Re: "Good" (to Ian)
Walter Nusbaum (nusbaum@iglobal.net)
Fri, 4 Apr 1997 23:39:38 -0600
At 07:15 PM 4/4/97 -0500, you wrote:
>(snip)
>
>> (Christ-Ian 3/31) Dave, I am speaking of the five books of Moses. I have
>> studied them
>> very thoroughly and I have found nothing that I would term 'good' in any of
>> these five
>> books. Instead I have found an angry, egotistical , insane god. There are no
>> family
>> values (at least not my family values) in any of these books. There may be
>> biblical
>> values but if there are, they stink pretty bad.
>>
>> There may be some 'good' things in the bible but I have not arrived at them
>> as yet. In
>> so far as defining 'good', I can't do that from these five books. It does
>> not exist.
>> Therefore, it is up to you to tell me what you define as 'good' or what
>> family values
>> are in these five books.
>>
>> (DAVE 3/31 LATER) Ian: You state "I have found nothing...'good'...". when
>> asked to define "good", you state "In so far as defining 'good', I can't do
>> that from these five books". What does this mean? You have already
>> concluded there is nothing "good" - so you MUST have a prefabricated
>> definition of "good" before you started - a frame of reference if you will.
>>
>> That's like me saying "Ian, it's not there" - when you ask what I'm looking
>> for, I say "I can't tell you cause I haven't found it". So, how do I know
>> it's "not there"?
>>
>> You are avoiding the issue Ian. How can you conclude there is no "good" in
>> these books, if you don't even know what "good" is?
>>
>> Regards.
>>
>> Dave.(Christ-Ian 3/31) O.K. Dave. Let's call 'good' love., honesty, mercy
>and fidelity
>to start with. I understand you not being able to define it, after all, you
>happen
>to be a Christian. Frankly, I'm a little tired of your evasiveness and I'm
>ready to
>snip this.
>
>(DAVE 4/4) Ian: You're only ready to snip it, because you know that your
>question makes no real sense if you can't define "good".
>You have used words I guess that appeal to you as the definition - so be it.
> If I asked Jeffrey Dahmer what "good" was, what would be his answer do you
>think? Same things?
>
>My point is that "good" can be a different definition for you, for me, or
>for Jeffrey Dahmer.
>
>Assuming that we can agree on what Jeffrey Dahmer might answer is "good",
>and that it is quite different from what you have said above, who is then
>right in defining "good" - you or Jeffrey? Whose definition should we use
>in application to your question above?
>
>Once you answer this, I think we can move on to your question.
>
>Regards.
>
>Dave.
>
Take your time Dave. Take all the time in the world.
Best wishes,
Walt Sr.