
(October 4, 2015 at 12:24 pm)Cecelia Wrote: People of one culture tend to have the same morality because parents pass their morality down to their children and morality is more based around society than it is anything else.
Do you think that these different views of morality are equally valid (one choice among many)?
I have heard it said, that morality is not objective because it is learned, and has changed over time. However so has our knowledge of science. I don't believe that science is not objective, because I can go less developed culture, and get different views and understandings.
(October 4, 2015 at 12:24 pm)Cecelia Wrote: And the bible most definitely makes women out to be property, and non-virgin women out to be worthless (A woman who is not a virgin on her wedding night is to be stoned). And Yahweh's nature is most definitely psychotic. His nature is to kill. People are acting up? Time to flood the earth. David took a census? the blood of 70,000 men will be all that satisfies him. Harden Pharaoh's heart so he won't let Moses's people go, and then when he doesn't let Moses's people go he takes all the first borns of Egypt. All of this is considered "Righteous" by his nature. He had bears kill 42 youths for them making fun of a prophet's bald head. He killed Lot's wife just for looking back.
I can understand how if all you went by was a list on some anti-Christian site, how you may come to that conclusion. And I admit that there are that some are difficult if someone doesn't understand God's position, and that it is by his mercy, that judgement is withheld. Also, because I have read the Bible, I know that many on these lists are taken out of context, and see much poisoning the well tactics being used also, and some which simply show poor reading skills by the author.
Frankly I loose interest when the story is distorted towards a purpose. If you read the Bible, you will see some of the things you have described (although perhaps not as described). You will also see much patience in mercy. You will see opportunities to change, and the consequences of the failure to heed that warning. I feel that you are missing much of the story, and only seeing what you wish to see.
(October 4, 2015 at 7:51 pm)robvalue Wrote: But I repeat, have you actually read the bible? Properly read it, front to back?
Yes I have. And I do recommend a full reading before going on to other studies to Christians. I think that you get a better feel of the overall context that way.
(October 4, 2015 at 7:51 pm)robvalue Wrote: Sure, he turns up as Jesus (Jesus wasn't originally God, this was a later addition) for a very brief portion of the book. This is akin to an abusive father saying "there, there" after kicking the shit out of you for 16 years. It's funny how much time Christians spend taking about the NT. Disproportionately so, trying to fade the OT into obscurity. But then, Jesus is even worse than Yahweh. He brings with him Hell, the most evil concept imaginable.
I see the same mercy, and judgement shown in both the old and new testaments. The difference is the focus and purpose of the message. It's the two parts of the same message of the Gospel.
(October 4, 2015 at 7:51 pm)robvalue Wrote: I'm not interpreting anything, I'm reading the words on the page. It's really clear.
Good, then I will expect an accurate portrayal of the scriptures from you. I would also expect that we can discuss the context of these as they come up in our discussion. And we can also dispense with any poisoning the well tactics that sometimes come up in these discussions, and just examine the story as told.