[MD] Dawkins a Materialist (is watching?)

[ARLO J BENSINGER JR]

[Platt]
Well I haven't looked very hard. Do really want to get bogged down on whether
the Founding Fathers were influenced by Christianity?

[Arlo]
This was your claim, Platt. One you have yet to prove.

[Platt]
In other words, are you asserting that Christian ethics had little to do with
their decisions and want me to show evidence otherwise?

[Arlo]
I see no evidence that their decisions have any Biblical support. And I have
looked. Gauging from the Enlightenment treatises published, it seems clear to
me their decisions were based on reason, not dictates of the Christian God.

[Platt]
What is this humanist ethic you keep bringing up and what is it's basis if not
Christianity? Buddhism perhaps? Or Zen?

[Arlo]
One part of it, now typed for the third time... By granting your freedom, I
guarantee my own. Its a social contract built on an understanding on how to
maximize freedom for everyone.

[Arlo asked]
Why do you then force other aspects of Christian ethics on people?

[Platt]
You mean the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? This is not
force; this is preventing force abrogating those rights.

[Arlo]
These aren't Christian ethics. They are Humanist ethics. And I agree that they
prevent force from abrogating our freedom.

[Platt]
So you want to make people dependent on the state? It figures.

[Arlo]
Sidestepping. I said where, in Christian ethics, does it say not to feed a man
lest he become dependent? Where does Jesus say not to heal those who may become
dependent on others? I don't think "Christian ethics" necessarily cares one wit
about whether or not the recipient of your charity becomes "dependent". The
charge is to be charitable. If we are legislating "Christian ethics", why skip
the main messages and choose only bits and pieces (like anti-homosexuality)?

[Platt]
No. Jesus didn't believe in forcing people to do anything at the point of a
sword.

[Arlo]
You, yourself, are talking about legislating "Christian ethics". By your own
definition, that's forcing someone to behave according to that code "at the
point of a sword". 

[Platt]
Where in the Bible does it say Jesus advocated slavery?

[Arlo]
I never said he did. I have said repeatedly that the Constitution was not
founded on "Christian ethics". The good parts were founded on humanist reason,
or enlightenment reason. The bad parts were founded on mercantilism and racism.
"God" just provided a paper-authority.