Morality, modern society, and the Christian religion

[surrealist_geek]

I wrote this essay a few days ago, sparked by a section in Germaine Greer's "The Female Eunuch" (which I'm currently reading for the first time). A current discussion on one of uncledark's entries suggested to me that a cross-post (from storm-artists.net) might be in order, so here it is. Intelligent comments are welcome, especially if you disagree with me

Comments

[sparklesmcg]

"do no harm" tends to be a pretty good magnetic north for the average moral compass... funny how that's the guiding principle of many pagan belief systems too. :)

Christianity borrows so much from its predecessors in ritual, yet seems to have forgotten the simple things like your aforementioned axiom. but i guess being embroiled in thousands of years of political conflict will do that.

[surrealist_geek]

Unfortunately, "do no harm" is worse than useless for the original (Pauline) Christianity and the pre-Christian Judaism it came from - it actually undermines the power of authority figures to control people.

Hey, I've just realised another reason why I like the principle! :D

Nicely put, "magnetic north".