07-24-2019, 12:00 AM
Well, I haven't been reading The Rational Bible in sequential order, rather, have skipped to chapters of interest and will comment on what it seems I may agree with. Just some random thoughts.
Chapter four, I tend to think he is correct when assessing human beings and the role of the conscious, and how conscious alone is not enough for the majority of people to do what is right for any duration, resulting in the necessity of divine revelation. There is, of course, the exceptionally moral human being, outside of the majority. I thought he laid out a very good argument in Chapter 8 on why he believes people are not generally good. His outline of historical monstrosities committed by a large portion of humanity rationalizing evil with a clear conscious.
I agree with what he said in Chapter 6, that people should be judged by the standards of their time and not of ours. And upholding that thought, the rabbinic opinion of Noah managing to remain a good person in spite of being raised around evil people. That appears to be a demonstration of strength of character and courage which is something human beings, as a rule, lack. As group animals most of us do not have a complete understanding of the social laws that govern us. We should, or at least strive to learn more. Things like how to maintain an individual, dissident opinion when the pressure is on to go against our conscious. I think our tendency is towards obedience to a group, either political or religious, mostly baked in a resistance to change.
Chapter four, I tend to think he is correct when assessing human beings and the role of the conscious, and how conscious alone is not enough for the majority of people to do what is right for any duration, resulting in the necessity of divine revelation. There is, of course, the exceptionally moral human being, outside of the majority. I thought he laid out a very good argument in Chapter 8 on why he believes people are not generally good. His outline of historical monstrosities committed by a large portion of humanity rationalizing evil with a clear conscious.
I agree with what he said in Chapter 6, that people should be judged by the standards of their time and not of ours. And upholding that thought, the rabbinic opinion of Noah managing to remain a good person in spite of being raised around evil people. That appears to be a demonstration of strength of character and courage which is something human beings, as a rule, lack. As group animals most of us do not have a complete understanding of the social laws that govern us. We should, or at least strive to learn more. Things like how to maintain an individual, dissident opinion when the pressure is on to go against our conscious. I think our tendency is towards obedience to a group, either political or religious, mostly baked in a resistance to change.