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God, I’ve never done this before, but if you have the time, you MUST read this (unedited) conversation. Towards, the end, I was in stitches. Seriously, skip to the middle if you want… it’s ALL gold.

The following was in reference to email I got about an article
I wrote on God and morality.

This is the email from cowboy bebop

Read your diary...

“you're wrong.. being moral is not like being hungry... hunger is a
need.. if there is no god, being moral wouldn't be a need and wouldn't
necessitate serious deliberation.. there would be no "moral"
dilemmas.. u wouldn't worry about the "right" thing to do.. the fact
that you do worry and do consider the "right" thing to do based upon a
moral propensity/disposition is a testimony to the existence of God..”

* * *


Bee7D: hi

bohnertime: hi

Bee7D: i got your email

bohnertime: ah

bohnertime: I can talk for a bit, if you want to discuss

Bee7D: as regarding being moral... isn't a need.. it's a tendency..

bohnertime: or you can respond via email

Bee7D: i'm good here

bohnertime: oh
bohnertime: ok

Bee7D: u could make the case for it being a need in the long run

bohnertime: well, even if it is a tendency, you still have work to do before you can say we can't be moral without god

Bee7D: for instance.. like.. "housing".. it's not an immediate need.. u can sleep under a bush.. but eventually it will inconvenience and possibly kill you (weather, etc.)

bohnertime: in terms of the analogy to hunger, I only ment to illustrate that I don't think about behaving in a moral fashion, I just do. Similarly, I don't think about being hungry, I just am

Bee7D: well how do you propose to be moral w/o any indicator of morality?

bohnertime: Ah, this is a long discussion
bohnertime: there may be lots of ways

Bee7D: you aren't just hungry... hunger is a need.. you try to fulfill that need.. just like any other need.. it's not a "just because".. you never do anything just because..there's always an underlying purpose to anything you do

bohnertime: I think that given the way people are, there is a right and wrong way to act

Bee7D: based on what?
bohnertime: when you think logically and selflessly, these ways become apparent

Bee7D: there can be no right or wrong way w/o objective measure

bohnertime: for example, I wouldn't like my civil liberties removed, I probably shouldn't do it to them
bohnertime: I agree
bohnertime: I think this is an objective way of thought

Bee7D: thinking "logically" would actually work against you

bohnertime: how so?

Bee7D: if there were no moral basis for doing anything, it would be logical to take advantage of people whenever possible

bohnertime: how do you figure

Bee7D: this is not a moral basis..this is a logical basis

bohnertime: ?
bohnertime: I don't know if that is true

Bee7D: well if there is no morality, there is no need for me to consider you

Bee7D: i should logically just consider my needs alone

bohnertime: I didn't say there is no morality

Bee7D: well what is your basis for morality?

Bee7D: there has to be a basis in order for people to behave or even consider being moral

bohnertime: Again, moral behavior can be derived from a though process that takes into account the nature of humans and which actions support a good life

bohnertime: cohesive society

Bee7D: what's a "good" life?
bohnertime: humanity is a pretty strong basis

Bee7D: no it isn't

bohnertime: ?

Bee7D: you're talking about moral conventions

Bee7D: not logic

bohnertime: I don't know if that is
true

Bee7D: having a "cohesive society" is a moral convention

Bee7D: not a logical one
bohnertime: Most people have a pretty strong idea of what a good life is

bohnertime: saftey
bohnertime: security
bohnertime: etc.

Bee7D: you don't know if a lot of things are true because you haven't thought them through

bohnertime: it's part of human nature
bohnertime: ?
bohnertime: what things

Bee7D: what would be the point of being "safe" or "secure"?
Bee7D: the goal isn't longevity

bohnertime: to protect our lives
bohnertime: it is

Bee7D: no it isn't

bohnertime: self preserverence

Bee7D: longevity is derived from morality

bohnertime: yes, it is human nature to want to stay alive

bohnertime: no, the other way around
bohnertime: I mean, it's part of it

Bee7D: your goal is not to stay alive

bohnertime: ?

Bee7D: that is a ridiculous conclusion

bohnertime: it's not my conclusion

Bee7D: if your goal was to stay alive, u would eat and drink and stay home

bohnertime: but there are some goals in life, one of which is to stay alive

bohnertime: right, well it's not the ONLY goal

Bee7D: that's your conclusion based upon your goal you just stated

bohnertime: nope

Bee7D: staying alive isn't a goal
Bee7D: it's a means

bohnertime: but whatever, it's not important

Bee7D: not an end
Bee7D: it is important
Bee7D: the fact that you're ignoring it is why you're not understanding the basis of morality
Bee7D: you ignore the details

bohnertime: I don't think I'm ignorning it

Bee7D: and expect to understand the underlying principle

bohnertime: I'm disagreeing with you
bohnertime: right

Bee7D: you are ignoring it.. u haven't addressed it

bohnertime: I did above

Bee7D: you've "whatevered" it

bohnertime: no

Bee7D: no u didn't

bohnertime: shall I cut and paste?

