First question (that I wouldn't avoid jbtw) What makes something right or wrong? If God says it's right it's right, if God says it's wrong it's wrong because of reasons which we may or may not be able to identify. Everything that's wrong hurts someone. Hurt comes from destruction. The Bible says the Evil One came to steal, kill and destroy and He's the father of lies. Destroy, hence destruction, hence hurt. It can be said for every sin. Postitution for example hurts the self-value of an individual. They hurt themselves.
He says he defines what right by what brings happiness, wellbeing or health. These are better understood by God, hence why we trust and obey what He says is right and wrong in the Bible.
The Euthyphro Dilema says either
- The Good is willed by God because it is the Good.
- The Good is the Good because it is willed by God.
This assumes that it has to be either or, but that's not the case. It's both. So none of the options apply.
He goes on to say that according to the Chrisitan worldview then that lots of suffering could be good because God willed it. In the Holy Bible there are places where there is intense suffering. This is used for good because then the suffering humbles the people to obey God once more, you see that with Israel in the Old Testament. The question then is what makes good good? Does it make more sense to say that doing things for the Creator of everything is good who has good intentions and vast understanding or that having less pain for a pin prick of time is good?
He talks a bit about murder being wrong and how God murders people. Murder in the Biblical definition includes the reason for doing the killing. For example. In the Old Testement when King Solomon sent for the Ark of the Covanent, (made by God's command, it was the holiest object because it was the only place on earth where the presence of God dwelled to commune with people). There were specific laws set up that told Israel how to transport it where no one could touch it and live. And Solomon disobeyed and sent a wagon to fetch it. The guy hit a bump on the trail and steadied the Ark with his hand and bam! Gone! The reasons for killing Him are deeper than we know, but from what I do know I'll discribe, because there are many instances with similar reasons. What is the most important thing in this existance? To be close to God. The people of Israel needed to be reminded that God and His judgements are to be feared. It was like a Father disciplining his people. Without that discipline, they would fall into disrespecting the voice of God. People need a reason to respect someone with the awe that God deserves.
There's a verse about Yahweh saying that Israel should make surrounding nations slaves. He does this because the surrounding nations were a trap to Israel because they were pagan, not worshiping God. And if they weren't killed or made into slaves than other religions would dominate the region. If that happened more people would eternally be in hell.
Also there's a verse about beating children with a rod. I know I was, and I know if I wasn't I would be a spoiled rebellious person today.
Also there's a verse about women being submissive to husbands. And that is for sake of order in church and family settings. If two people have a vote and vote differently nothing gets done, or a fight insues. Plus Eve was the one who was decieved by Satan.
He says moral oughts don't exist. They do. In the mind of God. So in creation they don't, but God is more important than mere creation.
Their were five minutes left and I got bored...
