Amppax Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 I believe in a universal right to equal dignity and happiness. I believe that God is love, and that love is the desire to cause happiness, to redeem unhappiness, and to refrain from causing it. That is the trajectory of civilization planted one cross at a time, and that is the basis for everything noble or beautiful in life. If am wrong about that, then I know nothing, and I have wasted my life looking for truth. I will only believe the Pope if I am disputed. Huh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fidei Defensor Posted January 5, 2013 Author Share Posted January 5, 2013 THIS! He is the standard- He tells us what goodness is through Scripture, Tradition, and of course natural law. Granted, if you always follow His example, murder would be permissible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4588686 Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 It's turtles all the way down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fidei Defensor Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 I like turtles :| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4588686 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 I like turtles :| All good men do http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtles_all_the_way_down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anastasia13 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Why is God good? Bump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fidei Defensor Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 Why is God good? Some would argue that "goodness" is an attribute of God (i.e. all-good.) If by why you mean "why is God "good" and not "evil," I don't think there'll be a sufficient answer if the only definition of good we have to go on is that which God does and commands of us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anastasia13 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 (edited) Some would argue that "goodness" is an attribute of God (i.e. all-good.) If by why you mean "why is God "good" and not "evil," I don't think there'll be a sufficient answer if the only definition of good we have to go on is that which God does and commands of us. Can one then not argue that good in an of itself does not exist as it is defined as dependent on something else, i.e. it is of God? Evil is not bad in a truly negative sense, it is just not of God. This means we have no arbitrary sense of right and wrong, good and evil, etc. If one then rejects God, one has not reason by virtue of this view to hold to any sense of good and evil, yet some do and some recognize value of things, ideas, people, that might otherwise seem God-inspired. While this may be God's law written on thier hearts, there obviously some measure of free will and varying degrees of what is dependent on God for value, merit, moral worth, etc. just as there is a varying in who rejects God. Thus, those who do not reject some idea of what is good in llife (love, kindness, mercy, etc.) have not completely rejected God even though they may be ardent athiests, no? Edited January 9, 2013 by Light and Truth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
add Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Why is "goodness" good? That is, is goodness defined by what God dictates, or is God bound, as "all-good," to only do good things because they are good? Or more simply, is goodness from God or separate from God? No one is good except God alone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4588686 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 No one is good except God alone I'm pretty nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fidei Defensor Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 Can one then not argue that good in an of itself does not exist as it is defined as dependent on something else, i.e. it is of God? Evil is not bad in a truly negative sense, it is just not of God. This means we have no arbitrary sense of right and wrong, good and evil, etc. If one then rejects God, one has not reason by virtue of this view to hold to any sense of good and evil, yet some do and some recognize value of things, ideas, people, that might otherwise seem God-inspired. While this may be God's law written on thier hearts, there obviously some measure of free will and varying degrees of what is dependent on God for value, merit, moral worth, etc. just as there is a varying in who rejects God. Thus, those who do not reject some idea of what is good in llife (love, kindness, mercy, etc.) have not completely rejected God even though they may be ardent athiests, no? This assumes that said atheists accept that definition of good. A common objection is that "good" is not an objective and stand-alone thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fides' Jack Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Granted, if you always follow His example, murder would be permissible. Hm... I think killing would not be wrong for God, but it would be wrong for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tantum Ergo Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Hm... I think killing would not be wrong for God, but it would be wrong for us. I think we can look at it this way only insofar as our lives are not our own, they belong to God, and thus He has the right to end our lives when He wills. This definitely isn't the same thing as sin though. God cannot commit any sin - it goes against His very essence. It's not as though God can murder, cheat, or steal without it being a sin for Him. There are some things (sinful things) it is not in His nature to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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