Bee7D: we have nowhere near finished
Bee7D: yeah cut and paste your incomplete argument

bohnertime: I agree

Bee7D: i've read it .. i don't know why you'd like me to reread your incomplete argument

bohnertime: dude, you need to chill out

Bee7D: dude?...

bohnertime: this is just a friendly debate

Bee7D: are you in 4th grade?
Bee7D: no wonder you're having trouble

bohnertime: ?
bohnertime: with what?

Bee7D: with handling any adult discussion

bohnertime: well, I'm having a rough time convincing you we simply disagree

Bee7D: dude chill?.. i feel like you tried to hijack me into a "dude where's my car" video

bohnertime: ok

Bee7D: we do disagree.. why would u need to waste your time convincing me of that?...

Bee7D: the problem is you're not thoughtful in your disagreement

bohnertime: why are you being so hostile

bohnertime: ?

Bee7D: well the truth is often very hostile to people in denail
Bee7D: denial

Bee7D: girls often consider the truth to be "hostile" to their thoughtless contentions

bohnertime: And I am thoughtful. I believe humans act in a certain way given the way humans are.

Bee7D: that's why the term "denial" was invented in the 1st place

bohnertime: Not because God told us to be that way

Bee7D: you are not thoughtful, that's obvious by how you handle disagreement..u simple relegate it to disagreement without caring to understand why

bohnertime: well, for starters, you haven't given me much of a chance

Bee7D: forget about god, you haven't even given a credible view of morality apart from God

bohnertime: if you want to read articles I have written on this, go ahead

Bee7D: i've given you plenty of chance right now

bohnertime: not really

Bee7D: dont' act like a professional victim

bohnertime: 5 minutes

Bee7D: you have every opportunity to explain yourself

bohnertime: so have you...

Bee7D: it's you that has wasted your 5 mins. on "we simply disagree"
Bee7D: no i haven't

bohnertime: well, go for it
bohnertime: I have time

Bee7D: i 'm much brighter than you.. i take opportunity where i see it
Bee7D: i've stated my case

bohnertime: ok, well
bohnertime: show me

Bee7D: you haven't

bohnertime: lets hear you case

Bee7D: i just did.. i told you that there is no moral basis for doing things that benefit society apart from God

bohnertime: that's not a case

Bee7D: you haven't been able to answer it

Bee7D: sure it is..
Bee7D: it's a hypothesis

bohnertime: ?
Bee7D: and then i've explained why
Bee7D: that's a "case"

bohnertime: well, maybe I just don't understand your explination

Bee7D: i've presented a case.. you've presented incoherent and incomplete arguments ... and you consider it "simple disagreement"

bohnertime: you said yourself your smarter than me, maybe I just didn't understand it
bohnertime: try again

Bee7D: well if you don't understand it, why would you simply shrug it off?
Bee7D: well let me try again then

bohnertime: thanks.

Bee7D: w/o God , u cannot have a moral society.. and there is no basis for acting moral

Bee7D: logically, all actions should benefit you

Bee7D: not society

bohnertime: I disagree with this :logically, all actions should
benefit you

Bee7D: to consider society in the
equation of morality wouldn't be logical because society isn't looking out for your interest

Bee7D: society is derived from a moral interest

bohnertime: I disagree with this too: to consider society in the equation of morality wouldn't be logical because society isn't looking out for your interest

Bee7D: well ok, strictly speaking, all actions SHOULD benefit you..even the actions that directly benefit other people
Bee7D: eventually they should benefit you... that should be their basis

bohnertime: ok

Bee7D: that is not moral
Bee7D: that is far from moral

bohnertime: ?
bohnertime: well, I don't know if I agree with that

Bee7D: if i help you out just because it will help me in the future, that isn't a moral decision

bohnertime: how so?

Bee7D: that's a selfish decision

bohnertime: how so? it's not motivated by pure self interest

Bee7D: because the benefit is directed at myself

bohnertime: the self interest is incidental

Bee7D: sure it is.

bohnertime: also, you havent' escaped that problem when you talk about God

Bee7D: that's not true at all
Bee7D: if i do something for you, with me in mind, that is far from incidental
Bee7D: that is a selfish motive

bohnertime: if you don't kill to get into heaven, isn't that selfish also?

