What IS good, and how do we determine it?

[Catholic_Lady]

You may have missed it. Copied and pasted, here is what I said at the end of the post:

"Of course, you don't need to believe in afterlife for that, but it can help keep things into perspective in the sense that there is much more than just materialistic things of this life. It is what helps me personally."

What makes you think I don't have other, metamaterialistic considerations in mind? What stereotypes are you applying that you're not acknowledging?

Rest assured, I don't think that, and I am not stereotyping anything. I am not sure how to even address this because I have no idea how you came to those conclusions. I apologize if that was your take way from what I said. Please know that you have misunderstood.

Also keep in mind the context I say all of this in. I was told that the belief in after life is harmful.

And it is. Belief in an afterlife saps the will to address issues in the here and now.  We see such impulses not only in your own faith, but in many religions around the world.  The idea that your god will make up for everything in an afterlife excuses evil. The idea that reward comes in the afterlife means that people don't understand how to appreciate those who treat them right in the here and now.

I'm a big believer in the idea of clean accounts.  When I do something wrong, I should apologize and ask forgiveness as soon as I recognize things.  And when I see the opportunity to do right, I believe it is imperative to act on that opportunity forthwith. This idea that both punishment and reward is delayed for an afterlife not only lacks evidence, but is also derogatory to the good life now.

If it took men to overthrow the Third Reich, whose supporters were Christians, what use is any conception of afterlife at all? The Christian conception of afterlife surely didn't dissuade many Germans from supporting the most evil regime in the 20th Century.

"Reward" in an afterlife should not be a person's reason to do good. Neither should believing in an afterlife mean you don't care for the lives of the other people around you. A Christian can, and should believe these 2 things.

Oh, I know you didn't do it for me.

The thanks was just to show that I acknowledge and appreciate your kind gesture.

Once again, please be careful not to misunderstand me. I never said God or an afterlife is needed for doing good. I'm actually surprised that after such long discussions, you would still think I believe that. But that is probably me fault.

It's not that I think that you believe that -- but rather, that the words you're spouting  put across a belief that you not only have abjured here, but that needs to be answered for the lurkers who aren't posting.[/quote]

I'm glad you know I don't believe this. It is best not to accuse me of it if you it is not warranted.

I think I missed that post. My apologies. What did I disagree with myself on?
[/quote]

All throughout this thread. I don't have time to read back and link each instance.
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I am taken by surprised to know that you think I have been contradicting myself throughout this whole thread. I can honestly say I have no idea how I came across that way. Perhaps I don't do a good job of explaining myself very well.

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I missed this earlier, but what helps you to determine the moral status of catholic churches position on contraception?  How do you know what -is- good...or more specifically, what is not...in this instance?

http://www.catholic.com/tracts/birth-control

(Also..are you beginning to understand our reaction to the OP question...after having been asked it yourself so many times by us, in this thread?  What's it like on the other end, for you?)

I'm sorry, I don't understand these questions. Can you rephrase?