Quote:
Originally Posted by flamesfever
Yes, but if that authority subscribes to the same things that you aspire to in your first paragraph, and in the end, accomplishes the same thing whether by fear or otherwise, then what's the difference?
Do you not see the benefit of having a moral code with which you can periodically recalibrate your behavior towards others?
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In fact, I don't think we disagree much on this. It would be foolish to discount entirely the influence of Christianity on my moral beliefs. The influence is very deep--but so is the influence of the enlightenment, secular humanism, law, science, philosophy (from Hegel to Baudrillard) and any number of other sources of truth that I use as yardsticks. The point I'm making is, I guess, an advocacy of materialism: my experience of these things makes me a good moral and ethical judge. I'm confident in using it without needing to believe in an all-powerful being who will punish me if I don't.