Can you, or paganism as a whole, subscribe to the idea of eternal, objective, concrete moral truth? Moral truth that transcends all ages, religions and cultures.
If not, then moral truth is a shifting sand, made up as we go along and usually slanted to the one who holds power.
If you can subscribe to eternal objective moral truth, would this not require the existence of an eternal moral law giver?
Pagans as a whole are notoriously scattered on the idea of moral truths. Something at which I'd like to see us do better. [But if you're not Pagan, that's not your problem to fix.]
To answer from reason, I would like to believe there is a moral truth that transcended the ages. That would be comforting. But if that were the case, the world would never change, and it clearly does.
I believe eternal moral truths exist. These are threaded through our DNA, built into us by our makers. But we have free-will and its up to us to find the balance between our moral expressions, and to articulate rules of behavior for our cultures.
We also pay the price for getting it wrong.
Now I'm putting reason down, because the gods are beyond reason. You argument is going point to point. Reason is compelling and fun. If we're good at it, then it feels rather god-like. However, reason alone cannot tell us what to value. It is what we value, what we feel, that gives meaning to life. Reason isn't very helpful to the person who's in pain.
I don't pretend to know all the answers. But I'm fine with mystery and my experience of the divine isn't - and can't be - the definition of 'god[s].' For the most part, Pagans don't get concerned about people's individual experience of the unseen world. There's a lot of latitude around how we understand that.
Thank you! Great response. And no, I'm not pagan, but Christian. I see we do agree on ver important things, that there is a moral code that transcends the ages. Also, that it is hard wired into all of us. The Bible says "written in the heart" and you mention in the DNA...which can be called Blood Memory. I happen to be a huge proponent of blood memory. Certainly culture plays a big part and our experiences, but I like the fact in both our perspectives, there is an irreducable core. Any, thank you for your graciousness in the way you fielded the question.
You're most welcome! Thank you for asking! Questions make me think. I'm going to finish my MDiv and will need to be able to have this kind of conversation.
Can you, or paganism as a whole, subscribe to the idea of eternal, objective, concrete moral truth? Moral truth that transcends all ages, religions and cultures.
If not, then moral truth is a shifting sand, made up as we go along and usually slanted to the one who holds power.
If you can subscribe to eternal objective moral truth, would this not require the existence of an eternal moral law giver?
Pagans as a whole are notoriously scattered on the idea of moral truths. Something at which I'd like to see us do better. [But if you're not Pagan, that's not your problem to fix.]
To answer from reason, I would like to believe there is a moral truth that transcended the ages. That would be comforting. But if that were the case, the world would never change, and it clearly does.
I believe eternal moral truths exist. These are threaded through our DNA, built into us by our makers. But we have free-will and its up to us to find the balance between our moral expressions, and to articulate rules of behavior for our cultures.
We also pay the price for getting it wrong.
Now I'm putting reason down, because the gods are beyond reason. You argument is going point to point. Reason is compelling and fun. If we're good at it, then it feels rather god-like. However, reason alone cannot tell us what to value. It is what we value, what we feel, that gives meaning to life. Reason isn't very helpful to the person who's in pain.
I don't pretend to know all the answers. But I'm fine with mystery and my experience of the divine isn't - and can't be - the definition of 'god[s].' For the most part, Pagans don't get concerned about people's individual experience of the unseen world. There's a lot of latitude around how we understand that.
There's also stuff that's... counter-productive.
Thank you! Great response. And no, I'm not pagan, but Christian. I see we do agree on ver important things, that there is a moral code that transcends the ages. Also, that it is hard wired into all of us. The Bible says "written in the heart" and you mention in the DNA...which can be called Blood Memory. I happen to be a huge proponent of blood memory. Certainly culture plays a big part and our experiences, but I like the fact in both our perspectives, there is an irreducable core. Any, thank you for your graciousness in the way you fielded the question.
You're most welcome! Thank you for asking! Questions make me think. I'm going to finish my MDiv and will need to be able to have this kind of conversation.