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Atheism, Slavery, And The Moral High Ground...

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  • Atheism, Slavery, And The Moral High Ground...

    Pointing to the allowance of slavery in the Old Testament, especially, seems to engender a sense of moral superiority in some atheists. An emotional objection I understand. But on what rational grounds do they object?
    Atheism is the cult of death, the death of hope. The universe is doomed, you are doomed, the only thing that remains is to await your execution...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbnueb2OI4o&t=3s

  • #2
    Generally I think you'd find Christians and atheists today in agreement that perhaps the worst types of moral evil are genocide, slavery and torture.

    God in the bible commands multiple genocides rather than condemns it, gives sets of law to the Israelites that endorse slavery, and generally says nothing to condemn torture.

    Therefore, in terms of being a handbook for morality, the Bible falls on its face at step one. It fails to condemn the really majorly evil things, and instead tends to endorse them.

    Slavery is hence viewed by atheists as a basic example of the Bible's immorality. Similarly the history of Christians endorsing and fighting for slavery is viewed in the same light.
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    • #3
      Originally posted by Starlight View Post

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      • #4
        Originally posted by Starlight View Post
        Generally I think you'd find Christians and atheists today in agreement that perhaps the worst types of moral evil are genocide, slavery and torture.

        God in the bible commands multiple genocides rather than condemns it, gives sets of law to the Israelites that endorse slavery, and generally says nothing to condemn torture.

        Therefore, in terms of being a handbook for morality, the Bible falls on its face at step one. It fails to condemn the really majorly evil things, and instead tends to endorse them.

        Slavery is hence viewed by atheists as a basic example of the Bible's immorality. Similarly the history of Christians endorsing and fighting for slavery is viewed in the same light.
        Well as Christians we primarily take our moral marching orders from the New Testament. That those ethical teachings are universal and authoritative. What God allowed and ordered in the Old Testament related to largely primitive and brutal peoples. Genocide was directed towards seriously wicked peoples who often were sacrificing their own children. And we pretty much did the same when we fire bombed major German and Japanese cities. But again, I see no good rational objections from atheists. Emotional response, yes.
        Atheism is the cult of death, the death of hope. The universe is doomed, you are doomed, the only thing that remains is to await your execution...

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbnueb2OI4o&t=3s

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        • #5
          Originally posted by seer View Post
          Genocide was directed towards seriously wicked peoples who often were sacrificing their own children.
          We can also theorize that God gave those nations ample opportunity to repent before exacting judgment on them. For instance, the Egyptians were given 10 chances as recorded in Exodus, and then there is the account of Jonah prophesying to the people of Nineveh who took his warnings to heart. As the preacher once said, "God may be patient, but try taking undue advantage of it."
          Some may call me foolish, and some may call me odd
          But I'd rather be a fool in the eyes of man
          Than a fool in the eyes of God


          From "Fools Gold" by Petra

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          • #6
            Originally posted by seer View Post
            Pointing to the allowance of slavery in the Old Testament, especially, seems to engender a sense of moral superiority in some atheists. An emotional objection I understand. But on what rational grounds do they object?
            Just throwing this out here, but maybe it's rational in the way they think is rational?

            It's almost like they think it's rational, but may not rational.

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Machinist View Post

              Just throwing this out here, but maybe it's rational in the way they think is rational?

              It's almost like they think it's rational, but may not rational.
              The problem is that there is no logically sound way to get from the premise "atheism is true" to "therefore, we ought not practice slavery".
              Some may call me foolish, and some may call me odd
              But I'd rather be a fool in the eyes of man
              Than a fool in the eyes of God


              From "Fools Gold" by Petra

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              • #8
                OK where's Stoic?

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Mountain Man View Post

                  The problem is that there is no logically sound way to get from the premise "atheism is true" to "therefore, we ought not practice slavery".
                  But that is an opinion that they have, is it not? That it doesn't pass the Official Logical Soundness Test is immaterial, is it not?

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Mountain Man View Post

                    The problem is that there is no logically sound way to get from the premise "atheism is true" to "therefore, we ought not practice slavery".
                    "I don't want to be a slave" therefore "We ought not practice slavery."

                    No religion or lack thereof is needed.

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by seer View Post
                      Pointing to the allowance of slavery in the Old Testament, especially, seems to engender a sense of moral superiority in some atheists. An emotional objection I understand. But on what rational grounds do they object?
                      I don't need rational grounds. Empathy is sufficient.

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                      • #12
                        How is that not logical?

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                        • #13
                          If genocide is "morally evil" in an *absolute* sense, then God was evil the few times He commanded it. I don't agree that God is evil. I am thus left to conclude that genocide is NOT morally evil, in any intrinsic and absolute sense.

                          Likewise, if torture is intrinsically and absolutely evil, then God was evil for endorsing beatings and mutilation as punishments. I don't agree that God is evil. I am thus left to conclude that torture is NOT morally evil in any intrinsic and absolute sense.

                          This is why I am not quick to use those standards to condemn those cultures that still employ those practices.
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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Juvenal View Post

                            "I don't want to be a slave" therefore "We ought not practice slavery."

                            No religion or lack thereof is needed.
                            I don't want to be a slave but I have no problem enslaving you for my own personal benefit. All set!
                            Atheism is the cult of death, the death of hope. The universe is doomed, you are doomed, the only thing that remains is to await your execution...

                            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbnueb2OI4o&t=3s

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Stoic View Post

                              I don't need rational grounds. Empathy is sufficient.
                              Like I said - an emotional response....
                              Atheism is the cult of death, the death of hope. The universe is doomed, you are doomed, the only thing that remains is to await your execution...

                              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbnueb2OI4o&t=3s

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