Fr. Barron comments on What you believe makes a difference

Another part of a video series from Wordonfire.org. Father Barron will be commenting on subjects from modern day culture. For more visit http://www.wordonfire.org/

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[JAEKIM10]

But didn't the Catholic Church commit countless atrocities as well? The same church that preached the doctrine of god and love that you spoke about. Doesn't that indicate that with or without god, good people will do good things and evil people will do evil things?

[wordonfirevideo]

@JAEKIM10 "The Church" didn't commit them; bad Christians did. Our doctrine of original sin predisposes us to expect people to go bad.

[JAEKIM10]

@wordonfirevideo hmm so im a bit confused. would you say that someone who values Church doctrines has the moral superiority over someone who doesn't?

[wordonfirevideo]

@JAEKIM10 Not necessarily, for that person might not act on what she knows at all.

[wordonfirevideo]

@ndzoko Well friend, if you're serious about having a dialogue, I have to ask you to move beyond this ridiculous caricature of Christianity that you've presented.

[wordonfirevideo]

@mrandquist Well those are not as central as our common beliefs in God, creation, incarnation, etc. But they do indeed make a difference. The key is finding common ground and then having a good, vigorous discussion. God bless you!

[xd0u9x]

Nazi Germany was atheistic to its core, preach it preacher!

[jontv]

@wordonfirevideo - I still think you are too sold on the efficacy of declaring your values to be absolute. In its real-world effect, that is just a rhetorical strategy, and not a very good one, in my opinion. You focus on the danger of allowing people to believe that maybe they can figure this stuff out for themselves. I would rather declare that we have NO OTHER CHOICE, so let's get serious about it and do a better job of applying our best ethical principles to a society that badly needs them.

[jontv]

@wordonfirevideo - As I've said, I don't think it's necessary or helpful to believe in objective absolutes when it comes to morality. To me, improving one's ethical philosophy is an ongoing effort. To say "we know this is objectively right" is to shut down that process too soon, as when people think that science as discovered the definitive answer to some question, only to find out that another discovery has reframed the question. My aim is not black or white, but an ever-lighter shade of gray.

[jontv]

@wordonfirevideo - But ultimately, you believe that God is the basis for morality, and when you discover what is "objectively right", it's in accordance with God's will. I think that is a distinction without a difference.

If one need not refer to God to achieve "objective morality", then you must admit that atheists are just as capable of knowing what's right as you are (your denial of which is what I balked against). Or is it just the idea of "objective morality" that's so important to you?

[Ndftblwannabe1]

@ledzep288 I just want to comment quickly about your sex outside of marriage comment. First Hebrews 13:4. Then I will say I was in an honest and committed relationship with a girl when I was on the rocks with Jesus and my faith. We had sex a few times because we planned on marrying someday....well we are not married now. There is never a guarantee, and committed and honest is not marriage. Hope this blesses you. (:

[wordonfirevideo]

@jontv Do you think what you've said in your posting is objectively right? Then you're appealing to some intrinsic quality of your statement: its truthfulness. Catholics hold that there is something analogous within ethical acts:  they carry a quality of goodness or evil, not because we think so or the majority stipulates. "God" is simply a shorthand for the unconditioned exemplar of objective goodness. None of this has a thing to do with things being good "because God says so."