Rob Alexander
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What should Ethical behavior be based on without the belief in a personal God
A criticism often leveled by people of strong religious faith is that secular societies have no basis for Morality, Ethics or Justice.Is there a basis for ethical behavior that will transcend the generations or is basing our ethics in the morality of the times and hoping that we're headed in the right direction the best we can do? … Read More
January 10, 2009 |
Rob Alexander commented on What is the measure of a good life? on January 10, 2009, 6:30 AM
The more I have a chance to speak to people who have lived through wars and other times of extreme hardship, the more I hear that after everything else is gone, the value of life can be measured in the smiles of those we love and the ability to eat good food.We've got the luxury of the food. Let's make sure that we are using our energy efficiently to enable more people to feel happiness.
Rob Alexander commented on Re: What is justice? on January 10, 2009, 6:56 AM
I am more on the question side than the answer side, but I feel I must respond to norma6justice66 (is it coincidence that norma's handle contains 666? I'm not worried, just intrigued)Saying that "the Book" provides us with an understandable and workable concept of Justice is not only morally terrifying, but intrinsically hypocritical. If "the Book" happens to include the old testament shared by the Abrahamic religions, then it says that denying religion should be punished by death and that insolence in children and women should be punished by public stoning. There are passages in the religious scriptures that espouse ethical and tolerant responses to others' actions, but there are an equal number of passages that condone, or even demand horrifically violent and anti-ethical responses.Cherry picking favorite quotes from scriptures is no basis for Justice in any humanitarian society.