Re: [asa] morals/ethics (was: Francis Collins shows mild signs of dementia, NA snark)

Hi Bernie,

"So what is the most important pressing moral issue that Christians and
atheists will have differing opinions on?"

Two things popped into my head when you asked this.

As far as moral issues go, I have found that if someone is supportive of
eugenics or infanticide, they are almost always an atheist.

When it comes to morality itself, I have found that Christians tend to be
more forgiving, while atheists/secularists tend to nurse grudges if they
feel they have been wronged. If a Christian nurses a grudge against me, and
wants revenge, I can gently remind him/her of the Lord's teaching on
forgiveness. If an atheist nurses a grudge against me, and wants revenge,
there is nothing to say. As a newly minted atheist, what would you suggest?

Mike

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dehler, Bernie" <bernie.dehler@intel.com>
To: <asa@calvin.edu>
Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 1:46 PM
Subject: RE: [asa] morals/ethics (was: Francis Collins shows mild signs of
dementia, NA snark)

> Merv said:
> "Here is my challenge to YOU, Bernie: Assuming that you equally
> disapprove of their atheistic misbehavior, what do you go and challenge
> them with? What basis do you give them for saying: "what you are doing
> is wrong"? "
>
> I think this can only be discussed given a specific example, so please
> provide one.
>
> Most likely, I bet a thoughtful Christian and atheist can agree on many
> things because of decency and logic.
>
> I think the gay issue won't work because last time it was tried the
> discussion filters deleted/blocked messages, etc.
>
> So what is the most important pressing moral issue that Christians and
> atheists will have differing opinions on?
>
> ...Bernie
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On
> Behalf Of mrb22667@kansas.net
> Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 10:40 AM
> To: Dehler, Bernie
> Cc: asa@calvin.edu
> Subject: RE: [asa] Francis Collins shows mild signs of dementia, NA snark
>
> Quoting "Dehler, Bernie" <bernie.dehler@intel.com>:
>
>> George said:
>> "I've tried to bear in mind. & one weakness of the position of many
>> atheists
>> is that they have no clear basis for their ethics."
>>
>> Bernie replies: "Neither do Christians."
>>
>
> So, Bernie, here's a challenge. When Christians do things like the
> crusades,
> inquisitions, shooting abortion doctors, blindly being "pro-Israel" on
> every
> political issue no matter what the consequences to anyone ... the list
> could go
> on; you feel free to challenge their actions as being wrong. On what
> basis do
> you decide that? You are free to respond that Christians are failing to
> live up
> to their own calling --their own religious claims --(hypocrites, in other
> words). Now what if a group of atheists (as outspoken atheists --thinking
> of
> the Soviet era e.g.) engage in their bit of mischief. Here is my
> challenge to
> YOU, Bernie: Assuming that you equally disapprove of their atheistic
> misbehavior, what do you go and challenge them with? What basis do you
> give
> them for saying: "what you are doing is wrong"?
>
> Christians, contrary to what you say, have that very clear basis even if
> they
> fail to follow it --even if you choose not to believe in it --until it
> suits
> your purpose as a tool for selectively thinking Christians are hypocrites.
>
> --Merv
>
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>
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Received on Mon Oct 19 22:37:30 2009