Russia embraces religious intolerance with draconian blasphemy and anti-gay laws

[DeistPaladin]

Ow! The stupid! It burns!

OK, Stat, class is in session. Today's lesson is how the symbol "=/=" means "does not equal".

It's the equal sign but with a slash through it. Most of us learned that in grade school math class. Perhaps you just didn't get that far.

In any event, the statement:

1. Subjective morality =/= anything goes and all opinions are equally valid.

translates to "subjective morality" does not equal "anything goes and all opinions are equally valid".

The "not" is a very important part of that sentence. It's a key word.

It's a denial of your assertion of what "subjective morality" means.

Clear?

OK, so, assuming I have cleared up your confusion, you're going to have to re-write the first 1/2 (that symbol means "half", not 1, 2) of your response to me. You're embarrassing failure to understand a basic math symbol is self-pwnage.

But I'll let you take a mulligan. Try again.

2. Morality is a measure of how we treat our fellow sentient beings.

According to whom? Why is this the definition of morality? Is this definition objectively true?

That's how atheists, humanists and other secularist define morality. You asked how we can evaluate Russia's new laws as morally wrong. I'm providing a generally-accepted definition among secularists to start with. You must understand what my words mean if you are to understand my argument.

...or so you should have learned from your self-pwnage earlier.

The rights of others? What are those rights, how are they knowable, and where do they come from?

I've already told you. I've listed certain academic philosophies including Rawls, Bentham, J.S. Mill for starters. Have you ever taken a philosophy class? Do you have any idea who these people are? Would you understand "Utilitarian principles" or "Veil of Ignorance" if I mentioned them?

What if I hold the opinion that I am justified in treating atheists differently than I would like to be treated?

Then you're a hypocrite.

What if I do not care if you call me a hypocrite?

Well, don't let me stop you if you wish to wear the label with pride.

Where is this social contract? How do I learn what is in it?

Ask yourself how you would wish to be treated.

How do I opt out of it?

Go live by yourself in the wild.

I thought anything goes and all opinions are valid, what happened to that?

That was your self-pwnage.

3. "GodWillsIt" does not make morality either objective or absolute.

According to whom? You?

By definition. Again, it's important to define our terms.

"Objective" must be, by definition, free of any being's opinions or values. That's what the word means. The will of a god, by definition, represents that god's opinions and values.

"Absolute" must be, by definition, universal and not subject to change. A value system that is dependent on a single being's say-so is not, by definition, absolute since that being could change his/her/its mind. Whether or not that being ever exercises that option, the option is still there and so it negates the quality of "absolute". Additionally, since you think your god is above moral judgement, the rules don't apply to him and so it is not universal and therefore not absolute.

Nope, morality in that instance would still be objective from man’s perspective because his will, opinions and thoughts could not change those laws.

"external perspective" doth not "objective" make.

*Tsk tsk* that was your lesson from your previous schooling. You've obviously not done your homework.

No, we know that God is good because He says so and He cannot lie. An assertion from an infallible being can be treated as true.

No, it’s a valid appeal to an ultimate authority. God’s actions are good because God is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question, it’s an axiomatic position.

Oh, so it's not circular. It's just that we know Yahweh is good because Yahweh is the standard of what is good.

We know that Yahweh is good because we know that Yahweh is good because we know that Yahweh is good because we know that Yahweh is good because we know that Yahweh is good because we know that Yahweh is good because we know that Yahweh is good because we know that Yahweh is good because we know that Yahweh is good because we know that Yahweh is good because we know that Yahweh is good because we know that Yahweh is good because we know that Yahweh is good because we...

Appealing to the only God that exists is not special pleading, it’s making an appeal to reality.

Do I need to even be here for this exchange? It seems like I should just let you post and pwn yourself.