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A lot has been written in recent weeks about moral absolutism, and transcendent laws, but it is interesting to note, the obvious, Protestantism very birth was the result of moral relativism. More to the point, the desire of one King, Henry VIII, to rid himself of an inconvenient marriage.
I suppose I could recount the moral relativism of the Catholic Church itself, but that would require a thread of voluminous proportions. Suffice it to say, that for good and for ill (from a Christian perspective) the hundreds of Protestant denominations, clearly demonstrate that moral absolutism and transcendent law is hardly achievable even within the Christian community even as exemplified by the schism within the Anglican and Episcopal Churches over issues regarding homosexuality or the role of women in the churches pastoral leadership.
Disagreements over moral absolutes would not equate to an absence of moral absolutes.
Is it wrong to lie?
If there is a Transcendent Being and this Transcendent Being establishes an edict against lying, then, it naturally follows that lying is wrong no matter who disagrees.
If there is no Transcendent Being then it naturally follows that there can be no Transcendent Law and all morality logically becomes relative.
"If there is no God, all things are permissible."
Are certain things just plain wrong or, are certain things wrong just because the atheist says they're wrong?
Disagreements over moral absolutes would not equate to an absence of moral absolutes.
Is it wrong to lie?
If there is a Transcendent Being and this Transcendent Being establishes an edict against lying, then, it naturally follows that lying is wrong no matter who disagrees.
If there is no Transcendent Being then it naturally follows that there can be no Transcendent Law and all morality logically becomes relative.
"If there is no God, all things are permissible."
Are certain things just plain wrong or, are certain things wrong just because the atheist says they're wrong?
I'm reading (for the second time) C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity". I just finished the part where he makes your point exactly.
Disagreements over moral absolutes would not equate to an absence of moral absolutes.
Welcome back.
Well to ask a question that you are oft to ask, then who decides which of those moral absolutes is absolutely correct?
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Is it wrong to lie?
No, but that isn't one of your god's absolutes, nor is it relevant to the thread since, as an atheist and a unbeliever in moral absolutes, my opinion is of no import.
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If there is a Transcendent Being and this Transcendent Being establishes an edict against lying, then, it naturally follows that lying is wrong no matter who disagrees.
Apparently there is quite a bit of disagreement about what this transcendent being as dictated. So, who amongst the holy gets to decide?
Disagreements over moral absolutes would not equate to an absence of moral absolutes.
Is it wrong to lie?
If there is a Transcendent Being and this Transcendent Being establishes an edict against lying, then, it naturally follows that lying is wrong no matter who disagrees.
If there is no Transcendent Being then it naturally follows that there can be no Transcendent Law and all morality logically becomes relative.
Yeah, so it's too bad that no transcendent being has ever made itself known or given any edicts to humanity, huh?
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"If there is no God, all things are permissible."
Hmm. Actually it's entirely possible that all things are permissible even if there IS a God
Hmm. Actually it's entirely possible that all things are permissible even if there IS a God
Is it OK if someone steals $500 from you?
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