Post by Josh on Oct 20, 2011 6:45:03 GMT -8
elsewhere, atheist jon wrote:
This is an interesting question with multiple layers.
If a Christian finds that their own moral sense is at odds with some Christian doctrine or their understanding of what the Bible teaches, does that indicate the presence of an extra-biblical, innate sense of morality that is, presumably, more fundamental to their humanity? Wouldn't that indicate that the Bible isn't needed in order for humans to have a moral sense?
First I want to affirm the Christian doctrine that although God has communicated to mankind about morality through the Bible in many instances, the Bible and/or doctrine is not the only God-given source of morality for humans. God has given humans a conscience, a moral sense that they carry with them wherever they go, whether they have access to the Bible or not.
So, what I'm saying is that Christians expect that there will be an extra-biblical source of morality.
Christians also expect, however, that special revelation (like the Bible), properly understood, is there to illuminate things unclear or things perverted in the human conscience. Though humans possess a God-given innate moral sense, it can easily be mistaken and even more easily become corrupted or desensitized.
That's why special revelation is helpful in putting our consciences back on track.
However, special revelation also has it's difficulties: interpretation, translation, etc.
If a Christian finds their innate sense of morality at odds with their understanding of Christian doctrine/ the teachings of the Bible, two things may be occurring:
1) Their moral sense is corrupted/ mistaken on the point at hand
2) Their understanding of Christian doctrine/ what the Bible teaches about the matter at hand is faulty
Both should be seriously investigated.
By the way, surely many Christians that detached themselves from more fundamental groups did so because they found their practices and worldviews to be offensive and contrary to their own moral standards. Does that not indicate an extra-biblical source of morality? Something innate within us. But I'm sure you have got a thread somewhere here pertaining to where our morals come from and so I won't get so far off topic here. I'm just sayin' is all. ................ As you Americans would say.
Read more: aletheia.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=ponderings&thread=3497&page=1#ixzz1bKgZ8u9u
Read more: aletheia.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=ponderings&thread=3497&page=1#ixzz1bKgZ8u9u
This is an interesting question with multiple layers.
If a Christian finds that their own moral sense is at odds with some Christian doctrine or their understanding of what the Bible teaches, does that indicate the presence of an extra-biblical, innate sense of morality that is, presumably, more fundamental to their humanity? Wouldn't that indicate that the Bible isn't needed in order for humans to have a moral sense?
First I want to affirm the Christian doctrine that although God has communicated to mankind about morality through the Bible in many instances, the Bible and/or doctrine is not the only God-given source of morality for humans. God has given humans a conscience, a moral sense that they carry with them wherever they go, whether they have access to the Bible or not.
So, what I'm saying is that Christians expect that there will be an extra-biblical source of morality.
Christians also expect, however, that special revelation (like the Bible), properly understood, is there to illuminate things unclear or things perverted in the human conscience. Though humans possess a God-given innate moral sense, it can easily be mistaken and even more easily become corrupted or desensitized.
That's why special revelation is helpful in putting our consciences back on track.
However, special revelation also has it's difficulties: interpretation, translation, etc.
If a Christian finds their innate sense of morality at odds with their understanding of Christian doctrine/ the teachings of the Bible, two things may be occurring:
1) Their moral sense is corrupted/ mistaken on the point at hand
2) Their understanding of Christian doctrine/ what the Bible teaches about the matter at hand is faulty
Both should be seriously investigated.