Is a Fundamentalist less Moral than a Moderate theist?

Dude *facepalm*

 

Well one's called al-quada the others are called average Muslims. Do I get a prize?

 

Since you portray yourself as a Christian, aren't you showing your lack of dedication to the faith by clinging to your own computer?
You make an irrelevant diversion to a "liberal" reference. Kind of indicates the absence of a real argument.
Jesus did not touch a money changer in the temple. If you think he did, cite the verse.
For what it's worth, I think what you imagine would be relevant sacrifices of goods and services if one took Jesus seriously are proportional to his message. The poster you responded to does not claim the faith as his own, but you do.
So the question becomes, why are YOU here?

 

Nice ko there

 

Back to my original posts--- I am using the term morality as it has been used. I'm not changing it, or what it means to our society.

I know people who roll their eyes when I mention immorality or morality. They aren't rolling their eyes because I have the audacity to think a "criminal" is immoral. These people---people like you--- know what it means because its being used as it has always been meant.. And now we want to change what it means because????

This op trying to define morality other then what it is....doesn't make sense in the world we live in. Which is why I replied in the first place.

And yes there are Christians healing the sick. In my line of work I work with businesses. I know one business that manufactures health products. Besides meeting the needs of the United States Market, they put large amounts of money towards research to devise products to fit the needs of people in third world countries...and then they go there and spend weeks visiting villiages and fitting them on the people as an act of charity. They don't broadcast it. They don't expect to gain from it.

I know a furniture store owner who organizes the building and funding of orphanages in Africa for those kids whose parents have died...often from aids. I know a rich girl who graduated from college and now builds homes and facilities in Africa through an organization she created.

I work with another business--a high end clothing store--- that funds a homeless mission. They use their gifts to give back. God blessed them and then leads them to do good work.

My children's former doctor routinely went to third world countries with other doctors to heal the sick. An eye doctor I know does goes over to poor countries and treats glaucoma and cataracts.

I don't think Christ would denounce them on these endeavors.

I think you underestimate what Christians do or perhaps you don't mingle enough with them. We ultimately are all sinners and fall short of God's glory--and if you are looking for perfection you won't find it in a church. But there are many Christians doing good work

 

Ok so how do you decide was is criminal and what is not?

 

It does get confusing because in some countries immorality is considered criminal. A woman having casual sex in Pakistan is looking for a death sentence. And we have had laws that made certain acts of immorality criminal. It is a complicated word---but how it has been used in our society---is behavior that is not criminal but is harmful.

How I define it is: Morality/immorality is defined by God's view of unrighteousness/righteousness. It pertains to personal behavior by adults that don't force will on others (thus not criminal) and in fact all participants are willing-- but consequences can indirectly and directly hurt people or potentially hurt people and in the long run, society.

 

I did not ask you to define your own personal conception and definition of morality. I asked you to explain how you decide what is criminal.

 

I would define something criminal as a behavior that directly harms an unwilling citizen. A direct affliction on another. But...I did say that it gets complicated as an immoral act can be designated as criminal. Sodomy for instance, was at one time illegal.

 

Why do you think only those acts should be criminal?

 

The state shouldn't force personal decisions and choices upon its citizens . But the state should protect citizens from those people who would deprive others of life and property.

 

Can you list some things that are considered immoral in America, but are not illegal?

Seems to me there is a very broad overlap, things that are illegal because they are immoral.

For that matter, it is not reliably moral to do things that are illegal.

 

Lying, fornication, adultery, homosexual behavior, divorce , co-habitation, greed, selfishness, laziness,....... Immoral behavior has normally been seen as behavior people have the freedom to do, but are looked down upon for doing it.

 

,
try it on a got document, in court, etc.

,
nasty word, butr not immoral

ok on that

nope, you dont get to say those are immoral

 

Thank god you are for gay marriage!

 

Now we see the problem!
You are using a definition of morality that is not the common usage and our dictionaries don't support.
You are using it as a theological term and attempting to apply it in secular circumstances.
No wonder all the crazy logical disconnects!
Case solved!

 

Nope. But gay behavior is a personal decision.

 

Why not?
Are you now saying laws ARE based on your version of morality?
So are laws and morals related or not?

 

You're really out of touch

 

You support gay marriage, right?

 

I'm saying that morality-- should not be criminalized.

 

No. But gay people, fornicators (a yuchy word I agree) along with brothers and sisters who choose to have sex with each other, and people who enjoy threesomes relationships..... are free to behave in their chosen behavior. Government shouldn't criminalize immoral behavior unless it hurts someone directly.

But government doesn't have to consider all behaviors equal when considering its policies. Frankly....the reason I'm against gay marriage has nothing to do with immorality of the homosexual. It has more to do with the encouragement of morality within the heterosexual. Government is encouraging a moral behavior for the sake of children, which our future depends on..



Moral behaviors are not protected as equal under the law. But people should be given the freedom to make bad decisions.

 

Really? None of what I listed is immoral to you? Perhaps it isn't ME that is out of touch.

 

Define "immoral" - the standard definition of 'immoral' would be actions that harm or violate the rights of others

The only things you listed which met that criteria were "lying to others", or "adultery/cheating" - as for "greed/selfishness/laziness" you'd have to give specifics

Most of what else you listed didn't violate the rights of others in any way - so it wouldn't meet the definition of 'immoral'. For example, if Saudi Arabia wants to unilaterally declare that women not covering their face, or driving a car, etc are 'immoral' it still doesn't meet the standard definition of immoral, since those actions don't violate the rights of others.

Or perhaps it is