Why do you think religion is the base for morality then?
2007-09-22 18:52:00 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Religions teach that they are the source of "morality," but nothing could be further from the truth.
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Why Christians Must Steal From Secular Morality:
http://www.caseagainstfaith.com/submissions/steal_morality.htm
Christians must steal their moral rules from secular morality. They have no choice, as the Bible does not offer a moral system, it only offers a series of contradictory commands and a supposed threat of punishment in the "afterlife" for not following them - a punishment that is given equally to all violators - whatever the sin.
The Bible does nothing and can do nothing towards inculcating moral behavior on its own. Christians must steal from secular moral systems, and then merely graft their 'God threats' on top of this moral system. This is necessary. And the reason for this is simple: there is no morality in the Bible and there can be no morality in the Bible, because the Bible holds that 1) ALL 'sins' are equivalent (destroying any moral sense) AND 2) all moral behavior is immaterial, because works cannot save a person, AND finally all people are damned from birth.
In reality, Christians realize that some actions are more moral than others. They realize that moral actions exist in a hierarchy, and that rape is far worse than stealing a pencil. Yet the Bible holds that all 'sins' are equal, as all deserve the same punishment.
Christians also realize that humans can be moral agents... they expect moral behavior from others, and they view their own children as something to value. Yet the Bible holds that man is worthless, that he cannot be a moral agent, and that his sole salvation comes from grace. However, since Christians realize, implicitly, that all of these these points are obviously, prima facie false, they must steal from secular systems, that hold that 1) man obviously has a value 2) all 'sins' are obviously not equivalent and 3) a person cannot be held to be doing anything 'immoral' without intent.
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Origin of the 10 commandments:
http://www.atheistalliance.org/outreach/news-2002_spring.php
http://www.rationalrevolution.net/articles/ten_commandments.htm
Morality Without God:
http://www.atheists.org/Atheism/cohen.html
Morals Without Gods:
http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=library&page=sharris_26_3
2007-09-22 19:08:01 · answer #1 · answered by YY4Me 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no, God established His order at the time of creation- the law was written on the heart of man and there was no question about what was right or wrong.
Christians especially have been deceived into believing the law was given at first to Moses and was for the purpose of salvation- this is in error- the law was understood at the beginning- Adam and Eve knew what was right and what was wrong. Cain knew he sinned against God when he killed Abel. As we are today, the Isrealites were a people that sought signs and wonders, as long as they knew and could see God moving they were following but as soon as something got mundane or old, they began complaining and seeking after other things. The Isrealites, as we do today, needed a tangible reminder and undeniable, loophole free, clarification of the law God had already established.
2007-09-23 02:16:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you just watch the Ben Hur movie? I just love how they portray Moses as this serious miracle worker. He does all these wild things in front of his people, and as soon as he leaves for a bit, his flock start drinking, fornicating, sodomizing, fighting,gang-raping,killing, stealing and build a new idle to worship. Now you would think that these sheep would be just a little in Awe of Moses and his Hot God, after they parted the dead sea, and drowned the Egyptians.
2007-09-23 02:08:32 · answer #3 · answered by wakemovement 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because there was no answering to the law, as there was no law. This is why God gave Moses the ten commandments. God was laying down the law, because His children were unruly. Seems that God saw enough promiscuity, raping, plundering, and murder, worshipped idols, and figured it was hammer time. You know, we have a very patient Father. It must truly sadden Him when he looks around and sees immorality, and lack of repsect for fellow man to fellow man, even now when the Laws are in effect. If it were me, I would want to bang some heads together, but that's not my place. God is in charge. He will take care of those that do not follow His laws.
2007-09-23 02:03:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
God is the basis for morality. God gave these commandments to Moses because his creation had rejected him and was following a morality created in their own minds.
Not sure I understand what you're asking. Your question seems to imply that religion shouldn't be the base for morality, but to this point you haven't indicated why.
2007-09-23 01:58:50 · answer #5 · answered by Alex T 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Matt 7:9. Or what man is there among you, of whom if his son shall ask bread, will he reach him a stone?
7:10. Or if he shall ask him a fish, will he reach him a serpent?
7:11. If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more will your Father who is in heaven, give good things to them that ask him?
7:12. All things therefore whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you also to them. For this is the law and the prophets.
2007-09-23 02:09:57 · answer #6 · answered by Shinigami 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does anyone think there were no laws before they were written in a book?
Same with God's laws. They were handed down orally until they faded from people's memory and it was time to hand them down to a particular group of people as the custodians of those laws.
2007-09-23 02:12:41 · answer #7 · answered by Andy Roberts 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No more than they are today.
Many civilisations had systems of ethics and morality long before Moses.
2007-09-23 02:27:26 · answer #8 · answered by brainstorm 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the ten commandments were given so that we could know what angered god against us. its not morality that comes from God, its us being spiritually aware. Those who will claim God is the moral judge will also tell you God loves you, neither statement is true, God loves we who love him and we who do what he asks. Salvation comes at a price we all have to pay.
2007-09-23 02:10:02 · answer #9 · answered by Marcus R. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The world from Cain and Abel until now are killing and stealing.These unrepentant sinners will be the firewood of Hell.(apologies to the rabbinical teachings.They apply that to Gentiles)
2007-09-23 02:01:32 · answer #10 · answered by AngelsFan 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