Secular Atheism Archives - Life Hope

Who is “the ruler of this world”?

Ian Denness — Sat, 25 Jun 2022 11:49:08 +0000

Themselves, their cat, bacteria and fungi were given as some of the answers.

Others gave the expected big names of tech, finance, and power.

However, the question comes from a direct quote of Jesus, included 3 times in the Bible on different occasions.

He said that Satan is ‘the ruler of this world’.

Jesus describes Satan as ‘the deceiver’, and the ‘father of lies’.

Most people don’t accept or honour the God of the Bible, but live ignoring or rejecting him. Jesus is implying that such people are being controlled unwittingly by Satan. They may think they are ‘cool’ and in control of their very independent lives, living the way they want to, but they are actually following Satan’s script as the deceiver.

Jesus came to put down Satan, sin, and death. He did this on the cross of Jerusalem. The results are partially for now, but especially for when Jesus returns to judge each person and to send Satan to Hell forever. Justice will be complete.

What do you think of that?

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Is there a universal right and wrong?

Ian Denness — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 03:37:22 +0000

Should everyone find their own truth?

Or are there some givens in all societies that are constant, and even part of our conscience?

Should everyone just do what is right in their own eyes, like moral relativism?

Ethical standards in each of us are real, even if we don’t always live up to them…

What about murder, rape, stealing, telling lies, bribery, immorality, abortion, euthanasia? Are they right or wrong?

We should be careful in making our judgements here. Do they reflect our family background, our community, our government or something higher?

A universal law maker?

If we accept there is universal right and wrong, good and evil, we then have to acknowledge there must be a moral law maker, such as God.

However, if we consider ourselves to be just an insignificant part of a vast, random and purposeless universe, why should we feel strongly about what is right and wrong? To be consistent, Secular Atheism should hold this view.

Personally, I believe there is a universal right and wrong. I base that on the Bible, the book passed down accurately through the centuries. That topic deserves a full Post for those who may be sceptical of my statement!

The Ten Commandments are a good start to universal right and wrong. I read each as “You will be happy if you …”

The “Golden Rule” of Jesus works well too.

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:12 (NIV) (http://www.laridian.com)

Where do you get your right and wrong from?

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Does pursuing abortion and euthanasia enhance our credibility as a civilised society?

Ian Denness — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 03:45:00 +0000

‘Pro-Choice or Pro-Life?

Does being pro-life mean that society is more civilised, or does being pro-choice mean that?

You can see from the blackboard result opposite that the majority of respondents in the market thought the latter.

I do find that difficult to accept

It is hard and inappropiate to call abortion anything other than the process of killing a baby in utero. It cannot be honestly sanitised to an alternative definition. Baby is the special word we have come to call the living human in the pregnant mother. We never hear a pregnant mum say her ‘foetus’ is kicking, or ‘just some tissue’ is starting to move, or has a heartbeat.

Once we know about the process of abortion, and especially if we see it on a live video, there is also no way we can think of the baby as anything other than living, and abortion as anything other than the killing of it. The reality is that the process is truly horrible to watch.

A mother’s love is normally accepted as the most exemplary of all forms of human love, isn’t it? Maybe there should be more forms of support for an expectant mother, so that she is more able to support and carry her baby to its birth?

I like that saying I heard somewhere – “Love them both.” They both have rights.

A civilized society?

What is that?

The Cambridge Dictionary is the first that came up with a one sentence definition on a search: – “A civilized society or country has a well-developed system of government, culture, and way of life and that treats the people who live there fairly.”

“Fairly”?

Abortion can’t be fair to the baby. The baby hasn’t done any crime. It is innocent of any wrong. As well, its DNA genetic make-up is completely unique and different to its mother’s and father’s. Amazingly, its circulating blood and other organ systems are totally separate, even though they are dependent and enclosed within the body of its dear mother. That place should be the safest of all places, and both should be protected and safe.

Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia?

When laws are enacted to allow such to happen, all looks safe and tidy. However, the risks for misuse can easily be imagined, if we are realistic.

To be fair, this needs to be discussed in another Post!

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