If you’ve been reading this blog for very long, you’ll know that I have used the argument that the claim that the Christian god does not care about works and only cares about faith could lead to devastating consequences.
Ray Comfort (If you’re new to this blog, we reviewed his entire book over a period of several months here) and some other Christians assert that good works are entirely useless and merely an attempt to bribe the judge of the universe. I have argued that this could lead to individuals rationalizing their immoral behavior. An individual could come to the conclusion that it is okay to behave immorally, so long as they have the appropriate faith in Jesus.
For those of you who might consider claiming that no one would ever think like this: you are wrong.
Last night, George Sodini shot and killed 3 people and himself in an LA fitness center. Here is what he said in his online journal:
August 3, 2009: I took off today, Monday, and tomorrow to practice my routine and make sure it is well polished. I need to work out every detail, there is only one shot. Also I need to be completely immersed into something before I can be successful. I haven’t had a drink since Friday at about 2:30. Total effort needed. Tomorrow is the big day.
Unfortunately I talked to my neighbor today, who is very positive and upbeat. I need to remain focused and absorbed COMPLETELY. Last time I tried this, in January, I chickened out. Lets see how this new approach works.
Maybe soon, I will see God and Jesus. At least that is what I was told. Eternal life does NOT depend on works. If it did, we will all be in hell. Christ paid for EVERY sin, so how can I or you be judged BY GOD for a sin when the penalty was ALREADY paid. People judge but that does not matter. I was reading the Bible and The Integrity of God beginning yesterday, because soon I will see them.
I will try not to add anymore entries because this computer clicking distracts me.
Why would we teach people that morality is irrelevant? This man took the lives of several people and himself, believing that this life is only a stepping stone on the way to eternity. He believed he could kill people because of the teaching that eternal life does not depend on works. When people lose the only life they have due to twisted religious teachings, I feel such sadness.
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Ohhh, that’s an easy one: He was No True Christian(tm), of course. Ahhh, the power of rationalization.
Fun aside, my condolences for the families of the deceased.
Ps I know he travelled but I meant travelled more not just to LA but Europe etc. My point is if you want to kill you can make up your own reasons and base them on whatever you want. The dawson killings the montreal killings against women etc. I notice the life outlook (religious or not or somewhere inbetween) are always different which leads me to believe if you want to kill you will use anything to justify it. I have a friend at the U of Toronto who is an evolutionary biologist and has little luck with women. When his girfriend dumped him last year he said “women are just evolved animals I have to start treating them like that and they will stick around more–show Im the dominant ape so to speak’ blah blah. I believe in evolution but I would never talk like that howver its naive to think others wouldnt. And I know religious people who would never act in such a way and atheists (or agnostics) ethier but there are others of either group I dont know. The asian american (sorry I dont remmber his name) who killed kids at his college wrote in one of his essays he didnt believe in God does that mean atheism leads to killing? you see what I mean. you can take any philosophy and twist it its what we humans do best.
all the best, Peter
I agree that a person can rationalize killing people using just about anything, but I think the difference here is that people actively teach others that belief in Jesus is more important than being a moral individual, and they believe that teaching this will lead to a better society and/or claim that people who don’t believe as they do are immoral and ruining society.
I tried to find news reports or any information on the story you mentioned about an atheist killing his family, but I could not find anything.
I think perhaps I am not communicating my point effectively. I agree with you – people can use any belief system or science to rationalize anything they want.
My point is this: teaching people that “good works don’t matter” is a morally bankrupt teaching. People have claimed that “good works don’t matter” will NEVER lead to immoral behavior.
They are wrong, because sometimes it can. Similarly, I would never claim that the teachings of evolution will NEVEr lead to immoral behavior, because clearly it sometimes does.
That is all I am saying.
Also Peter, do you think it is a good idea to teach people that good works don’t matter to god, only belief in Jesus?
If so, why?
If not, why not?
@JDhuey – Nice way to put it.
What I don’t get is when people claim god does not care about works, but that you can tell when someone isn’t a true Christian when they don’t do good works. This does not compute.
So, what we have is a crazy person that performed an immoral act because he did not have the rational capability to ignore the logical consequences of the religious beliefs that he was told. Morally sane believers act morally because they can ignore what the stated beliefs imply. What a way to run a morality.
Well, the rationale that I’ve heard is that Christians don’t do good works to win favor from God but they do good works because they love God and loving God inspires one to do good works. Loosely analogous to doing good things for your children because you love your children not because you expect something from your children.
@Jdhuey
Yeah but if you ignore your children (at best) they WON”T love you after a while.