From: 9051467f@levels.unisa.edu.au (JM)
Newsgroups: alt.atheism
Subject: Re: morality?
Date: 2 Nov 92 19:52:53 +1030
Organization: Life is a dashing bold adventure!

In article <0105016A.haujnn@oakh.tds-hsc.com>, crogerson@tds-hsc.com
(Charlie Rogerson) writes:

> Ok, let me try and get this straight: Chris is responding to someone unidentified
> (I'm new to the net and missed the earlier, original post). Chris is a strict
> materialist and an atheist ( a 'thoroughgoing materialist', as Marx would
> have said); he feels (correctly, I feel) that all systems of morality ultimately
> depend on "fundamental postulates" which have theistic foundations.
> 
> John is saying that he feels that one can develop a rule for "moral" behavior
> through the concept of personal happiness: 'good' behavior is that which 'feels
> good' and harms no one.
> 
> Chris: correct, not only morals, but art, music, literature depend on a dialogue
> with the Divine.
> 
> John: tautology, limiting, less rich, insufficient, passive, self-centered,
> self-indulgent, does not enrich the soul, no larger purpose.

1. What larger purpose?

2. Are you trying to read religion into Chris' post?

3. In what way is it insufficient? Not 'spiritually gratifying'??

4. 'self-indulgent', 'self-centred'. The guilt trip won't work on me. I only
said that I would do something that made me feel good. Did you ever consider
that I may find helping others a feel-good excercise? Now don't go off your
nut just yet; what difference is there between me helping others to feel
good and those wonderful people who take delight in being frendly etc?

You seem to have the idea that my idea of feeling good is very limited. You
missed my point. From a not-quite-a-but-still-a-newbie to a new newbie, read
a group for a while before posting. I am a relativist. What you find
amusing may not be for me and vice versa. It seems that YOU are the one
who has a very narrow view, not me! I can see it clearly, you think I am
some drug crazed uncouth party goer. Pull your highborn finger out of your
ass. There's more to fun than snobby book recitals or crappy opera.

I party occasionally. So what? Something wrong with that? I also take
quiet walks in the bush for a few hours and just think about anything
that comes to my head. I happen to like thinking. There's a whole pile
of things I do that I find enjoyable. You didn't even bother to ask me
what. What are you?? One of these public works nutcases?? Do you want
me to scream out all my humanitarian works just to prove my human worth?
I'll bet you a hundred bucks you have done NONE.

5. How can you tell what us soul-enriching and what is not?
6. Less rich. Less elegant, you mean??

Just what is it that you base everything upon???? I am willing to
forgive your remarks if you can answer that well. I don't care
if you lie or not, I just want a well founded answer.

> Charlie Rogerson --

In short, you are calling me me a barbarian. Who are you to judge? By
what absolute standard do you judge me?
I find you a snotty nosed chinless git, but that's only by my standards.

Yes I took offence, not for what you said but for what you were trying
to achieve.
-- 
John J McVey, Whyalla, Uni S. Australia    9051467f@levels.unisa.edu.au
Electronic Engineering student & Terror Tekkie!
Any email can be posted unless I state explicitly otherwise.
+-----------------------------------------------------+    ________
|  Obligatory disclaimer: UniSA hates my opinions...  |  \/Darwin o\
+-----------------------------------------------------+  /\________/
An idea is not responsible for the people who believe in it. Marquis
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