Morality

Christian Morality Has Changed

• Christians invariably claim that they are the only ones with morality.
  
  After all, the Bible is the source of all moral wisdom. God tells us how to behave, such as "Kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man intimately. But spare for yourselves all virgin maidens." — Numbers 31:17-18.
  
  But their morality has changed. Once upon a time, genocide, infanticide, rape, incest and slavery were all considered morally ok.
  
  
  Today, same religion (sort of, they still worship same god), but completely different morality.
  
  Morality is a cultural artifact, not a set of guiding rules laid down by a supernatural being.
  
  The morality of the OT reflected the culture of the time, not some never-changing set of principles.
  
  Feudalism? The Bible explains clearly why you must submit to your betters.
  
  Monarchy? Here, let me provide the Biblical backing for the Divine Rights of Kings.
  
  Nationalism? Absolutely. It's God's will that you go fight for your country.
  
  Elections? A good, Christian concept. We are all God's children.
  
  Women's suffrage? Bad idea, the Bible clearly states that women must be submissive to the leader of the household.
  
  Women's suffrage? Great idea, those Bible quotes are taken out of context.
  
  Slavery? Oh yes, clearly backed by the Bible.
  
  Abolition of Slavery? Oh yes, clearly backed by the Bible.
  
  Anti-semitism? Tons of Biblical support for that. Go burn some Jews.
  
  Anti-anti-semitism? A moral obligation for any good Christian.
  
  Basically, whatever the (current) Big Cheese says, some Christians will find a way to back it. The idea of Christianity as a rock-solid unwavering foundation for a robust set of morals is utterly contradicted by history.

Only Morality?

Pick and Mix

Where does morality come from? How do Christians know which verses to ignore and which ones to follow?

Christians often ignore the bits about obeying your husband, divorce = adultery and don't wear hats in church.

Christian Version of Imposed Morality

I understand people believe that kind of crap... I really do. What boggles my mind is that people can believe that kind of crap, believe they are correct, and believe it is a *positive* thing and should be forced on others. Fark that.

"Try to be a good person" is great.

"God says I should try to be a good person," is, I guess, acceptable. I don't need an invisible observer in the sky to behave myself, but maybe some do.

"God will send your children to hell unless you believe the same things I do" is psychotic.

Christopher Hitchens

"Since religion has proved itself uniquely delinquent on the one subject where moral and ethical authority might be counted as universal and absolute [the protection of children], I think we are entitled to at least three provisional conclusions. The first is that religion and the churches are manufactured, and that this salient fact is too obvious to ignore. The second is that ethics and morality are quite independent of faith, and cannot be derived from it. The third is that religion is - because it claims a special divine exemption for its practices and beliefs - not just amoral but immoral." (Christopher Hitchens)