Bee7D: sure i have... if morality is involved, then the self is automatically accountable

Bee7D: god's goal isn't to take you to heaven first of all...
Bee7D: 2nd.. it's not selfish..it's moral not to kill

bohnertime: no, it's your goal

Bee7D: that's why you have a conscience
bohnertime: right, but WHY wouldn't one kill

Bee7D: it's not my goal
Bee7D: it may be your goal to get to heaven

bohnertime: because God said so, presumably

Bee7D: but it's not my goal or god's goal
Bee7D: and your presumption is wrong

bohnertime: why do it?

Bee7D: why do what

bohnertime: why would one not kill if not because of God's command

bohnertime: on your view, morality comes from God
bohnertime: God says, do not kill
bohnertime: so, what is moral behavior is to not kill

Bee7D: because it would bother your conscience.. your moral indicator

bohnertime: so it has nothing to do with God

Bee7D: where did you get that from?

bohnertime: well, I'm trying to figure it out
Bee7D: if you didn't have a moral compass, it wouldn't matter who you killed
Bee7D: you wouldn't be bothered by killing anyone

bohnertime: I agree
bohnertime: I agree
bohnertime: sociopaths
bohnertime: are like this

Bee7D: well there you go.. to "not
kill" is a moral decision based upon God

bohnertime: ?

Bee7D: if there were no God, u wouldn't have a conscience

bohnertime: oh
bohnertime: I see
bohnertime: well, why can't a
conscience be a product of natural evoluion

bohnertime: ?
bohnertime: excuse my spelling

Bee7D: because it's a moral faculty
bohnertime: I don't understand
Bee7D: killing would benefit you in many cases if there were no morality to speak of

Bee7D: so you should kill other people in that case

Bee7D: but you don't because you have a conscience
bohnertime: Now, the benefit of
killing in some cases and killing for fun are diffent things, are they not
Bee7D: if we are a product of evolution, there is no future for you to consider or speak of.. your immediate concern should be your immediate benefits

Bee7D: you could kill for fun or necessity.. the basis would be negligible w/o a conscience

bohnertime: Right, I think that it may be true that in some cases, behaving in a moral fashion would benefit you

Bee7D: it's not a moral fashion if it's temporary
bohnertime: perhaps killing in ALL cases is not morally wrong

Bee7D: morality isn't temporal
bohnertime: I agree
Bee7D: so it's not morality you're speaking of

bohnertime: but I think you are extrapolating from what I am saying

Bee7D: it's simply convenience
Bee7D: you're not stating it clearly then ..or you're stating it inaccurately
Bee7D: because killing anybody wouldn't be a moral decision
Bee7D: if there were no God
Bee7D: it would simply be a decision of convenience
Bee7D: is it convenient for you to kill this person or not
Bee7D: would it benefit you

bohnertime: Ok
bohnertime: give me a second to type this out
Bee7D: k

bohnertime: There may be times when murder is justified, right?
bohnertime: well, killing
bohnertime: not murder
bohnertime: there are times when it is excessive
bohnertime: when it doesn't benefit anybody

Bee7D: there's no such thing as murder w/o morality.there is simply killing
Bee7D: murder is a moral crime
Bee7D: because in involves legality.. breaking a law

bohnertime: morality and legality are very different

Bee7D: well again, the benefit would be an arbitrary decision w/o morality
Bee7D: it would benefit the person doing the killing
Bee7D: no they are not very different... legal issues are based on moral issues
Bee7D: w/o morality, there would be nothing legal to speak of

bohnertime: ?
bohnertime: what?
bohnertime: I have a question, where are you from?

Bee7D: if there were no moral basis for anything, there would never be any legal basis
Bee7D: my mom's womb?
Bee7D: what do u mean
Bee7D: like state?

bohnertime: what state
bohnertime: yes

Bee7D: washington

bohnertime: Oh. curious

Bee7D: ok
bohnertime: anyway, slavery used to be legal

Bee7D: yeah

bohnertime: certainly it wasn't moral

Bee7D: as a moral issue

bohnertime: no, as a business issue

Bee7D: of course it wasn't moral
Bee7D: but laws are BASED upon morality

bohnertime: what abuot laws about signing contracts

Bee7D: it's just that our moral basis isn't always accurate

bohnertime: conducting business

Bee7D: it's a moral issue
bohnertime: ?

Bee7D: u don't make laws w/o any moral basis
Bee7D: contracts are based upon fairness
Bee7D: fairness is a MORAL issue
Bee7D: w/o morality, there is no fairness concept to speak of

bohnertime: Ok
bohnertime: this aspect of the debate isn't really worth getting into

Bee7D: it's all related to morality..but ok
bohnertime: what is is a way that a conscience may be built into people without God

bohnertime: right
bohnertime: ?

