> Even if you could establish, without a doubt, that
> God wants us to respect one another, there *still* is no logical
> reason why we should agree with Him. Should we follow Him because,
> as Jim suggested, He made the rules? Why? Those who make the rules
> are not always right. Or simply because He can send us to hell if we
> don't follow Him? That just amounts to saying "might makes right".
An answer I have found in my very limited theological readings is this:
In creating things, God has put His stamp upon them and what He creates
flows from His character. To humans He gave the ability to choose to
freely follow Him (some sort of freedom is another aspect of God's
character). Following God is therefore following the order and harmony of
the universe. The moral laws that God gave us (for our own good) are
really the prescriptions that are part of our fallen nature--and they are
part of our nature because we were made by God and His nature is
manifested in us in a particular way.
This sort of formulation (which I have done my best to mangle!) flows from
the questions regarding whether God does something because it is good
(therefore the standard of "good" being higher than God) or whether
something is good because God does it (therefore making God an arbitrary
monster). The resolution of this dilemma lies in realizing that the
goodness of God is in integral part of His character and therefore our
standards of goodness flow from the goodness that forms the foundation of
the universe (God).
> My point is that, sooner or later, you get to a point where logic can
> no longer serve you.
Indeed.
-- ____________________________________________________________Gene D. Godbold, Ph.D. Lab: 804 924-5167Research Associate Desk: 804 243-2764Div. Infectious Disease/Dept. Medicine Home: 804 973-6913and Dept. Microbiology Fax: 804 924-7500MR4 Bldg, Room 2115 email: anselm@virginia.edu300 Park Place Charlottesville, VA 22908 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""