that could NOT be made or performed by a non-believer"
(quote is by Christopher Hitchens)
2007-10-26 14:34:22 · 10 answers · asked by kj 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The problem with believers is that they have their own sense of morality. So a thousand years ago Christian crusaders can march to a foreign land to kill people of different race and religion because their God wants it. Just like today, an Islamic fundamentalist can perform a "moral action" by blowing himself up as a suicide bomber to kill American infidels because it is the will of Allah.
Whereas a non-believer should have the common sense that killing people because a religious leader told them to is insane.
Long live Christopher Hitchens.
2007-10-26 14:39:50 · answer #1 · answered by freejunkmail2004 2 · 5⤊ 2⤋
I have no idea what the context of his quote was but the fact is that in a literal context... there is nothing that a believer could say that a non-believer could not follow, using modern Christianity as the guide.
The problem with that quote is that is sounds like it is to say that there is no difference between believers and non-believers and there is. Stereotypically, the moral base for a believer is higher than a non-believer but that does not mean that they are any better. I know of many non-believers that act as good or better than some of the believers that I know. Since morals are not exclusive to a believing society, that would mean his quote is just to pit the two groups against each other.
2007-10-26 14:41:34 · answer #2 · answered by shreditspot 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Does it have to be a rational action?
Non believers morality is based upon society training. Like we do animals. From infancy, we get rewarded for acceptable behavior by being praised. We get punished for unacceptable behavior in a number of ways. By the time we're adults, we're trained.
Unless moral actions are rational, I would have to agree that we can train animals as well as humans to perform moral actions.
2007-10-28 10:48:50 · answer #3 · answered by Matthew T 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Okay...
"Name a moral action perfomed by a Canadian that cannot be performed by a non-Canadian."
I don't get it. Is Christopher Hitchens confused about the appeal to moral authority? To my knowledge, no respected theologian ever claimed that believers were capable of certain actions above non-believers.
2007-10-26 14:43:56 · answer #4 · answered by NONAME 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The problem is, it is the wrong question to ask. We are all humans, with the physical capacity to do acts we consider "moral'. It isn't a matter of ability, it is a matter of willingness.
Would an unbeliever willingly give up his life for a stranger?
Would an unbeliever willingly give up his last bit of food, his last cup of water, his last piece of clothing for a stranger who was hungry, cold and naked?
Would an unbeliever be willing to leave the comfort of this materialistic world and go to a poverty stricken area to serve those whom we would consider the dregs of the world?
Would an unbeliever prefer death over recanting his beliefs?
There is one thing a believer can do that an unbeliever can never do, no matter how hard they try, be pleasing in the sight of God.
2007-10-26 14:51:06 · answer #5 · answered by BrotherMichael 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Only if the moral action was one of specific worship or the moral statement included the name of any deities.
2007-10-26 14:38:44 · answer #6 · answered by mommanuke 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The first answerer describes the primary problem with with Christianity. No matter how much good the rest of us do in the world, its worthless because we weren't doing it for some dead guy. Oh well.
2007-10-26 14:39:16 · answer #7 · answered by Marissa: Worker of Iniquity 3 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Yes, I can.....here it is: giving your life to save an enemy's life, or the life of someone who had previously beaten and robbed you, or raped and killed your daughter, or kidnapped and tortured your son, or set your mother's house on fire with her in it, causing her a horrible death.
Without the love of God in a human heart, that is humanly impossible.....impossible to forgive and impossible to give your life for such a person.
The Bible says that while we were yet sinners (in the same category at the above), Jesus loved us enough to die for us that we may live. That's where that kind of love comes from.
2007-10-26 14:46:55 · answer #8 · answered by transplanted_fireweed 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋
It's not the action that counts, but the motivation.
Or better said, the Motivator, Jesus Christ
2007-10-26 14:37:21 · answer #9 · answered by Molly 6 · 2⤊ 4⤋
I ate beans for lunch.
2007-10-26 14:38:48 · answer #10 · answered by Dirk Johnson 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