The Moral Standing of a Diety
Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 3:42 pm
As a logical yet spiritual thinker, I am constantly plagued with certain arguments concerning faith and reason, since, as we all know, the two do not always line up. But a particular argument by a theological philosopher named Bertrand Russell has me puzzled.
He argues that if one believes there is a difference between right and wrong, the question becomes: is that difference due to God's decision? If so, God sanctions what is right and what is wrong, and therefore God must exist outside of the right/wrong playing field, mkaing it innacurate to say that 'God is good' (as in right).
Some may think of God as a sort of divine judge, but that is a problematic view. Judges, as we know them, are so called because of their dedication to a predefined standard (which allows them to make just decisions), not their creation of standards. Judges are ardent followers of the rules of society.
Ohters may say God is infinitely wise. While this is not a point to be argued, wisdom does not equal morality. We believe it is wise to be moral because of the negative effects of immorality. God has no such effects.
I propose that maybe God is not good, but God is not bad, as we know it. God is what he is, and right and wrong are human standards.
What do you all think?
He argues that if one believes there is a difference between right and wrong, the question becomes: is that difference due to God's decision? If so, God sanctions what is right and what is wrong, and therefore God must exist outside of the right/wrong playing field, mkaing it innacurate to say that 'God is good' (as in right).
Some may think of God as a sort of divine judge, but that is a problematic view. Judges, as we know them, are so called because of their dedication to a predefined standard (which allows them to make just decisions), not their creation of standards. Judges are ardent followers of the rules of society.
Ohters may say God is infinitely wise. While this is not a point to be argued, wisdom does not equal morality. We believe it is wise to be moral because of the negative effects of immorality. God has no such effects.
I propose that maybe God is not good, but God is not bad, as we know it. God is what he is, and right and wrong are human standards.
What do you all think?