Dolores1984 comments on Is Politics the Mindkiller? An Inconclusive Test - Less Wrong

14 Post author: OrphanWilde 27 July 2012 05:45PM

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Comment author: Dolores1984 29 July 2012 10:23:15AM 1 point [-]

The bible's more coherent passages to have pretty strong claims about killing and enslaving people. But disregarding that, you're probably right. That said, most people are not that creative. Those that are tend to wind up atheists.

Comment author: sketerpot 29 July 2012 10:44:00AM *  6 points [-]

The bible's more coherent passages to have pretty strong claims about killing and enslaving people.

So God frowns upon your sin of mass murder, but you will have saved numerous souls from Hell. "Shut up and multiply," I think the saying goes. It's better still if you run a government, and can force conversion by the sword.

Incidentally, similar reasoning applies to infanticide if you believe that dead children go to heaven automatically. In fact, this one is probably a better bet, since small children are easier to take in a fight, and killing them will directly guarantee their salvation.

(I enjoy this topic more than is strictly proper.)

Comment author: Dolores1984 29 July 2012 11:06:46AM 2 points [-]

If you believe that god has the authority to define morality, than violating divine edict is immoral, regardless of your feelings on Hell. Although, that has serious problems, since divine commandments are internally contradictory...

Comment author: DanArmak 01 August 2012 08:41:35PM *  0 points [-]

That's why some hold all humans are inherently and necessarily sinful.

Comment author: wedrifid 29 July 2012 10:49:17AM 3 points [-]

The bible's more coherent passages to have pretty strong claims about killing and enslaving people.

Yes, if you don't genocide the heathens you can be sentenced to death. I think you are only allowed to enslave foreigners too. The New Testament has a somewhat less positive attitude to slaughter---on the other hand it also says "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." then goes on to say that you just have to repent after you sin. It wouldn't be ethical to not slaughter all the heathens to preempt their breeding then repenting and feeling some shame about it. Kind of like with masturbation only it provides thousands of infinities of utility.

Comment author: prase 31 July 2012 03:44:02PM 2 points [-]

For a sufficiently fanatical believer the most moral act may be to genocide the heathens and then go to hell for it, thus sacrificing own eternity in order to save the heathens and their children from hell. Similar beliefs were held by the Romanian Iron guard movement (they were willing to go to hell to save their nation rather than the heathens but it's still sort of impressive).

Comment author: DanArmak 01 August 2012 08:38:35PM 1 point [-]

The bible's more coherent passages to have pretty strong claims about killing and enslaving people.

Yes. They say killing unbelievers is a duty, and enslaving is allowed within limits (except when killing is mandatory).

They don't say much about the need to evangelize and convert others, though.

Comment author: Normal_Anomaly 30 July 2012 03:26:59PM 0 points [-]

The bible's more coherent passages to have pretty strong claims about killing and enslaving people.

But you can still go to heaven via faith. And even if you can't, then you're sacrificing your own salvation to save others, which is very moral.