Seasons

Umm...actually, that principle, "do to others as you would like them to do to you", came from the same person who said "love your neighbor as yourself". So if you love your neighbor, and you love yourself, are you going to go kill him? Give us a break, colonel! Who in their right and sound and balanced mind wants to be raped, killed, hunted to the death? Be logical, for the sake of reasoned discussion.

And that principle can be found in many different cultures, as Ulrike pointed out, which means...? That humans have an interior law, a conscience, you might call it, a law in themselves that should say, "don't kill another person, that's not a good idea." But the problem today is that with violent entertainment, music with degrading lyrics, pornography, etc...people have pushed their consciences away, and figuratively taped it's mouth, so that they don't have to listen to it anymore. Look back at Hammurabi's code, I think that was his name, back in Mesopotamia...his law of justice was, if you steal, cut off his hand. Back then people had an inner law inside them that dictated behavior. But we as humans were also given free will, which means that we can be as good as we can be, or as bad as we want. And we can silence our inner law if we want, too. And the consequences? You break the laws of nature, like gravity, and what happens? Jump off a cliff and defy gravity, and...you won't be around anymore. Where does promiscuity lead to? Unwanted pregnancy, STD's from all the different partners, and does it lead to true happiness?

What Jesus said was that "the Law and the Prophets" -- in other words, most of the Old Testament, could be summarized with two commandments: Love God, and love people.

Charles Hatchway, it sounds like you're in favor of personal responsibility. On that point, at least, I can agree with you.

Eurythmics, but I wouldn't wanna base my world view on song lyrics

hey, the lyrics are just the decorations. My world views come from what I read, observe, and experience.

Unlike Julius streicher.......

*nods, pretending to know who Julius Streicher is*

Hey, a friend of mine sent me link to an atricle on building AI to mimic the human brain (or at least some functions of the cortex) and I think you might find it interesting.

http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=4054975

A few comments:
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Personally I dont put my morality or ethical expectations on to anyone but myself and as a result even though I am not homosexual (or even really all that kinky) I have no problem with those that are. When I think of marriage I would ask the same querstion of both hetero and homo sexual couples: do you think that you have a love that will last out your days?

"Hell" the word and concept of 'lake of fire' came from the Nordic Hel, not the Hebrew Sheol to my knowledge. It was a lake of fire where those that did not die in battle were sent to (!!) under the dominion of Hela.

"Do unto others as you would have done unto you" makes no promise that you will be thusly treated in kind, it is simply a rule of thumb to promote a higher degree of harmony between people.

Lunar22: when I was 16 I listened to Pink Floyd's "The Wall" for about 2 months straight and I still bear a taint in me because of it. Music has been DRAMATICLY influential in my life- from the politics of the Dead Kennedys to the passion of Bethoven. Don't demene the power of song. Look what an effect it had during the 60's!

Here's a fun experiment. It works best in a car, but anywhere with a CD player will work.
Put on music from an eerie movie, and look at the scenery around you.
Then put in some cheerful music and take another look.

Your perspective on what's around you will change dramatically.

Julius streicher was one of the leading propagandists for the third reich. I have a small archive of his writings from the early 30's to the end of the war, and I tell you, you will not find anyone so bloody RACIST!