Why "mysterious ways" don't matter.

[Esquilax]

So then with morality, it seems that at bottom one must first claim a value system, which is inevitably subjective, but once one acquires that then an objective paradigm can emerge from which we judge certain actions to be right and wrong--and we say these particular judgments are as objective as anything else because our value system (which places the source of moral value and meaning where it belongs--in the sentient being) is the only one grounded in anything sensible i.e. reality as understood by human perception within the paradigm of scientific (in its broad sense) inquiry. Would that be roughly correct in your view?

Pretty much, yes. However, we should note that I was talking in the context of an ongoing discussion I'd been having with SteveII throughout all of this, too, and my comments were mostly made as a rebuttal to three points he'd made, namely: 1. Objective morals exist. 2. Objective morals only exist so long as god exists. And 3. Whatever god commands becomes moral.

I think your explanation is pretty spot on, Pickup, but what I was basically saying is that what Steve proposes is actually a subjective framework based on god's opinions, dressed up as objectivity in order to seem more firm than our "wishy washy" subjective morals down here on Earth. I was objecting to the shell game based around the concept of objectivity, essentially.