Even though I am not religious, I do not think they do not know the difference. There are different ways to look at good and evil. For example, one is that good or evil is defined by the deity you worship. Another is that you can only trust your own reason and common sense. That someone have a different perspective does not mean they lack the ability to see the difference between good or evil.
-
Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:- Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
- Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
- Access to private conversations with other members.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!
Apparently, the religious on RF don't even know the difference between good and bad.
- Thread starter Beaudreaux
- Start date
Beaudreaux
Well-Known Member
Oh.....Thanks!
Beaudreaux
Well-Known Member
But they refuse to give an example of a good action or an evil action (at least the ones I asked in an earlier thread. Except for Storm. She answered). They hemmed and hawed that such things could not be defined. If someone cannot even give an example of an action that is good and/or and action that is bad/evil, how can it be said that they can know the difference?
To be honest, I have only been here a few days and have only seen a few examples of that. However, I have seen the same person make moral judgements in this thread (not that I argee with them, but that is another issue). When you argue with a moral relativist it is easy to get that impression, but also possible that impression is not entierly accurate.
Besides, I do not like to generalise, and claiming all the religious people here can´t see the difference between good and evil is that. Not saying some can´t, saying that does not mean everyone can´t.
Beaudreaux
Well-Known Member
Oh that's just to get people to respond. My previous thread on the subject "Can I have some examples of good and evil actions please?" barely got noticed.
Autodidact
Intentionally Blank
He certainly permits the latter two, and frequently commands the former two, does He not?
?? You don't follow the 613 mitzvot in the Tanakh? I thought you got your morality from the Tanakh? Where are you getting God's commandments from?
How on earth are you reading Torah to prohibit gay sex and permit working on the Sabbath? Do we have the same Torah???
Autodidact
Intentionally Blank
Doesn't He also frequently command His followers to kill them? [*sigh* tedious to have to quote the verses to people who are supposed to know them.]
Autodidact
Intentionally Blank
Right. They're permitted. They're not immoral.
No, just occasional commands.
So, in fact, genocide and infanticide are moral, when God commands them, which he does hundreds of times, and slavery is moral, in your system. Not commanded, just moral. Right? But wearing mixed fiber clothing is immoral, right?
No He does not frequently command His followers to kill,unless perhaps one of those who talk to God now and then and He talks back,I am not one of those. He only tells me stuff in that 2000 year old book, and it says to love one another, if some one slaps your face turn the other cheek. Us people that are supposed to know the Word know that the old law is not in affect, we are under new law (Jesus).
Autodidact
Intentionally Blank
I'm confused. I thought Jesus was God--the same God described in the OT. The one who repeatedly orders His followers to kill all of many local tribes. Are you saying that Jesus is not God?
Jesus is not God, He is the Son of God,He is also my God, and He said those old laws were not working out,He said He was the new law and to obey Him, and He said to love one another, not killing, but to love your enemy.
Beaudreaux
Well-Known Member
This is kind of straying from the OP, but why do you suppose God put laws into place that He must have known would not "work out"?
Kathryn
It was on fire when I laid down on it.
I am a religious person and I know the difference between good and evil.
Let's get one thing straight right off the bat though. It's not the ACTION that is evil, it's the INTENT of the perpetrator that determines evil or good.
Actions cannot be evil or good - only people can be evil or good.
I can kill another person and not be evil. I can also NOT kill another person and BE evil.
If it is my responsibility to protect someone, and if protecting them requires that I kill someone who wants to harm them, then it would be wrong of me not to do so.
This is an extreme example, but we are faced with smaller choices every day.
I can lie and not be evil. I can refuse to lie and be evil.
I can tell my child that I think they're the cutest thing ever - when I know they really aren't. I can ruthlessly tell my mother that she's looking old - which is the truth - and that would be an evil action on my part.
Evil is not in the actions, it's in the heart. The actions mirror the heart.
Let's get one thing straight right off the bat though. It's not the ACTION that is evil, it's the INTENT of the perpetrator that determines evil or good.
Actions cannot be evil or good - only people can be evil or good.
I can kill another person and not be evil. I can also NOT kill another person and BE evil.
If it is my responsibility to protect someone, and if protecting them requires that I kill someone who wants to harm them, then it would be wrong of me not to do so.
This is an extreme example, but we are faced with smaller choices every day.
I can lie and not be evil. I can refuse to lie and be evil.
I can tell my child that I think they're the cutest thing ever - when I know they really aren't. I can ruthlessly tell my mother that she's looking old - which is the truth - and that would be an evil action on my part.
Evil is not in the actions, it's in the heart. The actions mirror the heart.
Autodidact
Intentionally Blank
Wow, and here I thought Christianity was monotheistic. Are there any other Christians here who would care to comment on the statement: Jesus is not God? Would you be interested in starting a thread on this, gzusfrk?
TheKnight
Guardian of Life
Yes.
I like you. You're a rational kind of guy. Frubals to you.
Was my post in which I said,"Good action=whatever God commands Bad action=whatever God prohibits Nuetral action=an action that is neither commanded nor prohibited", Not sufficient enough?
Or do you want specific examples?
In that case, Murder=evil, Giving to Charity=Good, Slavery=Nuetral.
What's wrong with allowing slavery and polygamy? BOTH of which have extensive laws regulating what a slave-owner can do with their slave. Realize that the word for slave in Hebrew is the exact same word as the one for servant. And the concept of "slavery" (BTW, the Hebrew word for slavery also means service) is more a concept of service as a willing servant. It's not the barbaric type of slavery that the Americans did with the Africans.
I understand the Torah. You, apparently, don't. You do know that I'm a Noahide right?
Because we can know how the concepts are often defined and what is often considered good or evil. I know from my perspective it's not that I don't know the difference between the two concepts it's simply that I prefer to avoid using them. As such if I were to give an example of a good or evil action then I would simply be relating someone else's perspective and not my own. Just because we don't give you the answer you want to hear doesn't mean we have no idea what you are talking about.
Autodidact
Intentionally Blank
Need I say more?
Autodidact
Intentionally Blank
I get it. My mistake, not familiar with Noahides. Just Googled it. You follow the seven laws, but not the 613 Mitzvot. Interesting.