tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578496623140464256.post6599594974801876799..comments2023-05-11T08:00:50.001-05:00Comments on A Glass Darkly: A biological basis for morality?Denis Haackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04401098607183612613noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578496623140464256.post-24671207727875284652011-11-30T22:58:21.911-06:002011-11-30T22:58:21.911-06:00One more thought. I read this in the Foreward of E...One more thought. I read this in the Foreward of Elyse Fitzpatrick's book Give Them Grace. The foreward was written by Tullian Tchividjian who was quoting from Michael Horton's book Christless Christianity where Michael presents to us an idea of what things would look like if Satan really ruled a city. Michael was quoting Donald Grey Barnhouse. (Just making sure I give credit here where it's due!) here's what Barnhouse described which addresses the idea of looking good or being good that Zak seemes to be concerned about..."If Satan took over Philadelphia (city where Barnhouse pastored) all of the bars would be closed, pornography banished, and pristine streets would be filled with tidy pedestrians who smiled at each other. There would be no swearing. The children would say, "yes, sir" and "no ma'am," and the churches would be full every Sunday...where Christ is NOT preached."<br /><br />Rather profound. <br /><br />Blessings to you and Margie as the winter weather begins to settle into the great upper Midwest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578496623140464256.post-73783408515849346482011-11-30T14:50:51.722-06:002011-11-30T14:50:51.722-06:00Scott:
Very well said. (And welcome back--been mis...Scott:<br />Very well said. (And welcome back--been missing your voice.)<br />I find your suggestion about Finney to be hilarious, though also quite insightful. On the one hand, we should expect there to be a biological (or bodily) response to religious liturgy for the simple reason we are embodied creatures. On the other, Finney's real significance was to make the manipulation of response a legitimate and expected Christian endeavor. A sad thing, and one important step in making the gospel something to be marketed.<br />Warmly<br />DenisDenis Haackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04401098607183612613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578496623140464256.post-38208424222459800922011-11-30T14:44:28.748-06:002011-11-30T14:44:28.748-06:00Greg:
Quite correct, of course.
What is fascinatin...Greg:<br />Quite correct, of course.<br />What is fascinating to me is not that he can make this leap without defending it, but that today no real defense is considered necessary by so many. In that sense, this lecture is really an example of scientism, and inelegantly argued to boot.<br />Always appreciate your comments, my friend.<br />DenisDenis Haackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04401098607183612613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578496623140464256.post-10237715751935953682011-11-30T14:41:41.453-06:002011-11-30T14:41:41.453-06:00Annie:
That would be interesting, I agree. TED is ...Annie:<br />That would be interesting, I agree. TED is a place where anything can be discussed, so religion would not be automatically off the table. I suspect that his naturalism is such an assumption that his easy dismissal of "top down" morality is really just that: an assumption, not the considered result of his research.<br />Thanks for commenting.<br />DenisDenis Haackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04401098607183612613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578496623140464256.post-74259963610697269592011-11-30T10:38:26.351-06:002011-11-30T10:38:26.351-06:00Denis, sorry I haven't been around in a while....Denis, sorry I haven't been around in a while. Thanks for posting this video. As I watched I began to wonder if Charles Finney might have had high levels of oxytocin as he introduced American Christianity to the altar call. As far as your question regarding the appeal to scripture in regards to Zak's findings...It would be quite a leap to believe that Zak has demonstrated any counter belief system. On the contrary it only seems that his findings reveal a deeper complexity that only points to a designer. But I do suppose presuppositions matter as one unpacks this. What I do believe that it demonstrates is just another attempt at man to be "good" and "moral". Problem is, as Zak's findings testify to, we all have some sort of oxytocin inhibitor; sort of the equivalent to a physiological depravity. Also if oxytocin leads to good moral decisions then it gives us another opportunity to worship the creation (oxytocin, scenarios which bring increased oxytocin or even ourselves) rather than the Creator (Romans 1). And further if oxytocin is the "morality" chemical and someone finds opportunity to administer oxytocin to humans as an attempt to create a better ordered society they would have to either continually administer it to all or figure out ways to naturally increase oxytocin. This can only lead to addictions to scenarios that create oxytocin or eventually we'll all have permanent nasal inhalers hooked to our faces. Either way it ignores the restorative nature of love, grace and forgiveness which is an inhibition of beauty.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578496623140464256.post-82793169125874123262011-11-18T17:56:04.242-06:002011-11-18T17:56:04.242-06:00May I note that there's a big difference betwe...May I note that there's a big difference between providing a biological basis for morality and merely explaining moral behavior in biological terms?greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05754912128060898594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578496623140464256.post-63900722898541701592011-11-09T00:23:04.553-06:002011-11-09T00:23:04.553-06:00I'm interested to hear more of his mother'...I'm interested to hear more of his mother's story - did she become a nun after having him? Was she disgraced if she had a baby as a nun? What is his position on religion? It seems he was distancing himself from religion, but it may just have been inappropriate to go into religion for his talk to that audience.anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13326118007690645696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578496623140464256.post-89311815273291345342011-11-07T15:32:33.798-06:002011-11-07T15:32:33.798-06:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.mlhhttp://margie.ransomfellowship.org/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578496623140464256.post-40210336630927517592011-11-07T15:30:46.450-06:002011-11-07T15:30:46.450-06:00You've only given me two hugs today. I want si...You've only given me two hugs today. I want six more.Margie Haackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06938076510781889109noreply@blogger.com