Ethical Expectations

[JulySheMustFly]

Is it ethical for christians to expect christian behavior from people who have not accepted Jesus as the leader and forgiver of their life?

 

[Lilly of the Valley]

I think it's ethical to expect some type of decent behavior. Eventhough some things are generally considered wrong by just christians....there are somethings that are wrong for all w/ morals, saved or not, such as lying, stealing, murder...etc.. Also, I don't think we should excuse people's behavior just because they don't serve God. Them not serving God doesn't lessen the fact that what they are doing is wrong.

 

[indra_fanatic]

I agree with Lilly. One would expect at least a basic level of civilized behavior, such as obeying the law and telling the truth--but how realistic is that?

 

[indra_fanatic]

I agree with Lilly. One would expect at least a basic level of civilized behavior, such as obeying the law and telling the truth--but how realistic is that?

 

[indra_fanatic]

I agree with Lilly. One would expect at least a basic level of civilized behavior, such as obeying the law and telling the truth--but how realistic is that?

 

[Mandrake]

There are plenty of non-theists and non-christians who have at least as good a grasp on ethics and morality as the average christian does. To state that morality can only be looked at in theistic terms is to ignore most ethical theorists of the past 200-300 years. Even the pre-socratic philosophers,who were mostly metaphysicists, had a conception of morality and formulated it in such a way as to be applicable irrespective of the existance of God.

Saying that Christian = Moral and Other = Evil is clearly invalid.

 

[Lilly of the Valley]

There are plenty of non-theists and non-christians who have at least as good a grasp on ethics and morality as the average christian does. To state that morality can only be looked at in theistic terms is to ignore most ethical theorists of the past 200-300 years. Even the pre-socratic philosophers,who were mostly metaphysicists, had a conception of morality and formulated it in such a way as to be applicable irrespective of the existance of God.

Saying that Christian = Moral and Other = Evil is clearly invalid.

True...however, there are some very key things that God calls bad and man calls good and vice versa....thus God's standards are higher and more moral the just man's. On many issues you have to choose either God's standard or man's.

 

[depthdeception]

It is a given that all people will act ethically--but this was not the question the OP raised. Rather, the OP asked whether or not those who are not Christains could be expected to act in terms of a Christian morality and ethic, not whether they should be expected to be ethical or not.

The difference betweeen the Christian morality and those which are established through secular law are not, in some ways, that different. Most agree that killing the innocent is wrong, that property should be protected, that one should not deceive others, etc. However, the real difference between them comes not on the basis of the form of morality, but rather the motivation. Christians are called to make moral decisions out of a desire to love others and God. Others may make the exact same choices, but do so out of fear of punishment, lack of ability, etc. However, just because they make the same decisions does not mean that their decisions are ethically equivalent.

 

[Laurie]

Ha, well, being a high schooler, I've delt with this question quite a lot..

I do believe it depends on maturity level as to what to expect, now I'm not expecting -anything- good from the people at school, as to not get disappointed (I made the mistake of expecting people [teens at my school] to actually be nice and have a conscience and a slight bit of decency... what was I thinking...).

You're probably not talking about high school students though... so just from my humble opinion and what little experiance I have: don't expect anyone to do good. Unless you're an adult I guess and can say something to that other person in a mature manner and it be effective, I understand its absurd to just put up with such behavior in certian circumstances, but as for me being a student and arent exactly thrilled about getting told off (not that they listen anyway when i use to say something)... I just don't expect it.

Sorry I ramble... hope it helps in some way.

-Laurie

 

[ebia]

The difference betweeen the Christian morality and those which are established through secular law are not, in some ways, that different. Most agree that killing the innocent is wrong, that property should be protected, that one should not deceive others, etc. However, the real difference between them comes not on the basis of the form of morality, but rather the motivation. Christians are called to make moral decisions out of a desire to love others and God. Others may make the exact same choices, but do so out of fear of punishment, lack of ability, etc.

I don't see any basis for this at all.

Most Christians say "Do this because God says so" or "Don't do this or God will punish you". On the other hand, atheists have no God to fear punishment from but still have a firm grasp on morality.

 

[depthdeception]

I don't see any basis for this at all.

Most Christians say "Do this because God says so" or "Don't do this or God will punish you". On the other hand, atheists have no God to fear punishment from but still have a firm grasp on morality.

Athiests, like Christians, can still be punished by secular authorities. That is what I was saying.

 

[ebia]

Athiests, like Christians, can still be punished by secular authorities. That is what I was saying.

But everyone, atheists, Christians, others, have a morality beyond fear of punishment by secular authorities. I've never honestly met anyone, of any religious belief or none, who thinks "it's wrong to kill someone because I'll be locked up if I do".

 

[depthdeception]

But everyone, atheists, Christians, others, have a morality beyond fear of punishment by secular authorities. I've never honestly met anyone, of any religious belief or none, who thinks "it's wrong to kill someone because I'll be locked up if I do".

You must not have met a lot of people, then.

 

[billwald]

I suspect that the percentage of "Christ like" people is about the same inside and outside the Church.

 

[ebia]

You must not have met a lot of people, then.

Not at all. Most people except the criminally insane accept that killing someone is wrong, punishment or no punishment.

The might still go and kill someone anyway, but that's not the point - we all do things that we know are wrong.

I suspect that the percentage of "Christ like" people is about the same inside and outside the Church.

Sad, but true.

 

[Aras]

But everyone, atheists, Christians, others, have a morality beyond fear of punishment by secular authorities. I've never honestly met anyone, of any religious belief or none, who thinks "it's wrong to kill someone because I'll be locked up if I do".

I know someone who does think like that. And to answer the question, no. That's why I take issue with all of the people trying to force anti-gay laws on the general populace.