Quote:
Originally Posted by regular.joe
I stand at what I think is the opposite end of the spectrum from Dana. I've experienced God first hand, my world view cannot be separated from this experience. About free will, the evidence of my life seems to indicate that I can do anything I want, when ever I want. The evidence seems to indicate that I have a free will.
I don't think that my moral and ethical conduct is hinged on my experience with God. I would say that the evidence of my life once again would indicate that the more selfless and less self centered I am, the more fulfilled my life seems to be. This in itself points in an ethical and moral direction of action and thinking.
I agree with some of the discussion so far, at the end of the day, God or no God, free will or no free will, we all will do what ever we do. Most or much of what we do will indeed be motivated by self interest, and perceived survival. If self interest and perceived survival are the only motivating factors for our ethical and moral standards, then I think we are indeed missing out on a great deal of what our life here has to offer us and others.
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I think that was an excellent post Joe. I would slightly take issue with the idea that it is about perceived survival. It's not as conscious as that I don't think. It's perceived as something else, it is survival at an unconscious level. Something carried in our genetic makeup, the way our brains have evolved. When we fall in love we are not usually thinking at some conscious level: brilliant now my genetic code can replicate itself into another generation. When we give a dollar to a homeless guy we're not usually thinking: brilliant, this reflects the instinct to empathise and reciprocate which is allowing our species to thrive.