On page 426 of Ken Follett’s latest novel, World Without End, I came across a neat quote. The story, which is a sequel to Pillars of the Earth, takes place in 14th century England, in a town that is mostly managed by monks from the local cathedral. A monk named Godwyn has devised a scheme …
Category Archive: ethics/morality
Mar 21 2008
On the whole “being offensive” thing
In my Dawkins report, I discussed the way many Christians — primarily of the conservative stripe — can’t stop whining about how horribly offensive the anti-religious rhetoric of the “new atheists” is, while intentionally ignoring, and even defending, far worse behavior from their own. A perfect example is this odious hypocrisy I read via Ed …
Dec 11 2007
Tell me again how theism makes you morally superior?
The latest on the Colorado church shootings: The gunman was identified as Matthew Murray, 24, who was home-schooled in what a friend said was a deeply religious Christian household. Gosh, it’s all so confusing.
Nov 25 2007
And another morally superior Christian goes down in disgrace…
Okay okay, the snark in the headline may have been overkill, since I do believe the whole discussion with Rhology about the presumed necessity of theism as a prerequisite for morality has reached its end. But it never ceases to fascinate me, that the people in our society who most frequently suffer humiliation and public …
Nov 21 2007
New study shows right/wrong distinctions in infants
Apropos to the current round of discussions we’ve been having with Rhology, news has appeared today announcing the result of a new study suggesting that even 6 month old babies can distinguish fundamental differences between good and bad social behaviors, and choose all by their little selves the better option. Babies as young as 6 …
Nov 20 2007
Warren Jeffs sentenced; must serve at least 10 years
Polygamist cult leader Warren Jeffs was sentenced today for being an accomplice to rape by running his “Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints” as a sex farm for himself and older male members, forcing teenage girls into marriages with cousins and other men often old enough to be their grandfathers. Good riddance. Now, I wonder …
Nov 19 2007
And now, for an example of that superior Christian morality in action, we take you to ORU…
Okay, so we all remember the recent series of scandals that has rocked Oral Roberts University in recent weeks, do we not? You know, where Richard Roberts and his family are accused of all manner of financial improprieties, as well as such sleazy activity as having ORU staff do their daughter’s homework for her? Well, …
Nov 19 2007
Rhology and Christianity’s misanthropic “morality”
A Christian blogger calling himself Rhology has discovered us, and is currently posting like mad in this comment thread with the usual run of “no morality without a God” canards. It’s interesting to read, mainly for the way in which Rhology argues, which involves telling us what we think (mainly, that we don’t believe in …
Oct 14 2007
Life imitates The Onion
Here’s a headline that leaves the mind reeling: “Christian Clown in Perv Bust”. Seriously, the pedophilia thing needs to stop, guys. Wonder what John Terry thinks of this guy? Shouldn’t he have had that divine “restraint” thing going on?
Oct 11 2007
A sterling example of the moral bankruptcy of religion
Recently, Richard Dawkins wrote a piece called “Logical Path from Religious Belief to Evil Deeds.” In it, he proposed that the reason religionists can consider themselves morally superior to absolutely everyone who doesn’t share their beliefs is that religious belief “changes, for people, the definition of good.” This is how, for example, the 9/11 terrorists …
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