Apparently, human rights only make sense if there's a god.
Does this make sense?
Heaven's Bouncer: "Hey, who's next?"
AH: "Er... I think it's me."
Heaven's Bouncer: "State your name."
AH: "Adolph Hitler. You can call me Herr Wolf."
HB: "Do you seek forgiveness for your sins and believe in the Lawd and Saviour Jesus Christ?"
AH: "Not really much point. You might as well give me my ticket to eternal damnation."
HB: "Yes or no?"
AH: "Listen, I know Jesus forgives and all that but, honestly, I'm well over my sin limit."
HB: "There's no sin limit, son. We're all sinners, whether you've taken the Lawd's name in vain or lead your country in a bid for territorial conquest and racial subjugation that has caused the deaths of tens of millions of people, including the systematic genocide of an estimated six million Jews, not including various other "undesirable" populations, in what is known as the Holocaust. It's all the same to me."
AH: "So it's pretty much a one-size-fits-all offer of salvation?"
HB: "You can accuse us of many a thing, but being fussy is not one of them."
AH: " Right. So what do I have to do? Presumably millenia of self-harm, salf-sacrifice, worshipping and generally arse-licking the Amighty One."
HB: " Oh, no, we don't have time for all that. Repent, don't own anything and generally stick to the old Commandments."
AH: "Sounds fair enough. I'm in."
HB: "Right. In you go. Next! Name?"
MG: "Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi."
HB: "Do you seek forgiveness for your sins and believe in the Lawd and Saviour Jesus Christ?"
MG: "Nope."
HB: "Fiery misery for you, then, mate."
MG: "But I'm the pioneer of Satyagraha—a philosophy that is largely concerned with truth and 'resistance to evil through active, non-violent resistance'—which led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world."
HB: "Big deal. Pray to the Lawd or burn."
MG: "God is Truth and Truth is God. I seek to become closer to my god by means of spiritual and practical puri... AGGHHHH!!!"
Ghandi is suddenly consumed by the fire of Eternal Damnation...
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Human Rights
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16 comments:
Its interesting that you mention Hitler. I've always wondered what ideology was foundational to his genocide of an "inferior race." I think someone told me once...it'll come back to me.
Has evolution ever deemed any other ethnic groups inferior? God says that all men were created in the image of God. Can evolution consistently hold that same standard of equality (i.e. the Aborigines).
I think this is starting to be a one-ended friendship Simon. You never call, you never write, and I'm always visiting you. You're lucky I'm not sensitive.
Simon: why is that a problem?
Gummby, Tim says human rights only make sense if a god exists. But your god doesn't seem all that interested in human rights.
Dox: "Has evolution ever deemed any other ethnic groups inferior?"
Evolution is not a sentient being so therefore cannot deem anything.
"God says that all men were created in the image of God."
And Flibloob said the nooblib in the noblob.
"Can evolution consistently hold that same standard of equality (i.e. the Aborigines)."
What the fuck are you on about? (and I say that in the nicest possible way)
Are you saying that because in your fairy book all men are created equal that we should dismiss a scientific fact because it's just not fair?
The aborigines and every other brand of humanity are created equal. We are the same species.
Dox, this is the problem with living in a fantasy world - it's means one can struggle to grasp even the simplest concept if it happens to reside in the real world.
I'd like to point out that you side-stepped all of my questions and just fired back with insults (we're still friends though).
Is it less magical to believe that non-life accidentally created life and that it subsequently turned from rudimentary to complex interdependent systems?
The Aborigines were originally mistreated and exploited due to the theory (there's that word again) that they were some kind of missing link. So what you are saying is that every ethnic group of humanity is on the exact same stage of evolutionary development...what a coinkidink.
Simon: What is the atheist's basis for "human rights?"
humans
Ahh. That clears it up. So, how do you define human rights? What "rights" do humans have? And, separately, why don't other species have them (or do they)?
Every society has a different set of human rights. Certain organisations, like Amnesty International, try encourage an equal standard across all human societies.
Each society has a different stance on animal rights. In the UK we're quite strong on them - hence the recent ban on fox hunting.
So it's society that produces human and animal rights?
I thought everyone knew that.
But if it's based on society, then there really isn't an absolute standard. It's all relative - and subject to change, right?
But if it's based on Christianity, there isn't any standard of any sort. Because you can be a genocidal dictator and (as long as you repent timely) get away with it. Meanwhile, someone who has acted peacefully towards his fellow man will go to Hell (if he doesn't).
Christianity does not require people to care about human rights. All they have to care about is repenting.
But, even though Christianity doesn't provide one, why do we need some rigid standard?
Morals change. 500 years ago it was ok to cut people open for common amusement. It was ok to torture animals for common amusement. 50 years ago it was against the law to be gay in my country. 2000 years ago in the Middle East it was ok to execute people for being unruly...
By the way, if Jesus was around in the UK right now (instead of 2000 years ago) how would he arrange to get himself killed for our sins?
Rights aren't really worth much unless they are permanent.
Nevertheless, I think I understand your real concern. You're concerned that God is going to let the wretched, evil people into heaven while he overlooks all your good works and sends you to Hell.
That's your opinion. I don't see why permanence has anything to do with it.
Besides, we are agreed Christianity proveds no basis for human rights.
Oh and er... I'm not at all worried your imaginary god bloke is going to do anything.
I'm not at all worried your imaginary god bloke is going to do anything.
That's not the God of the Bible, so you must be talking about the god (or in your case non-god) that you've made in your own image.
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