Bee7D: you can't have a conscience w/o God

bohnertime: Ok, now you are just begging the question

Bee7D: a conscience would be pointless w/o God
Bee7D: what question

bohnertime: ha
bohnertime: no, its a phrase

Bee7D: what phrase?

bohnertime: it means that you have built into your conclusion your premise

Bee7D: i doubt you even understand what you're trying to imply in that sentiment regarding my statement
Bee7D: but please explain

bohnertime: What you have said is there can be no moral conscience without God. But what I am trying to say is that there might be. In fact, it is probable that back in the day when humans were evolving, cooperation, a specific type of cooperation was necessary for living a decent cohesive life. A life with minimal pain. A life where one wasn't in a constant state of war with their neighbors
bohnertime: this type of cooperation, don't kill eachother, dont' steal, don't cheet, be honest
bohnertime: perpetuates survival
bohnertime: perpetuates pleasent lives

Bee7D: no because a conscience is a MORAL faculty.. how would something moral benefit anyone?.. morality is concerned w/a future

Bee7D: evolution is not concerned w/the future

Bee7D: it is concerned w/the present
bohnertime: If I am honest with you, thereby making you honest with me

bohnertime: it benefits us both

Bee7D: those things don't perpetuate survival..they perpetuate a moral society...

Bee7D: and we aren't here to survive.. we are here to benefit ourselves if there is no moral basis for anything

bohnertime: It is a strong part of human nature to survive

Bee7D: as i said before, you're wrong if you think you'll be fine just eating and drinking and staying in a room until you die

Bee7D: it does not benefit you to be honest apart from any morality

bohnertime: Ok, well survival isn't then ONLY goal

bohnertime: so is pleasure

Bee7D: you are wrong and not thinking it thru

bohnertime: a sense of accomplishment

Bee7D: survival is NOT an end
Bee7D: it is a MEANS
Bee7D: do u even understand the difference?

bohnertime: I'm not sayintg it is an end

Bee7D: yes u are

bohnertime: rather, not the end

Bee7D: you are imply that it is a reason

Bee7D: it is not anywhere near an end
Bee7D: u don't live to survive
Bee7D: that is ridiculous
Bee7D: and you'd be lying if you made that claim

bohnertime: It is a reason

Bee7D: i've already proved that you don't live to survive
Bee7D: no it's not a reason

bohnertime: proved?

Bee7D: yes
Bee7D: i just told you

bohnertime: youve presented a case

Bee7D: yeah and u haven't said
anythign against it
Bee7D: i told u 2 times already
Bee7D: u don't eat
Bee7D: and drink
Bee7D: and stay in a room

bohnertime: right

Bee7D: all your life
Bee7D: so you proved my point

bohnertime: but I responded to that too

Bee7D: no u didn't

bohnertime: that that wouldn't brign you pleasure

Bee7D: u didn't respond to that

bohnertime: there are other parts of live

Bee7D: yeah but you said survival was the end

Bee7D: it is obviously not an end
bohnertime: pleasure, a sense of accomplishment

Bee7D: it doesn't bring u pleasure to survive

bohnertime: then what IS an end
bohnertime: you tell me

Bee7D: you're this dumb that you don't understand survival isn't an end?
Bee7D: how young are you?
bohnertime: TELL ME AN END

Bee7D: you seriously think u wake up to stay alive?

Bee7D: are u taht stupid?

bohnertime: I repead my request

Bee7D: u stay alive as a MEANS to accomplishing something
Bee7D: or to attain something
Bee7D: it should be self-evident that survival isn't an end

bohnertime: WHAT IS AN END
bohnertime: name one

Bee7D: but you're trying to claim it is
Bee7D: if you can't understand the differnece it would be pointless for me to even explain what an "end" is

bohnertime: well, tell me

Bee7D: you need to see that fundamentally, survival in itself is useless

bohnertime: I mean, if you are so smart, tell me

Bee7D: you want to be satisfied
Bee7D: that is an END
Bee7D: i am smart
Bee7D: and i am proving it
Bee7D: you are not smart
Bee7D: and you are proving it
Bee7D: i have not lied about my contention

bohnertime: if you are so smart, why do you keep on telling me how smart you are

Bee7D: because you keep throwing it in my face

bohnertime: shouldnt it just be obvious to me

Bee7D: so i simply throw it back

bohnertime: ?

Bee7D: it should be, but you're not that smart
Bee7D: so you need reminding
Bee7D: constantly

bohnertime: why?
bohnertime: why do people who are not smart need constant reminders?

