Which is a superior foundation for morality: Christianity or Secular Humanism? [Spirituality & Religion]
While i think that Christianity has a number of good moral positions it also has some pretty wretched stuff which is (at least notionally) based on what a god wants. On the other hand, secular humanism holds as it's metric the idea of human flourishing and reduction of harm. It can encompass absolutely every moral virtue claimed by Christianity but is beholden to none of the harmful, punitive dictates that come from religious dogma.
Therefor i say that Secular humanism has the superior foundation for a system of morality.
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Christianity teaches better Morals because it is based on an absolute, the morality of God as opposed to "secular morality" which changes with the winds and has no solid base. God does not change but people do. I know the Bible has much evil in it but that is because much of it is human history, not what God approves of.
[quote] because it is based on an absolute[/quote]
Is it? How do you discern which values are divine absolute and which are human interpretations?
[quote]has no solid base.[/quote]
Secular humanism proposes a solid base: The promotion of human flourishing and the reduction of human suffering. The "solid base" proposed by christian morality is actually just "what we think god wants" which is not necessarily aligned with and is often in opposition to what is beneficial for human well being.
@Faith13praise Christianity is nuts. They say justice should be tempered with mercy. If god is just the everyone would be judged by their deeds and held responsible for them. If god is merciful, then he’s letting them off the hook for what they’ve done. You can have it both ways.
@DocSavage except true justice is tempered by mercy. Ony tyrants deal in absolutes in that way. If we are all judged by only what we have done we all are doomed to hell for the penalty of sin is death. Instead, he gave us a way to be forgiven and to live. That is not "having it both ways" and the high cost is not "letting them off the hook" either. That high cost purchased us and our forgiveness. I pray that you come to see the truth and the Love of Christ! I pray for all whether they believe or not, agree or not, even those who mock. As Christ said "forgive them for they know not what they do" So I must also do so. I forgive as he forgave and pray as he did. Yes Salvation is to produce good works, but that is just evidence of salvation not earning it. We will still sin as all sin and fall short of the glory of God.
@Faith13praise Then it’s all a waste of time. Be honest, there are few people I know that deserve to go to Heaven, but how many do you really think deserve to go to Hell for eternity? The whole system of Christian morality is rigged to fail.
@DocSavage no, it is rigged to succeed. NONE deserve Heaven yet any who choose to have faith in Christ are saved. There are so many who choose not to. They reject God and his gift and instead choose to live as they want. They want to be accountable only to themselves and have any glory be theirs. Consider the athlete who thanks God that they won. Was it because God chose that team? Of course not though many who reject God mock in that way, saying things like "oh so it is whoever prays the hardest?" when all that person is doing is thanking God for the ability he gave them, the talents that they could use to win. Faith and grace are those tools to beat the devil.
@Faith13praise According to you, there is no choice. You either accept an immoral god, or you burn. Hardly fair or ethical. You’re making an assumption that god is perfect. That is not necessarily so. In Greek and Norse mythology ( which is most likely the most widely known ) their gods were always behaving immoral. They created the Heavens and Earth, but they were far from perfect. As a Christian, you’re afraid to disagree or disapprove of your god. I’m not. And I do not believe god me the ability to chose right and wrong
@DocSavage except God is perfect and if you say you do not have the ability do for right of wrong then what, murder should be ignored because right of wrong cannot be decided?
@Faith13praise [quote]the morality of God [/quote] The bible was written by men so it contains the morality (or lack thereof) of those writers. There is better morality expressed in other works of fiction.
@DocSavage [quote]And I do not believe god me the ability to chose right and wrong.[/quote] That agrees with the bible. According to christian mythology, god tried to deny man the knowledge of right and wrong (good and evil). It was Satan who set man free by letting Eve know the truth, that she could eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
@Faith13praise If the murder takes Jesus into his heart, he gets a free pass into heaven. According to the rules. The victim, his family and friend get no justice. People have the ability to decide right and wrong themselves. Our jury system is based on that.
