What is it about God's commands that make them categorical imperatives?

If the commands issued by the god of the bible constitute moral law, can commands issued by other powerful tyrants be considered moral law too? if not, why not?

Do YHW's commands become moral law by virtue of him being very powerful? Or is there some other reason that Christians think they are categorical imperatives?

Category:

Education

Tags:

• moral law
• god
• theatheistantidote
• euthyphro

[naujphantom]

This is my opinion:

If a doctor gives you an advice about your health, it wouldn't be a good idea not to follow it. This is because a doctor knows more than you about your body.

The same could be said of a mechanic regarding your car, or an architect about your house.

But who knows more about something than his creator?

Then, if there is a creator, it would be in our best interest to follow his advices.

[bitbutter]

@naujphantom I'm not asking why we should do what (people say) God tells us to, I'm asking what (if anything) is it about God's commands that gives them an intrinsic 'must be done'-ness.

If a mechanic gives me advice about how to fix my car, I might feel as if it's in my best interest to follow that advice, but if I don't follow that advice, I won't feel as though I've broken a moral law. Is there any reason to feel that way if i choose to ignore what I'm told that God wants from me?

[naujphantom]

@bitbutter If you don't listen to your doctor you could feel that you are acting against medicine.

If you don't listen to your mechanic about your car you could feel that you are acting against the laws of mechanic.

If you don't follow God's advices about conduct, and conduct is related to morality you could feel that you are breaking a moral law.

[bitbutter]

@naujphantom "If you don't listen to your mechanic about your car you could feel that you are acting against the laws of mechanic."

I certainly wouldn't feel that way. It may be ultimately a bad idea to ignore the mechanic's advice, but there is no law that I feel I would be breaking by doing so. I see no reason why things would be different if it was a god instead of a mechanic giving me advice.

[naujphantom]

@bitbutter "I see no reason why things would be different if it was a god instead of a mechanic giving me advice."

Well, God almost by definition is wiser than everyone else. I think that is a very good reason.

[bitbutter]

@naujphantom God being very wise doesn't change the fundamental nature of the interaction. The best mechanic in the world might give me a 'commandment' regarding what to do with my car. It might be against my self interest to ignore him, but it doesn't strike me as Wrong in an absolute sense to do so. The same applies to the commandments that the Christian god allegedly made.

[crossoldman]

Christian morals are complete BS. Is it immoral to work on Sunday? Yes or No? Is that an important commandment? Yes or No?

[naujphantom]

@bitbutter "I certainly wouldn't feel that way"

Maybe because the mechanic doesn't have a law, neither he gives you a commandment, but an advice. If there were a law, example: "Check your car before a long journey" And you don't do it cause you want to save some money, you could feel that you are breaking a law, but it is an advice and then you could feel that you are acting against a good advice, since he probably knows better about your car. (continues)

[naujphantom]

@bitbutter You said: what (if anything) is it about God's commands that gives them an intrinsic 'must be done'-ness?

My first answer remains, a doctor advice on health has an intrinsic must be done.

But then you said something about the feel of breaking a moral law.

I don't know if I understand correctly what you mean but here I go:

If a moral law is a law that regulates morality and morality is related to conducts and ethics that are virtuous: (continues)