Back to Morality

Okay, so it’s been a while since we hit on morality. Partly because of the problem we had over my poor use of words in the Evidence discussion. I certainly didn’t want to let our morality discussion go without a few last comments by both of us.

Though you and I sound very different in what we have been saying, I think we are really saying the same thing in the end. Here is what I am saying about non-theistic morality. I am saying that I believe that non-theistic morality is relative to the individual, and that there is no basis for any absolute right and wrong in a non-theistic system. In other words “every man does what is right in his own eyes.” This can, of course, extend to a societal level, when enough people with the same preferences make those preferences into moral laws, but those laws change as the society changes, and so are just as subjective and preferential as individual mores.

That is what I have been trying to establish in our discussions. I believe this is what you appear to be saying also, as your words describe, “Societies evolve and change. Individuals in those societies make moral decisions based on what they are taught in their society… But they are always in the context of our society. And we judge others as good or bad based on that context. I judge the bible as immoral based on my societal context; you judge it as moral. We judge it differently based on not only our societal context but on our personal moral decisions based on separate life experiences… So I see no justification other than proof texting holy books for saying there is or ever has been any absolute moral standard. (emphasis mine)”

So it appears as if you and I are saying the same thing in reference to non-theistic ideas of morality. At least this is my take. It just sounds as if we are saying the same things using different arguments.

A few other comments:
I understand why you think god is immoral. So, no, it doesn’t offend me. I realize that you are making a judgment from your own personal standards and are not going beyond your personal preferences or thinking in making such an assertion. I would venture to say that you are not making a statement of propositional truth when you say that god is immoral. I think you are simply saying that you don’t care for those morals and so personally deem them to be immoral.

I, of course, differ, because I do not believe that morality is preferential (whether societally or individually), but absolute and invariant. While I don’t think you would ever try to say that I need to follow your moral code (because it is your own), I on the other hand make the rather audacious claim that since the moral code I look to is absolute, universal and unchanging that everyone will ultimately be judged by this code. I do believe that there is a right and wrong that extends beyond man and even society. And I believe that I am not the one who determines what is right and wrong but that this moral code transcends all of reality and was around before man was around. I believe that it comes from an eternal, absolute, unchanging God. Of course, you know that I believe all of this, so I don’t suppose I am writing any of this other than for the other readers of this blog. Maybe our next step in this discussion on morality is for me to defend why I believe that there is morality that extends beyond man’s preferences. What think you???

Anyway, I am glad that we agree, at least somewhat, on the non-theistic idea of morality.
Blessings Friend!