What does it mean to be a better person?

[blü 2]

I think it might have to because those who are rejected by the tribe because they cannot or will not cooperate or be nice, are ousted or rejected so the chances for them to reproduce would be more limited than the more altruistic members?

I'm inclined to agree that this would be part of it ─ though cooperation and civility aren't quite the same thing as altruism.

 

[InChrist]

These are not good sources for judging the the morality of humans. History's story belongs to the powerful and is vastly unrepresentative of the majority. The 'news' presented only shows the worst of the worst. Most people are good.

We’ll just have to disagree. I think anyone who is honest knows better, while people can be good and do good things, everyone often does wrong things or does not do what should be done. Just think of all those Nazis who treated the Jews so cruelly or violently killed Jews as if they were not killing humans beings. Yet, these same Nazis went home and did good things for their families or neighbors.

 

[Heyo]

We’ll just have to disagree. I think anyone who is honest knows better, while people can be good and do good things, everyone often does wrong things or does not do what should be done. Just think of all those Nazis who treated the Jews so cruelly or violently killed Jews as they were not killing humans beings. Yet, these same Nazis went home and did good things for their families or neighbors.

Godwin's Law. You lose.

 

[Trailblazer]

I am atheist and sincerely believe i im a more moral person than many religious people.

From what I have seen of you, you probably are.

 

[Trailblazer]

The 'news' presented only shows the worst of the worst.

But sometimes news shows the best of the best. I wish I were half as good as some of those people.

Most people are good.

Except when you put them behind the wheel of a car.
A good way to tell about people is how they drive.

 

[Trailblazer]

Cats are manipulative though. They act like abusive spouses. Ignore you when you need affection and then show affection randomly. No wonder I love them.

Not my cats. My cats never ignore me, they are all over me even when it is inconvenient....
On the other hand, I can never get any attention for my husband, because he is always too busy not being busy.

 

[Heyo]

Except when you put them behind the wheel of a car.
A good way to tell about people is how they drive.

There are three kinds of drivers:

1. Those suicidal/murderous maniacs who always go too fast
2. Those Sunday drivers, old people who only serve as movable traffic stops

and then there's me.

 

[Samael_Khan]

Sure. Not harming can be an indication of a moral character. It would only be a part of a larger set of characteristics which when viewed as a whole would distinguish a moral person from an amoral person.

An action taken in order to preserve one's life against a deadly threat would not be enough to determine a person's morality.

I agree with you here.

I have come across pacifists though who contradict themselves by saying that self defense is OK, but the country going to war in self defense is wrong, therefore they won't join in the fight.

Do you think that going to war is okay if it is in self defense? Although it can get pretty out of hand.

 

[Samael_Khan]

I think God’s assessment of human nature is revealed in the Bible and that is that all have sinned and fall short. I see for the most part that humans are basically self-centered as history and the daily news attest to repeatedly. Sure people can appreciate others and desire things which benefit the world because we are created in the image of God.

I agree with this in the metaphorical sense but not in the literal sense.

The idea that we all sin reveals that we all have faults that we don't necessarily consciously make in many cases, and the forgiveness that Jesus preaches in the New Testament speaks against taking revenge which is emotionally driven.

I think "I see for the most part that humans are basically self-centered as history and the daily news attest to repeatedly" is a rather skewed and biased outlook. Firstly the news itself is very negative because fear sells. Reality is way more nuanced than that. Humans are both selfish and unselfish and which is driven by context.

 

[Samael_Khan]

Not my cats. My cats never ignore me, they are all over me even when it is inconvenient....
On the other hand, I can never get any attention for my husband, because he is always too busy not being busy.

You are one lucky person with regards to your cats.

 

[Trailblazer]

You are one lucky person with regards to your cats.

I don't know about that.... You should have seen the mess I just cleaned up.
One or more cats do not know what a litter box is.
But I love them all regardless.

 

[Heyo]

Do you think that going to war is okay if it is in self defense? Although it can get pretty out of hand.

"Sadam Hussein has WMDs and he is going to use them. We have to defend ourselves and our Allies."
Year, there's self defense and then there's "self defense".

 

[Samael_Khan]

"Sadam Hussein has WMDs and he is going to use them. We have to defend ourselves and our Allies."
Year, there's self defense and then there's "self defense".

Very true. It is very difficult to gauage who is telling the truth or not in these situations.

 

[Heyo]

Very true. It is very difficult to gauage who is telling the truth or not in these situations.

I think that self defense is OK, even for countries. But in the military you are in no position to decide that you only want to fight as long as it is on that countries ground and only use the least lethal force necessary.

 

[Samael_Khan]

I think that self defense is OK, even for countries. But in the military you are in no position to decide that you only want to fight as long as it is on that countries ground and only use the least lethal force necessary.

And also the state of fear manifested in those types of situations often leads people to make extreme irrational decisions which costs lives.

 

[ChristineM]

From what I have seen of you, you probably are.

Thank you.

 

[InChrist]

True

I agree with this in the metaphorical sense but not in the literal sense.

The idea that we all sin reveals that we all have faults that we don't necessarily consciously make in many cases, and the forgiveness that Jesus preaches in the New Testament speaks against taking revenge which is emotionally driven.

I think "I see for the most part that humans are basically self-centered as history and the daily news attest to repeatedly" is a rather skewed and biased outlook. Firstly the news itself is very negative because fear sells. Reality is way more nuanced than that. Humans are both selfish and unselfish and which is driven by context.

True humans are both selfish and unselfish. Yet, I think the point of the biblical scriptures is that humans fall short of God’s perfection and the goal of God is to bring each person (whosoever desires) to perfection through the Savior Jesus Christ; no selfishness or sin. I believe this is an accomplishment we do not have the ability to reach on our own.

 

[Samael_Khan]

True

True humans are both selfish and unselfish. Yet, I think the point of the biblical scriptures is that humans fall short of God’s perfection and the goal of God is to bring each person (whosoever desires) to perfection through the Savior Jesus Christ; no selfishness or sin. I believe this is an accomplishment we do not have the ability to reach on our own.

I would agree that we cannot reach that we cannot accomplish that on our own. That is the one meaning of the Bible that I can resonate with.

 

[wandering peacefully]

We’ll just have to disagree. I think anyone who is honest knows better, while people can be good and do good things, everyone often does wrong things or does not do what should be done.

I never claimed anyone was perfect and always did good. And throwing in the honestly comment doesn't help your point.

I believe I am correct in the only claim I made which was that most people are good vs being "Hitlers" as you suggest. So yes, we will agree to disagree.

 

[wandering peacefully]

But sometimes news shows the best of the best. I wish I were half as good as some of those people.

What do you mean you wish you were half as good as those people? Which people on the news are you talking about and what is it they do which makes you feel you are only half as good?