Pemalite said:
mysteryman said:
Likewise how do you determine right and wrong?
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Certainly not from a religious book full of pretty terrible stances that promotes mass murder (1 Chronicles 21), Genocide (Deuteronomy 3), Death to those who believe in other Religions/Gods (2 Kings 10:18-27), Slavery and selling our daughter into Slavery (Exodus 21:1-11), child abuse (Judges 11:29-40 & Isaiah 13:16), Bashing babies against rocks (Hosea 13:16 & Psalms 137:9). - Granted that is all Old Testament, which many Christians will not follow unless it suits them (I.E. Leviticus against Homosexuality.)
But I could list some horrible stuff in the New Testament as well...
Not to mention that the New Testament is still binding to the Old Testament.
* “It is easier for Heaven and Earth to pass away than for the smallest part of the letter of the law to become invalid.” (Luke 16:17 NAB)
* “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest part or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.” (Matthew 5:17 NAB)
So how do I determine right from wrong? How does anyone? Empathy, pain, fear... Devices that are driven by life experience, governed by chemical processes that I alluded to prior... Matt Dillahunty could probably explain it better than I can though.
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That's not using the scientific method though. At some fundamental level there is a core belief at work (doesn't need to be religious).
curl-6 said:
mysteryman said:
What do you do when you reach the limitations of the scientific method? When something is simply not testable?
Likewise how do you determine right and wrong?
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Well, speaking as an athiest, I use my conscience to determine what I think is right or wrong. You don't need religion to have empathy and compassion.
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Agreed. I was speaking more to using only the scientific method, which doesn't inherently speak to morality.
