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Pastimes : THE SLIGHTLY MODERATED BOXING RING
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To: Neocon who wrote (15382)6/25/2002 5:28:39 AM
From: Solon  Read Replies (1) of 21057
 
I hold no objection to your perfect right to indulge a belief in some absolute moral order. However, your either/or presentation is spurious. None of the things you champion as worthy endeavors suffer in the slightest from being pursued in the absence of an absolutist leap of faith. Indeed, the absence of such absolutism encourages an attitude of listening, learning, tolerance, and mutual problem solving. When absolutist doctrines clash, the "right" may only be demonstrated by the sword.

You speak of moral progress being a real possibility, and of course it is. We do not need to put our ideas into the mouths of angels and demons in order to lend them credibility or value. We do not need to justify our compassion with sops of otherwordly favouritism and partiality. Here in this world in which we live and breathe, and desire and feel and love--here, we may all walk as equals on the good earth; and here we may leave aside the conceits of divine favour--and instead seek to earn the regard and respect of living creatures.

The greatest age of human morality will come when people realize that this life is all we have, and that we ought not to f-ck with one another's life, liberty, or pursuit of happiness. It is not punishment we need to perfect. It is the modest habit of attending to people...and not to spirits of mist and cloud.
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