Cheshire Cat
Puritan Board Sophomore
Derek Sansone did a much better job at debating Paul then Dan Barker did. Take from that what you will. Congratulations Paul!
The lines were busy and I couldn't get in. I posted my question on the IRC chat but it didn't get picked either. Here was my question for Dan:
If this world just contains molecules in motion, then all matter reacts to stimulus response. How can you condemn an individual (if you can even call it that) who has committed murder as morally accountable if he had no choice in the matter, it was predetermined by the material universe and the action/re-action that takes place. Wouldn't it be better to saythat the material universe is immoral given your definition of morality than to say that the murderer is? Why impose psychological harm on the murderer if he cannot be held accountable"?
To sum up my question,How can you account for moral accountability in a material universe where there is no choice involved? Everything is
just reacting to external stimuli.
Yet, I didn't get a chance to ask my question. When I finally got through the debate was over (although not on the feed because there is a delay), so I thought I could ask the question. I got Reggy and he said we are discussing post debate comments. So I made some comment on how Dan didn't back up his definition of morality in that he just asserted it without demonstrating why it is the only definition that works. So Reggy started going on and on and on. It was really annoying. Anyways, so I asked Reggy if he considered it always a greater harm to take an innocent human life than it is to cause psychological harm. From the best of my understanding interpreting his incoherant babble I think he agreed. So then I went on to say that an unborn prenatal being is an innocent human being. He copped out and said that had nothing to do with the debate etc. He said the unborn prenatal being isn't a person and we could talk about that some other time. Then I asked him if I killed a dog that would cause harm. He said no. I then said, "so you are saying you have to be a person to be harmed?". I could barely get a word in because he wouldn't stop talking. He then took me off the air. You see Reggy was being inconsistent. Nothing new I guess. Even if the unborn prenatal being isn't a person (which he/she is), then tremendous harm is still being done. Anyways, God definitely used Paul tonight and I applaud Paul for a job well done.
[Edited on 7-11-2006 by caleb_woodrow]
[Edited on 7-11-2006 by caleb_woodrow]
The lines were busy and I couldn't get in. I posted my question on the IRC chat but it didn't get picked either. Here was my question for Dan:
If this world just contains molecules in motion, then all matter reacts to stimulus response. How can you condemn an individual (if you can even call it that) who has committed murder as morally accountable if he had no choice in the matter, it was predetermined by the material universe and the action/re-action that takes place. Wouldn't it be better to saythat the material universe is immoral given your definition of morality than to say that the murderer is? Why impose psychological harm on the murderer if he cannot be held accountable"?
To sum up my question,How can you account for moral accountability in a material universe where there is no choice involved? Everything is
just reacting to external stimuli.
Yet, I didn't get a chance to ask my question. When I finally got through the debate was over (although not on the feed because there is a delay), so I thought I could ask the question. I got Reggy and he said we are discussing post debate comments. So I made some comment on how Dan didn't back up his definition of morality in that he just asserted it without demonstrating why it is the only definition that works. So Reggy started going on and on and on. It was really annoying. Anyways, so I asked Reggy if he considered it always a greater harm to take an innocent human life than it is to cause psychological harm. From the best of my understanding interpreting his incoherant babble I think he agreed. So then I went on to say that an unborn prenatal being is an innocent human being. He copped out and said that had nothing to do with the debate etc. He said the unborn prenatal being isn't a person and we could talk about that some other time. Then I asked him if I killed a dog that would cause harm. He said no. I then said, "so you are saying you have to be a person to be harmed?". I could barely get a word in because he wouldn't stop talking. He then took me off the air. You see Reggy was being inconsistent. Nothing new I guess. Even if the unborn prenatal being isn't a person (which he/she is), then tremendous harm is still being done. Anyways, God definitely used Paul tonight and I applaud Paul for a job well done.
[Edited on 7-11-2006 by caleb_woodrow]
[Edited on 7-11-2006 by caleb_woodrow]