(October 12, 2012 at 5:56 pm)Darkstar Wrote: Why did god give bacteria morals, exactly?
I don't understand the logic. I'm talking about moral ontology and you're referencing a sort of herd behavior amongst bacteria?
To answer you question directly, I would guess God gave them that behavior to reflect his glory.
Romans 1:18–25 (ESV) — 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
(October 12, 2012 at 5:56 pm)Darkstar Wrote: Maybe on a species by species basis. It's evolutionarily advantageous for them, but not for us.
If morals are on a species by species basis that would make them subjective.
For instance, suppose an alien race (that is a product of Darwinian evolution elsewhere in the universe) invades our planet and according to their morals there's nothing wrong with raping and torturing other inferior life forms. We would have to say, "well, it seems like what they're doing is evil/wrong...but that's just there morals."
(October 12, 2012 at 5:56 pm)Darkstar Wrote: I'm not saying he can't exist because some commands morally contradict others, I'm just saying that he either lied to us or morality is subjective to his whim. Jesus explicitly contradicts god.
It doesn't seem to me that Jesus is contradicting the law, but rather shedding light into the spirit of the law. The spirit of the given in Exodus is fairness.
Think about how you would react if someone came and cut off your brothers hand...your natural inclination is to wound the other person so severely that they would never even think of messing with your family again. You would want to make an example of them by inflicting more damage than they did to your brother.
The law is saying only inflict equal amount, no more. Jesus comes along and says the spirit of that law is even more demanding than the letter, we should be willing to turn the other cheek.
This is exactly what he did with the other commandments.
Matthew 5:21–22 (ESV) — 21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
(October 12, 2012 at 5:56 pm)Darkstar Wrote: Who is more innocent than a baby? You said this yourself!
The Bible teaches that babies are born in sin.
Psalm 51:5 (ESV) — 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Their (babies) natural inclination is not to honor God. If God saves any babies, it's because he has mercy on them and imputes Christ's righteousness to them like he would to someone who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 3:19–22 (ESV) — 19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
