Moral Standards?

Can we live in a world without absolute moral standards? I would argue that we cannot; in the same way that order cannot be kept without laws. For instance, murder and rape are considered crimes and garner heavy jail time. Is that not a absolute moral standard? Would anyone argue that a rapist should go unpunished? No, because his actions were disgusting and corrupted and deserving of punishment. Our society continues to elevate the ethical perspective that states that by possessing no moral absolutes we rid the world of intolerance. First of all, this statement is ignorant because absolute moral standard cannot be simply ignored. Also, how does no moral absolutes increase tolerance? As Christians our basis for ethics is the character of God, and therefore we uphold absolute moral standards as pleasing to God. Because Christians understand that situational ethics unleashes faulty and idiotic ideas upon the world, the secular world fails to recognize the depravity of mankind. Situational ethics provides humans the ability to create their own rules and thus insure their own righteousness. It is "nothing but an excuse to do as we please under the banner of morality" (Noebel 129). They base their entire ethical system on what they consider right and wrong, but have no ability to verify that their ideas are correct. Without standards, the world would erupt in chaos. People could not be held accountable for their actions, because they could claim they did what they thought was right. Indeed, Francis Schaeffer states 'We are merely left with conflicting opinions" (Noebel 129). These conflicting opinions cannot be the basis on which you live your life- they do not agree. Christians cannot uphold the lack of moral absolutes because it defies the will of God. To state that no moral absolutes exist is flawed, as that statement describes an absolute. Situational ethics is filled with holes and contradictions and unworthy of trust. 

Karma

I like the pretty scenes of the ocean and the boat. But, these images do not subtract from the illogical conclusions and misleading information Brian Pedd showed through his video. Several of his statements have no actual significance when discussing life and karma. For instance, by stating that everything has an action and a reaction Brian failed to explain how this relates to difficult issues. Is rape a reaction to a past action? Child molestation? Murder? You cannot answer the problem of suffering and pain with karma- it is cruel and unsatisfactory. Also, Brian said that you needed to listen to your heart when making decisions, but emotions are fickle. How can you base your life on transitory emotions? Karma describes these wonderful ideals but fails to explain how to arrive at them. Words have no meaning, when Brian Pedd states that we should seek fulfillment through our actions, what is fulfillment? Karma is the ethical perspective of Cosmic Humanist and is dependent upon moral relativism and therefore cannot be the universal standard of right and wrong. 

Moral relativism stems from ignoring absolute truths and "rational restrictions"; it is an ethical system based upon the preferences of individuals. Furthermore, morality is ruined as people replace their system of values with what they like. No one can judge the actions of another, or claim their beliefs are more correct- moral relativism denies a universal standard of morality. Noebel states that within Cosmic Humanism "Tolerance is the key: cosmic Humanists must tolerate all other views regarding morality because ethics is relative to the truth within us" (153). They even go so far as to state that Eve was condemned because she began judging when she ate from the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Without a basis for any belief, nothing is regulated or questioned, so what will happen to justice and mercy? Society will fall into chaos without some kind of law and Cosmic Humanist deny universal right and wrong. 

Upon the flimsy basis of moral relativism is karma based on- karma is "the total effect of a person's actions and conduct during each phrase of existence, determining the person's destiny" (Noebel 153). Cosmic Humanists assume that everyone was acting in order to reach a "higher consciousness" and thus are justified in their actions. Hitler's actions were morally acceptable because he was seeking his own path. What a load of garbage! A man that slaughtered millions of people is ok, really? "Good and evil are hopelessly blurred"within the ethical system of karma. (Noebel 153) Evil could become good in another universe and therefore Cosmic Humanism ignore the weight and issue of evil. Cosmic Humanists state that every action will come back to you, but this fails to explain the existence of evil and suffering in innocent people's lives. Noebel states "Unfortunately, because there is no standard by which to judge what may be 'an act of indifference', or 'a misuse of life', we cannot know if there is any difference between cruelty and non-cruelty. This is an alarming conclusion, but one Cosmic Humanists accept" (153).  Basically, actions cannot be judged, evil cannot be punished, and Cosmic Humanists are ok with it. This is why karma is not a universal standard of good and evil and why Nathan should run in the other direction.  When people begin saying, that Christ and Lucifer are the same person, might be a red flag. 

Antigone's Brilliance

"We have only a little time to please the living, but all eternity to love the dead. There I shall lie for ever. Live, if you will; Live, and defy the holiest laws of heaven" (Antigone 128). 

          Antigone's eloquence and wisdom characterize her actions and this particular accusation of Ismene's cowardice. Struggling to free her brother from an eternity of wandering, Antigone considers the afterlife more important than the present. This quote explains the conflict between Antigone and Creon; Antigone strives to please the gods, but Creon, his subjects. Profound and a tad morbid, Antigone understands that life is fleeting, and this recognition demands that Antigone act. Antigone is characterized by strength, action, and courage- this quote is our first glance at the power of Antigone. By dwelling on the afterlife, she becomes a heroine in this life. Antigone respects the dominance of the gods and the "holiest laws of heaven"; she considers the world governed by the will of the gods. The theme prevalent in Antigone is the juxtaposition of the laws of the gods and the laws of man. Antigone represents the will of the gods and reflects their ultimate supremacy as Creon succumbs to disaster. The development of Antigone's character resides in Antigone first speech to Ismene; Antigone reveals her love for her brother and strength in overcoming her grief. On the other hand, Antigone's reproach of Ismene reveals her harshness and her quickness to judge. Her tone is filled with criticism for Ismene's refusal to defy Creon's edict and even disgust for her sister. The flaw of Antigone is also present within this quote- instead of speaking with Creon, Antigone immediately chooses to quietly undermine his authority. Her stubborn and somewhat haughty speech add to overall character of Antigone. In spite of this, Antigone's ability to view life with perspective is admirable and praiseworthy. 

I love this quote. Maybe not the last sentence, but the first sentence holds so much biblical wisdom. Antigone's appreciation for the eternality of death should be the same for Christians; the time we spend on earth is immeasurable compared to our life in heaven. As Christians, we serve a greater power than the laws of man- just as Antigone recognized the will of the gods as superior, so must Christians. Often times, I become caught up in the problems of this world, failing to see their insignificance and thus ignore the "holiest laws of heaven." I have to force upon myself perspective, just as Antigone saw the eternal more important than the temporary, I need to see beyond the struggles of my daily life. I so admire Antigone's ability to clearly and courageously follow the will of the gods, and she had so little evidence for them. Antigone saw the eternal life of her brother more important than her own her, a belief that Christians should possess regarding non Christians, and acted upon it. So many times, I find myself crumbling under my indecision, unwilling to reach out, but Christians must evangelize. Because our evangelization is going to impact eternity, the same way Antigone saved her brother from wandering. Antigone serves as a representation of the Christian life; each day we must be willing to sacrifice ourselves for others. Remembering that the present hardship is temporary, but our glorious future is forever.