[MD] Dawkins a Materialist (is watching?)

[ARLO J BENSINGER JR]

[Arlo previously]
Gauging from the Enlightenment treatises published, it seems clear to me their
decisions were based on reason, not dictates of the Christian God.

[Platt]
Who said anything about "dictates?" Typical distortion.

[Arlo]
Christian ethics derive from the Authority of God. As such, what he says to do
is "ethical". No??

[Arlo previously]
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]
You skip and sidestep teach a man to fish.

[Arlo]
And in the meantime, do you feed him or not? Do you shelter him or not? Do you
heal him or not? I am all for teaching people how to fish, but the "Christian
ethic" is quite clear, in the meantime, you feed, shelter and heal.

[Platt]
I just argued that Jesus never, never said Christian charity or anything else
should be enforced at the point of a sword. Am I talking to myself here?

[Arlo]
You've argued social law should be based on "Christian ethics". I'm just
wondering why you pick and choose which parts of that get legislated and which
part gets left to the individual? After all, if you are claiming a law based on
"Christian ethics", it seems strange to ignore the central tenants of those
"ethics". 

[Arlo repeatedly]
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.

[Platt]
So you question the honesty and integrity of the Founding Fathers such as
Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and others who frequently referred to God
in their deliberations? Is that what you mean by "paper-authority?"

[Arlo]
They were just people, Platt, drop the deification. That they referred to "God"
has nothing to do with the law they enacted, since even you have been unable to
find any basis for how that law derives from the Bible. There attempt to
establish a government based on reason is admirable. That they were fallible
and included aspects of mercantilism and racism is quite obvious to even the
slightest read of history. 

[Platt]
You said Marx reflected the teachings of Jesus. Marx proposed making slaves of
the people by confiscating all private property.

[Arlo]
He proposed freeing them in such a way, yes.