• Torus34
    53
    The topic line gives the three possible responses to the question, 'Is there a god?'

    At first glance they appear to be somewhat equal. But they're not, at least as far as ethics and morality go. Here's why.

    If the answer is 'Yes,' a set of what can be called ethical/moral axioms come with it. Chose the religion and Bob's your uncle. You have a structure or, if you wish, a foundation upon which to build further.

    However, if the answer's either of the other two, you're in the same place as far as ethics/morals go. You must develop a rationale for a set of axioms before you begin.

    A secular humanist, [No, that's not necessarily contradictory, Dear Reader,] I've wrestled with the question of ethical/moral axioms for a long time. Thus far, I've not tapped out.

    Regards to all.
  • BitconnectCarlos
    2.3k
    If the answer is 'Yes,' a set of what can be called ethical/moral axioms come with it.Torus34

    Not necessarily. Someone could conceive of God in a way outside of the Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition. Someone could conceive of God as Gaia or some type of universal mind or spirit in which case a systemic of ethics wouldn't automatically follow.
  • Torus34
    53
    There's always the Flying Spaghetti Monster to consider. ;-)

    I skipped a step in the OP. It was that once a god is accepted, there are a number of religions to choose from. Of course, one could always adopt the position that structured religions are unnecessary to believe in the existence of a god, but then such a position would lead to having to define a set of moral/ethical axioms, nu?

    Regards, stay safe 'n well.
  • Gnomon
    3.8k
    Not necessarily. Someone could conceive of God in a way outside of the Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition. Someone could conceive of God as Gaia or some type of universal mind or spirit in which case a systemic of ethics wouldn't automatically follow.BitconnectCarlos
    Good point! I was in the Agnostic "maybe" category, but developed a Deist god-concept based on the science of Information Theory, and concluded that a First Cause (the Enformer) must exist -- necessarily. But it would be similar to Plato's LOGOS. Since I have no direct revelation from that hypothetical creative deity, I've had to develop my own "system of ethics" from observation of the Creation. That god-model is compatible with something like Spinoza's "god of philosophers", which he called Universal Substance, and I call Information or Enformation. :smile:

    Ironically, Atheists and Trolls on this forum still lump me into the "Yes" category with traditional
    Abrahamic Theists. Perhaps that's because they can't conceive of belief in a logically necessary but non-empirical Principle of Existence.

    A secular humanistTorus34
    Although, I practice no religion, and my ethic is essentially Secular Humanism, I do believe that an unknowable First Cause is the only reasonable explanation for the existence of my world. For me, it's not contradictory. :cool:
  • Gregory
    4.7k
    I think movement is like quantity and Time like quality, so movement causes time to start. Hence we have a consistent materialistic model that has no need for a super-mind. Whether or not matter can be in a vague energy or information state doesnt really affect this theory
  • 180 Proof
    15.3k
    The topic line gives the three possible responses to the question, 'Is there a god?'Torus34
    Define "god" or specify which conception of divinity is at issue, otherwise the question is incoherent.
  • Torus34
    53
    I admit, thanks to a comment above, to there being more than three possible responses. 'god' was assumed to represent a supreme entity.

    Regards, stay safe 'n well.
  • unenlightened
    9.2k
    Define "god" or specify which conception of divinity is at issue, otherwise the question is incoherent.180 Proof

    Yes no maybe, I don't know, can you repeat the question. (song)

    According to definition I think I can make all three answers feel correct to me. For examples...

    Def: God (your god) is whatever is of central importance in your life; whatever you give your life up to. It might be money, or power, or justice or law, or love, or sadly, your own pleasure.
    Answer - yes.
    Def: God is the big guy in the sky who hates faggots, and likes everyone to sing His praises every Sunday, and doesn't want anyone to have any fun.
    Answer - no.
    Def: God is whatever, beyond the universe of space and time, had some purpose for setting things up just so, that we are participants in.
    Answer - maybe.
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