Hey folks. Just wanted to share something I read and hoped to get your input (theist or atheist).
I sometimes read Christian journals or forums or news sites just to keep my finger on the pulse and have a general idea of what’s going on in Christian America, and most of the time the bulk of the stories or articles end with me scoffing softly and shaking my head.
However there is one reoccurring theme that absolutely makes my stomach turn, and in my opinion is one of the most dangerous characteristics of Christianity (and most other religions).
I was browsing the Christian sub-reddits and I came across someone who had a genuine question about morality (in specific sexual morality) and asked that if something does no harm to anyone and doesn’t violate anyone else’s rights, how can it be wrong? People trotted out the responses I usually see such as contraception preventing human life and robust sexual activity being harmful to one’s spiritual being…and one argument that is absolutely hideous.
Someone responded to the OPs issues with:]
“Thought experiment: suppose God arbitrarily decides it's bad to do X, even though doing X produces no discernible negative consequences. Given that morality depends upon God's nature and preferences rather than what you and I might prefer, therefore it follows that doing X is wrong regardless of whether you can explain why, or see any direct negative effects.”
The utter surrender of one’s own moral compass to the whims (as the above mentions) of a being is something that I find both disgusting and extremely dangerous. Withholding from behavior that can be enriching and fun and productive and healthy SIMPLY because skydaddy says its bad is scary enough, but the flip side of that is thinking that something harmful, restrictive, dangerous, and injurious is OKAY to do because skydaddy says so.
Do I think that anyone who believes in God-based morality is necessarily going to do something horrid based on their beliefs? Of course not. But people HAVE done horrible things based on this idea, and the pathway of their logic is very clear.
Genuflecting to a higher authority on moral questions while willingly and openly surrendering your own morals is probably the single most revolting thing about religions to me. Besides, if our moral compasses are so broken and incompetent, how do you trust your judgment that “God is good?”, if you’re coming to a moral conclusion using flawed instruments?
Just wondering your guys’ thoughts.
I sometimes read Christian journals or forums or news sites just to keep my finger on the pulse and have a general idea of what’s going on in Christian America, and most of the time the bulk of the stories or articles end with me scoffing softly and shaking my head.
However there is one reoccurring theme that absolutely makes my stomach turn, and in my opinion is one of the most dangerous characteristics of Christianity (and most other religions).
I was browsing the Christian sub-reddits and I came across someone who had a genuine question about morality (in specific sexual morality) and asked that if something does no harm to anyone and doesn’t violate anyone else’s rights, how can it be wrong? People trotted out the responses I usually see such as contraception preventing human life and robust sexual activity being harmful to one’s spiritual being…and one argument that is absolutely hideous.
Someone responded to the OPs issues with:]
“Thought experiment: suppose God arbitrarily decides it's bad to do X, even though doing X produces no discernible negative consequences. Given that morality depends upon God's nature and preferences rather than what you and I might prefer, therefore it follows that doing X is wrong regardless of whether you can explain why, or see any direct negative effects.”
The utter surrender of one’s own moral compass to the whims (as the above mentions) of a being is something that I find both disgusting and extremely dangerous. Withholding from behavior that can be enriching and fun and productive and healthy SIMPLY because skydaddy says its bad is scary enough, but the flip side of that is thinking that something harmful, restrictive, dangerous, and injurious is OKAY to do because skydaddy says so.
Do I think that anyone who believes in God-based morality is necessarily going to do something horrid based on their beliefs? Of course not. But people HAVE done horrible things based on this idea, and the pathway of their logic is very clear.
Genuflecting to a higher authority on moral questions while willingly and openly surrendering your own morals is probably the single most revolting thing about religions to me. Besides, if our moral compasses are so broken and incompetent, how do you trust your judgment that “God is good?”, if you’re coming to a moral conclusion using flawed instruments?
Just wondering your guys’ thoughts.
In every country and every age, the priest had been hostile to Liberty.
- Thomas Jefferson
- Thomas Jefferson
