Every Sunday, Miles Kimball does a post about religion. This week, it's a guest post by none other than Yours Truly. Head over to Miles' place to find out why God can't ever be certain that He's really God, and why this tells us what we humans ought to be doing with our lives!
It has been observed that for European countries Protestantism, with its emphasis on individual responsibility, leads to countries which are more concerned about the environment as compared to predominantly Catholic countries. There is a lot to be said for accepting individual responsibility for the world around you.
ReplyDeleteHi, Noah. Nice sentiment about personal responsibility. One question though: if you believe that there is an all-powerful force that will meticulously judge each one of your actions, no matter how great or small, and grant you eternal reward or eternal punishment accordingly, don't you think this would tend to INCREASE your sense of personal responsibility, rather than diminish it?
ReplyDeleteI mean, eternal divine retribution, by definition, is pretty much the ultimate transversality condition.
Ah, but they *don't* believe they are judged on their actions, only on their belief. Believe in Jesus, you get into Heaven. Otherwise you go to Hell. Actions will not matter, because we are all sinners anyway.
Delete(Note - I am an atheist, and I am aware that the above is not the belief of all Christians, but it *is* the belief of many American evangelicals, who are a major political power in this country.)
if you believe that there is an all-powerful force that will meticulously judge each one of your actions, no matter how great or small, and grant you eternal reward or eternal punishment accordingly, don't you think this would tend to INCREASE your sense of personal responsibility, rather than diminish it?
DeleteNo, quite the opposite. Doing things because of the threat of external punishment is completely different than doing things because of a sense of obligation and responsibility.
I'm not sure if I understand your reply, Noah. Where do obligation and responsibility come from? And if they are not based in any way on some perceived *real* consequences, then in what way could they ever be optimal?
DeletePardon the long lagged reply, BTW.
Way to bump a 1000 year old thread from St. Anselm and his ontological proof of God. Without attribution.
ReplyDelete