Bee7D: because they are a danger to themselves otherwise

bohnertime: ?

Bee7D: imagine a dumb person trying to run the country

bohnertime: Well that woudl be a danger to you, not me

Bee7D: you only have the capacity to think and see short term outcomes
Bee7D: that is a danger to you
Bee7D: just like a child can see that chocolate is good
Bee7D: to the taste

bohnertime: Ah, are you sure the
problem here isn't that we simply disagree on the meaning of life?

Bee7D: but cannot see the long term health problems from constantly eating chocolate

bohnertime: on what the point of surviving is
bohnertime: on how one lives a good life
bohnertime: ?

Bee7D: no it's simply that you're too dumb to understand and like most dumb people u chalk it up to current social conventions like "we simply disgree"
Bee7D: that is the sign of a dumb person
Bee7D: they are incapable of seeing past the prevailing philosophy of relativism
Bee7D: where everyone is right
Bee7D: and no one is wrong

bohnertime: I am not a relativist

Bee7D: sure u are

bohnertime: no, you should read my articles

Bee7D: you agree w/the concept of simple disagreement
Bee7D: your articles are shallow

bohnertime: I'm not agreeing to disagree

Bee7D: they are not very thoughtful

bohnertime: ?

Bee7D: you are contradicting yourself now
Bee7D: u said you agreed to disagree
Bee7D: now you're not

Bee7D: make up your mind
bohnertime: No, I said we disagreed, not that I agreed to disagree
bohnertime: I don't think we are both right
bohnertime: I think you think you are right
bohnertime: which is fine

Bee7D: you disagree.. gee that was difficult to notice.. so you pointed that out 2 times because?

bohnertime: but I think you are taken as given something I think is wrong

Bee7D: i know i am right..and i know you are wrong ..for the reasons i stated

bohnertime: they weren't great reasons
bohnertime: and I responded to them, with no response

Bee7D: sure they were, you're just not capable of understanding them
Bee7D: you're not that thoughtful
Bee7D: which makes you incapable of being too bright

bohnertime: or maybe they just werent' that great

Bee7D: you're too dumb to understand the responses i've given
Bee7D: and i've given more than enough of them

bohnertime: not really
Bee7D: or maybe your'e just too dumb to comprehend them
Bee7D: yes really
Bee7D: i've proven that
Bee7D: it's quite obvious

bohnertime: maybe, but for such a smarty pants, you did a shit job teaching me

Bee7D: you have to have a student w/half a brain in order to teach them anything

bohnertime: wow

Bee7D: teaching anyone anything depends on their cooperation

bohnertime: I tried

Bee7D: yes..it is a novel concept

bohnertime: you wrote me off as being dumb

Bee7D: you didn't try
Bee7D: u are dumb

bohnertime: !

Bee7D: i didn't write u off as dumb
Bee7D: i observed u to be dumb

bohnertime: ha
bohnertime: sorry

Bee7D: you behave like a dumb person.. u use tired arguments that are easily refuted and you refuse to acknowledge it
Bee7D: that is the mark of a dumb person
Bee7D: they are unable to understand, analyze or learn from their mistakes

bohnertime: look, if every time I disagree with you, you are going to get on my case, then yes, I bet you think I am dumb

Bee7D: hence u are dumb by loose definition
Bee7D: no you are dumb because you think it is simply a matter of disagreement
Bee7D: another mark of a dumb person

bohnertime: I would say more stubborn than dumb

Bee7D: they are unable to comprehend the issue

bohnertime: and I don't think this is meerly a matter of disagreement

Bee7D: u simply mark it up as "disagreement" to save face
bohnertime: I think we DO disagree
Bee7D: that is something a dumb person would do

bohnertime: I wasn't done

Bee7D: it's obvious we disagree.. only a dumb person would harp on that

bohnertime: if you think I am so dumb, why are you still here

Bee7D: the point is not that we disagree, it's WHY we disagree

bohnertime: dumb is contageous you know
bohnertime: booooooga
bohnertime: Immmma gonna get you
bohnertime: duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

Bee7D: well because i respond to dumb people..but i definitely do not have to initiate conversation with them once i realize they are dumb

bohnertime: duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
bohnertime: booooooooooooooooga

Bee7D: fortunately for me, it's not contagious

bohnertime: me gonna talkie lieke
this mabie you catch idiiiiot
bohnertime: duuuuuuuuuuh
bohnertime: fuck off ass hat
bohnertime: !

Bee7D: your mental incapacity won't affect me, i'm safe :D

BUDDY BLOCKED

(note, she signed on as a different user to tell me off some more)

40 comments so far

Written/Copyright Jes Bohn
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