Is the god of the bible a moral being? [Spirituality & Religion]

Syllogism time:

Killing a baby is always immoral no matter who does it or for what reason.
God killed many, many babies in the flood.
Therefore god is immoral.

Thoughts?

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Kwek00 · 41-45, M

Isn't it better to establish a bigger idea of what morality is?
For everyone that doesn't believe morality is set in stone (me included) then this argument becomes seriously problematic. If you also go from the idea that God is the source of morality (which is ussually the case in religion) then it's God which decides what is Moral and what is immoral.

And to go even further, even in "normative" morality (which most non-religion people use to form senses of morality) there is always the problematic nature of the "exception" to the norm. Which can only be absolved by God (or in pre-liberal tradition: the sovereign). As Carl Schmitt said in his book on political theology: The sovereign decides what is the exception. So in those troubled moments in time, God (or the sovereign) is the entity that decides how to deal with the problems that occur when you apply normativity. Hence God always gets a clean pass. (So does the sovereign)

This btw was also an argument during the "Neuremburg Trials" after the holocaust. That Germans enforcing the will of the sovereign (Hitler and the NAZI-party) did nothing wrong. Because they are the sovereign. The allies went against this by using the idea of "universal human rights", which according to the liberal view, constrain all sovereigns in their use of power because they are not permitted to sin again these universal rules (or natural rights). But the allies are an "outside force" , with another vieuw on "reality" that judged from outside the NAZI-mindset. Inside the NAZI-mindset nothing was wrong and they were acting in a moral way because they applied the will of the sovereign which is the source of morality in their thinking.

So if you pass judgement onto God, then at least put the words "from my perspective", because inside the mindset of the world where in this God resides, it's perfectly rational for God to do these things and still be moral.

To leave on a personal note... I think the God of the Christian bible has some serious problems when it comes to morality used in the "west". If you believe in englightenment values and in the universal laws of man, then God is guilty for a lot of stuff and should at the bare minimum be put forth for crimes against humanity. You can't believe in the universal laws of man AND believe God is moral.

BiblicalWarrior · 51-55, M

@Kwek00 God, being God, is not, and cannot be, subject to laws made by His creatures. Rather, as His creatures, we are subject to His laws, and they are the ultimate expression of what is moral, being a transcript of His character.

Kwek00 · 41-45, M

@BiblicalWarrior So... (and correct me if I'm wrong) We are in agreement on the nature of God, as being "the" source of morality. And it's also God that decides on morality (and the exception, since he goes against the rules he has set for man, which don't apply for Him)? ([b]EDIT:[/b] I'm talking from in a religious sphere here)

If we can agree on that.

Then my last statement, that if we believe (in a liberal society) that "power" needs to be constrained, and we therefore invoke "natural laws" (like the right to live and not be killed) ... according to those laws, if we apply them to God, That God would end up in a tribunal with all the things he did.

There are 2 diffrent arguments here.

1. God is the source of all morality ([b]EDIT:[/b] From in the religious sphere)
2. According to the morality of western-liberal values God is considered a criminal

Both can perfectly go together. Even as a christian! The problem for the religious person, is that it feels like a sin to question God. So you don't, and therefore you don't apply earthly law to Godly beings.

That's also why I think pikachus' question is way to complex to be high and mighty about.

Carazaa · F

@BiblicalWarrior Exactly. And this life is short, and he controls eternity, and has proven his loving nature because of this world he made for us which is beautiful, and even gave us a love letter, the Bible where he tells us the future, and even visited us to show that he has understands our pain and he paid our ransom in full. We can't even understand that kind of love. It is ignorant to judge Him. Especially since we are destroying this world, we are so hateful, and so sinful. We shouldn't judge others, and definitely not God unless we risk his anger. No I want his blessings. I want him to answer all my prayers. And he does.

Hallelujah, thank you Jesus, I will never deny you, or say a single word against you because you have been amazing to me, and my kids! I will do whatever you want, and go wherever you need me to go!