Theistic morality

[rjh4 is back]

My point is, if God disapproves of slavery, as he clearly does of divorce, why did he not voice his disapproval, as he did of divorce? Or did he not consider it worthy of mention? This suggests that either he approves of slavery, or doesn't care. That he explicitly says it's okay to beat a slave confirms the fact that he doesn't consider slavery, or slave-beating, wrong, even if he doesn't think it's good. This explicit mention of slave-beating being okay would seem to overrule any extrapolations from the Golden Rule which you might attempt. After all, consistent application of the Golden Rule might... Heaven forbid... allow homosexuals to get married! And we wouldn't want that, because it explicitly says elsewhere than doing what their natural impulses tell them to is wrong!

Well, Omni, I do think you have made a pretty good case that for me to be totally consistent in my thinking/application that I should take the position that slavery is ok. Maybe I need to reconsider my position on slavery.

I'm glad that you don't approve of slave-beating, though I'm not entirely clear why.

I don't think you can reasonably say that it's because I haven't explained my position to you.

After all, if a scientist created a robot, would the robot be compelled to rob banks for the scientist?

If the robot was programmed to rob banks for the scientist it would be compelled to do so wouldn't it?

Anything that allows slavery is bad. Care to disagree?

I do disagree. I would not say that the U.S. Constitution was bad up until 1865.

What is your standard for determining when an individual "allows" slavery since there are varying degrees of "allowing" something? For example, one who thinks slavery is ok clearly "allows" it, but one who doesn't think it is ok but wouldn't try to make it against the law could also be considered as "allowing" it as could someone who doesn't think it is ok but would never even report illegal slavery if they knew about it. Does an individual have to make some effort at stamping out slavery to fall within your view of "not allowing" slavery? This is not intended as being antagonistic. I am really interested in your answer.

No, but only out of pragmatic, self-interested considerations, not out of any sense of moral obligation.

While I do not hold the same position, I do understand yours.