Killing Humans (For Spiritualists)

Ethics, Morality, and Sin

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ENIGMA
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Killing Humans (For Spiritualists)

Post #1

Post by ENIGMA »

Currently in another thread, Paveway has asked this question to atheists and agnostics:
Why is it "wrong" and against the Law to Kill Humans?
Humans are classified as animals, and according to the Darwinian theory we are Animals, but it isn't as bad to kill animals and it isn't "wrong" AT ALL to kill insects.
So why is it "immoral" to Kill Humans?
(Spiritualists please don't answer this question, this is entirely for the Agnostics and Atheists thankyou, the reason why is because this is too easy for a God believing Human, and you will ruin my plot)
I disagree with the last assertion, and would like to see "spiritualists" and theists attempt to answer the question. I would rather not muddle the other thread with this new one.

The general ground rules being that any response can yield one or more additional follow-up questions. At any point if one believes a question is too obtuse, I will, in all likelyhood, be more than happy to point to an equivalently obtuse question on request in the other thread.

I assert that any response that yields no further source of inquiry will provide equal justification for either atheists, agnostics, or theists.

So....

Why is it "wrong" and against the law to kill humans?
Why is it "immoral" to kill humans?
Gilt and Vetinari shared a look. It said: While I loathe you and all of your personal philosophy to a depth unplummable by any line, I will credit you at least with not being Crispin Horsefry [The big loud idiot in the room].

-Going Postal, Discworld

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Re: Killing Humans (For Spiritualists)

Post #2

Post by McCulloch »

So how long before this gets into the age old conundrum (it has a name and someone who is more familiar with philosophy can probably supply it).
Is it wrong to murder because God says so? OR Did God condemn murder because it is inherently wrong?
Examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good.
First Epistle to the Church of the Thessalonians
The truth will make you free.
Gospel of John

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ENIGMA
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Re: Killing Humans (For Spiritualists)

Post #3

Post by ENIGMA »

McCulloch wrote:So how long before this gets into the age old conundrum (it has a name and someone who is more familiar with philosophy can probably supply it).
Is it wrong to murder because God says so? OR Did God condemn murder because it is inherently wrong?
The Euryphro dilemma.

But we are getting ahead of ourselves... Let the believers answer.
Gilt and Vetinari shared a look. It said: While I loathe you and all of your personal philosophy to a depth unplummable by any line, I will credit you at least with not being Crispin Horsefry [The big loud idiot in the room].

-Going Postal, Discworld

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Post #4

Post by Paveway »

Once the spiritualists answer you will have some back-up to answer a spiritual question....the reason why i made the other thread was because it was impossible for an ATheist to answer, spiritualists should know the answer, and thus ruining my topic

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Post #5

Post by ENIGMA »

Paveway wrote:Once the spiritualists answer you will have some back-up to answer a spiritual question....the reason why i made the other thread was because it was impossible for an ATheist to answer, spiritualists should know the answer, and thus ruining my topic
They should know the answer? We shall see if they do.

I stand by my assertion that the theists ultimately have no better answer.
Gilt and Vetinari shared a look. It said: While I loathe you and all of your personal philosophy to a depth unplummable by any line, I will credit you at least with not being Crispin Horsefry [The big loud idiot in the room].

-Going Postal, Discworld

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Post #6

Post by Bugmaster »

ENIGMA wrote:I stand by my assertion that the theists ultimately have no better answer.
Ok, since real believers aren't answering so far, let me emulate one.

"God has created the absolute laws of morality (which are as real as the laws of physics, if not more so) when he created our Universe; according to these laws, murder is universally wrong".

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Post #7

Post by ENIGMA »

Bugmaster wrote:
ENIGMA wrote:I stand by my assertion that the theists ultimately have no better answer.
Ok, since real believers aren't answering so far, let me emulate one.
I wouldn't be suprised if no believer steps into this thread.
"God has created the absolute laws of morality (which are as real as the laws of physics, if not more so) when he created our Universe; according to these laws, murder is universally wrong".
How can the "absolute laws of morality" be absolute if they can be readily violated, as opposed to the laws of physics which cannot?

How can a deity construct "absolute laws of morality"? On what basis?

Is murder really absolutely wrong in every circumstance? You would have a moral objection to murdering Hitler? Or is it simply that your moral objections would be irrelevant?
Gilt and Vetinari shared a look. It said: While I loathe you and all of your personal philosophy to a depth unplummable by any line, I will credit you at least with not being Crispin Horsefry [The big loud idiot in the room].

-Going Postal, Discworld

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Post #8

Post by Chimp »

I can only speak for myself. I do not want to assume the mantle of defender
of theists :?

I see the killing of another human as wrong because it violates the golden
rule. I don't see it as something specific to a religious principle, other than
most scriptures reinforce the idea that murder is wrong. I assume we are
talking about murder as opposed to self-defence or mercy killings.

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