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Anti-theism is Evil Under Secular Morality    

Human beings want things (to stay alive, to eat ice cream, etc.).  Rational secular morality is the game-theory-based mutual respect we have for each other's wants.  The purpose is for each individual to maximize the expected value of the net satisfaction of their wants.  Any time we don't respect peoples desires, there is an evil aspect to it.  In many cases, like with the desire to commit crimes, the desire itself represents a greater disrespect for the wants of others.  So there is a net benefit to not respecting it.  Many people want to hold benign theist beliefs.  If you don't respect that, there is an evil aspect to doing so.  The offseting benefit, preventing the lending of creedence to malignent theist beliefs, seems very weak.  It's a logical possibitlity, but a practical case seems very implausible.  Osama Bin Laden would not have a crisis of belief in his extra-psycho Wahabbism if Methodism suddenly disappeared.  So there is no serious offsetting benefit to the evil of not respecting the yearning for God.  Thus, anti-theism is a net evil under rational secular morality. 

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Latest 3 messages about this page (147 total) - view full discussion
Jul 24 2008 by Drafterman
I don't need to show that since lower levels of interclan and
intertribal violence wouldn't prove your point. Even IF there was a
correlation, that doesn't equal causation.
Jul 23 2008 by Jim Gunson
You don't. Happily you live in a society whose rules coincide with
your ethics, etc.


The bad son wasted away all his inheritance. Why would you
want him back in the gene pool ?
The message is mercy triumphing over injustice.


I think you're being quite naive here.
Your empathy goes hand-in-hand with violence and cruelty.
Jul 23 2008 by Jim Gunson
(snip)


Have a read about culture and society in places like
New Guinea highlands, New Zealand, Polynesia
both before and after Christian missionaries arrived,
and tell me when there where higher levels of interclan and
intertribal violence.


Jim Gunson
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