I would like to know, because many of my athiest friends think that there are no absolutes. And if you don't believe in absolutes, do you believe that absolutely?
2006-08-09 06:29:22 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
oh, and to the first person who answered this, do you believe that absolutely? Oh, wait, you believe nothing is absolute. riiight. so you really aren't too sure, are you? Because none of us can absolutely believe your answer if you aren't absolutely positive about its truth. twisted, eh?
2006-08-09 06:46:48 · update #1
All you have to do is look around at what has happened since people quit believing in absolutes.
Crime has increased, because someone has what someone else want. And because they want it, and there are no absolutes, they're gonna get it!
Abortion and venereal disease were practically unheard of before the "sexual revolution." People suddenly decided there were no absolutes, so they enjoyed illicit sex with anyone they pleased, because it felt good. Then they contracted various diseases, AIDS came along, pregnancies increased, abortion became legal to eliminate that problem because they wanted it, and there are no absolutes, so they're gonna get it!
The worst discipline problems in schools, before there were no absolutes, were people walking on the gym floor in street shoes, and chewing gum or talking in class. Now we have police forces in school just to combat crime in school. Teachers receive no respect, and when they try to enforce rules, they're dismissed by the students because there are no absolutes. They want to do what they want, and because there are no absolutes, they're gonna get it.
Yes, it's a brave new world without absolutes. Anyone can do anything they want, as long as they are "tolerant" of anything except "intolerance." That is the new absolute.
2006-08-09 06:48:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I guess I could say that I believe cheating on your taxes and molesting a child are not the same degree of "evil". Devoting your life to helping others like Mother Theresa and giving 5 bucks a week at church are not the same degree of "good".
So, no, I don't believe good and evil are absolutes, black and white. There is a continuum.
I believe THAT absolutely.
2006-08-09 13:53:07 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many people seem to regard evil is a 'thing'... something that has some form of corporeal existence in the physical universe. In that sense, evil does NOT exist.
Evil 'exists' only as an abstract concept... one that is 'dualistic' in nature. 'Evil' cannot 'exist' without 'good'. They are the two sides of the same coin, in the Yin/Yang sense. One cannot 'exist' without the other; neither can be defined or described except in terms of the other.
Good/evil is further abstracted in the sense that it represents a 'judgement'... not a 'thing'. As a judgement, good/evil is wholly subjective, since it relies entirely upon the 'criteria' that is employed in making the judgement.
So, the real issue is not good/evil per se... rather it is the criteria that people use in making their judgements of good/evil.
Since we are pretty much all wired the same, and share pretty much the same cultural values in a larger sense, we usually find ourselves on common ground when we judge questions such as "Was Hitler evil?", since we can agree on the criteria. However, we should realize that if Hitler had been asked the question "Are you evil?", he most certainly would have been thoroughly offended by the very idea. According to HIS criteria, he would have seen his actions as good, for his people and for 'The Fatherland'.
When we get down to subtler questions, where someone's 'criteria' might depend upon interpretation of a particular bible verse, for example, these kinds of judgements can get a little stickier.
Remember, though... it's not really about good/evil, it's really about criteria... which ultimately comes down to one's moral compass.
2006-08-09 13:51:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pagans and Wiccans also reject the juvenile concepts of absolutes of good and evil, by the way.
I'm agnostic and over 12 years of age, so, nope... I don't believe in 1950's westerns were the good guys wear white hats and the bad guys wear black hats.
I find it really silly.
Oh, and dont get me started on the adult version of the boogeyman called "satan"
2006-08-09 13:35:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely there are! Most folks are aware of the intrinsic logical fallacy of saying there are no absolutes.
2006-08-09 13:37:02 · answer #5 · answered by KDdid 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Absolutely Not!!!
2006-08-09 13:38:45 · answer #6 · answered by Lotus Phoenix 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