In a hypothetical universe run by deities, does good exist even if the gods don't agree with what is good?

Question

Would you rather believe that in such a universe, anything the gods deem good is automatically good, even if they change their minds?

Answer 1

YES," GOOD " DOES EXISIST. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

Answer 2

First "good" must be defined:

I define both "good and evil" as follows:

"Good is that which takes us forward on the path of Spiritual evolution toward greater freedom, livingness, intelligence, light and love. Evil is that which takes us back into the past to lesser freedom, lesser livingness, lesser intelligence, light and love."

And, using the above definition:

"You can change the name of good and evil, but you will still wind up talking about good and evil, just using different terminology."

I agree that what is considered as "good or evil" in one generation may reverse themselves in the next. Some interpret this as evidence that "it's all relative". I agree that there is relative perception, but not relative truth. So, often what is actually being observed is simply a change in position RELATIVE to the truth.

If you (or anyone else) is REALLY interested in knowing about "good and evil" then you might begin by reading a collection of quotes on the subject at:

http://www.freeread.com/archives/good-evil-quotes.php

Regards,

Answer 3

Good can only be perceived as being good when measured against what is perceived as bad.Therefore, yes good would exist even if each deities perception of good differed.What you believe as good would depend on which deity you had the strongest faith in and if that deity changed its mind then that would be a test of your faith.

Answer 4

Yes, it does exist, and not all gods are automatically "good" - the Egyptian god Set/Seth was pretty much the definition of evil in the Egyptian pantheon.

Most polytheistic pantheons will have at least one member who is considered "bad news" for whatever reason.

Answer 5

mind boggling

in this hyp. universe.... the current gods are political figures

and they do change their minds!

I would rather just follow principles of ethics that do not change over time and use a standard of protocol how to treat life and others respectfully without biting the hand that feeds me or poluting the very waters and farms I need to sustain life

Answer 6

If your hypothetical universe is as orderly as ours, and once it is repetitious like ours, then anything that is repetitious and orderly must have been made and there would be a Chief architect. For the orbs to be harmonious in their orbital paths, the chief must be good and absolutely brilliant to allow the obedient matter to have specific roles--perfectly shaped and singing in harmony. All other matter that existed before our earth was either bent out of shape, crunched in a fiery furnace or spat out like meteorites. I hope your universe has a quarantine station, earth-like as ours is, but : I hope they do not destroy the ancient libraries, and I hope your chief deity is as wise as ours to prophetically etch all future events either in codes in Solomon's Temple, or in numerical sequencing letters in a Torah like ours.

Boaz.

Answer 7

In a hypothetical universe the strongest is the law.

Answer 8

Yep. They would decide what's wrong or right if anyone didn't agree they would be sent to a tormentous place.
Edit: The guy above me is a genius!!

Answer 9

I heard my friends Socrates and Euthyphro talking about this. They never came to an answer. I doubt you'll do much better

Answer 10

Sure, because "good", like "evil", "bad", "right" and "wrong" are all releative concepts. Relative to each entity capable of understanding.