Thursday, May 5, 2011
No Absolutes?
The Absence of AbsolutesThe essence of man is his ability to make rational decisions. The word “essence” is defined as that which constitutes the particular nature of a being and which distinguishes it from all others (Webster's American English Dictionary, 1825). A decision involves choosing between or among alternatives. Removing any basis by which he may make a correct decision destroys a man, for the individual’s essence is extinguished. Eliminate the concept of absolutes and it is impossible for one to know if he has made a correct decision. One may try to believe otherwise, but must avoid thinking to maintain such a belief. As more and more citizens adopt this philosophy, society begins to collapse until anarchy reigns. What can parents really teach their children, if there are no absolutes? Why should children pay any attention to what their parents teach anyway? Increased crime is the result of the destruction of man’s ability to make correct decisions. Non-absolute thinking is recognizable by the terms used in society to attempt to decide on a course of action. Does one look for the right course of action or does he submit to the consensus course of action? Terms such as “fairness”, “consensus” and “socially acceptable” reveal the lack of absolute thinking in the individuals who use them.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Origins of Man
The Theories of EvolutionIt was not until the late 1800’s that the first theory of evolution was presented in any serious way. Charles Darwin, while ignoring contrary evidence, introduced a theory of origins consistent with his atheism.
If evolution is true, man is just an accidental mixture of chemicals. And as such our perceived decision-making is just a complex series of biochemical reactions based on whatever environmental stimuli we encounter. Although we appear to be making what we describe as decisions, in reality the “decisions” would just be the result of random chemical interactions. If origin was impersonal matter no matter how much time passed, random acts occurred or mysterious unobservable natural processes took place, humans would just be a concentration of impersonal chemicals plus complexity.
Keep in mind that a belief in evolution precludes the belief that man was created in a better state than he is now and that some destructive intervening cause (rebellion) changed mankind into the destructive force it is today. The belief also eliminates the hope that man, as he is now, is abnormal and not the way he was created to be. Lastly, a belief in evolution eliminates the hope that the Creator, if He loves His creation, has the means and inclination to allow men to return to the state in which they were first created. This would discourage man from seeking his Creator.
“Goodness” of Man
The vast majority of historical evidence, when measured against an absolute scale, indicates that man is basically selfish. With no moral compass or absolutes, selfishness would be as "good" as benevolence; yet something (not a chemical reaction) within most human beings recognizes that benevolence, or caring for others is better than selfishness. In an absolute system, since selfishness and true benevolence are opposites and therefore mutually exclusive, if one is correct then the other must be wrong.
Selfish individuals live to gratify their own involuntary feelings and desires. They are actually governed by their feelings. Noah Webster's 1825 American English Dictionary defined "selfishness" as:
“The exclusive regard of a person to his own interest or happiness; or that supreme self love or self preference, which leads a person in his actions to direct his purposes to the advancement of his own interests, power or happiness, without regarding the interest of others. Selfishness, in its worst or unqualified sense, is the very essence of human depravity, and stands in direct opposition to benevolence, which is the essence of the divine character. As God is love, so man in his natural state, is selfishness.”
“The exclusive regard of a person to his own interest or happiness; or that supreme self love or self preference, which leads a person in his actions to direct his purposes to the advancement of his own interests, power or happiness, without regarding the interest of others. Selfishness, in its worst or unqualified sense, is the very essence of human depravity, and stands in direct opposition to benevolence, which is the essence of the divine character. As God is love, so man in his natural state, is selfishness.”
Monday, March 22, 2010
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