Why would that show how much you love God?
So you're saying Christians are not required to be moral?
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What better way to show love not only to God but to others than by having good morals?
God doesn't NEED us to have morals, but it does benefit mankind.
Well, this is a pretty moronic theory and one that fails to understand Christians on a fundamental levelNot really, you just said just pretty much exactly what they expected you to say:
"THe problem for the atheist is that he has no sound, objective basis for his morality. And without an objective and universally-authoritative source for his morality all he is adhering to morally are his own preferences (and/or what moral strictures his particular culture imposes upon him). This means for the atheist that there is, morally, really no true "ought to," no actual moral imperatives, to which anyone is obliged to adhere."
That's their theory in a nutshell: Christians have to follow the rules, but atheists don't. Seems like their theory is dead on to me.
...other than because God said so?
My underlined statement above does not preclude atheists from behaving morally, nor does it contradict the idea that they would. So, no, I have not said what you asserted Christians - in theory - think or say about atheists. I believe atheists have their own reasons for "following the rules," though some, in my experience, have not thought very deeply about them.
Selah.
Perhaps you should explain what the statement means precisely. The theory is that believers believe that they have to act morally, and atheists do not. How is what you're saying different?
It's just interesting because you still maintain that atheists are morally inferior, just for different reasons.
This would merely suggest that their theory is too narrow
as it appears that Christians have multiple reasons to assert that atheists are inferior. This suggests a more systemic belief.
How are Christians superior to atheists in this case? Are you saying Christians think about morality deeply?
The atheists I have encountered all believed they had to act morally, but when pressed they couldn't offer any sound, objective reasons for doing so. That was my point.
The atheist's reasons for his morality are inferior, but this does not mean that the atheist is himself morally inferior. I know some very moral atheists.
More shallow than narrow.
You certainly seem to want them to view atheists this way.
However, I don't, as a Christian, view atheists as inferior, though their worldview may be. Atheists are created in the imago dei just as believers are and possess thereby as much intrinsic value as any Christian.
As I already stated, Christians differ from atheists in the area of morality in that they possess a more objective, and, I think, more rationally sound basis for their moral values and duties. This doesn't mean that Christians are therefore necessarily more moral than atheists, however. Some Christians have behaved quite immorally at times. Christians do, though, have more than the subjective basis of atheists by which to judge between what is morally right and wrong.
Why would that show how much you love God?
So you're saying Christians are not required to be moral?
It's shows love to God by being respectful and appreciative of His Law.
I'm not sure what you're asking with "Christians are not required to be moral?" Required for WHAT?
So, because God says so.
To be Christian I suppose. Saved.
No and No.
I don't love God because God says so. And I don't want to follow His good Law because God says so.
Doing good does not make a Christian. Our triune God makes Christians and he does so by grace through faith. Being saved has nothing to do with what we can or cannot do. We can't work our way to salvation. So being good...well, that could be an outcome of being a Christian, but it does not make one a Christian at all.
Being a Christian is about identity. It connects me to the one who died on the cross for me and forgives my sins.
Then why does God have laws?
Why does society have laws? Why do other faith systems have laws?
Lawful actions, no need for consequences.
Unlawful actions, consequences for defying the law.
God's Law is Holy.
Romans 7:12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
It's a reflection of God's character. That's why we have God's Law.
Exactly. Christians especially cannot fathom why atheists would be moral. They believe they have no reason to. This is why they hate atheists. They view them as parasites. That's the prevailing theory. Thanks for demonstrating.
What does that mean? Why do we have it?
...other than because God said so?
Before you were a Christian, what was the objective standard which leads you to make this absolute statement ? Thanks.
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