Secular Humanism

The Happy Humanist · Post by **The Happy Humanist** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 8:31 pm

I had posted a definition of secular humanism in the Definitions category. Apparently this is a controversial topic, so I have been told to carry it over here to the Debate category. Personally, I don't see the controversy, but Harvey1 feels that, without divine authority, no one has the right to tell anyone else how to live their life; I think he means that no lifestyle is better than any other, absent edicts from a higher power. I told him that common sense says otherwise; and there we stand. So...

The Happy Humanist · Post by **The Happy Humanist** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 6:04 pm

foshizzle wrote:(Quickly on the issue of slavery, because I don't have time to respond to everything)...
The civil laws of the nation of Israel allow people to sell themselves into slavery if they're destitute. In ancient times, it was often better to be a slave than to be broke.

Interesting. Would this be OK today? You speak in the present tense; is this actually done in Israel? If not, why not, I wonder?

However, there is no Biblical prescription for capturing people to turn them into slaves.

No one said there was. Where the Bible gets it wrong on slavery is that there is also no Biblical proscription against it. Even in the Decalogue!

The Happy Humanist · Post by **The Happy Humanist** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 6:25 pm

Perhaps we should start another topic in the Ethics category, on Slavery and the Bible. If we do, be sure and read this in preparation. What an eye-opener!

Corvus · Post by **Corvus** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 9:36 pm

Many months back there was a topic on slavery if anyone is curious.

The Happy Humanist · Post by **The Happy Humanist** » Sun May 01, 2005 1:59 pm

Corvus wrote:Many months back there was a topic on slavery if anyone is curious.

Interesting. I shall continue the topic there in a day or so.