Hello Steve,

>LL>Kung's view of a "new global ethic" is one of
individualism.  IOW,
>LL>within the confines of four basic principles, one is free to do his
>LL>own thing.  This view rejects objective truth in favor of
>LL>subjective truth.

>SA>It is a problem for the one who cannot or will not be constrained by
>SA>the confines of the four basic principles, or core values etc. One
>SA>is not free if he/she is in conflict with the basic principles. It
>SA>is one thing to "embrace difference" in order to
"transform the
>SA>world"; it is another thing to reject process of transformation.

>LL>Nobody objects to simplistic universal principles, whether those
>LL>principles are called the ten commandments, noachide laws, or
>LL>something else.

SA>The "universal principles", by whatever name assigned to them, eg
SA>"golden rule", "right relationships" etc are
intended to appeal to
SA>all people to transform the planet, live harmoniously etc. Nothing
SA>wrong with that, except that (1) humanity has never "pulled it off"
SA>in the past, and is unlikely to succeed under its own steam, & (2)
SA>there will be "negative" people or groups of people who will reject
SA>the transformation, & who will need to be dealt with "for the good
SA>of the whole" or whatever (in very simple terms).

Most folks would have no objection to such principles, and would be
willing to allow society to judge them based on those principles.
And that is the flaw.

>LL>But using those principles as a basis for being is nothing more
>LL>than a civil religion, or "ethical paganism".  IOW, a religion
>LL>of code and cult whose only moral code is the attitudes and values
>LL>of the society one lives in, and the people one lives with.

SA>This "ethical paganism" can be found in concepts like the
"Global
SA>Oneness Commitment" - Co-creating a happy world.
SA>( http://www.experiencefestival.com/oneness_commitment )
SA>Once we see ourselves as "co-creators", we are in danger of rejecting
SA>God as a transcendent creator, upon whom we depend for life, salvation
SA>etc, and seek to transform our lives & planet etc without Him.

Here is an experiment to demonstrate a point -

Let's suppose that you are a Christian.
Doesn't matter whether you are Catholic or non-Catholic.

Take a pencil and paper and write down this question -

"If I did not believe (or stopped believing) in Jesus Christ (and
in the Bible) today, what five concrete decisions would I make that
would significantly affect my life tomorrow?"

Just write down how your *life* would change.  Write down *how you would
change it* by concrete choices if you stopped believing in Jesus Christ.

Answers such as "I would stop going to church on Sundays" do not count.

Keep in mind you still believe in God.  A God who rewards the good and
punishes the evil.  After all, you would not go chasing every woman you
see, and start robbing banks, just because you do not believe in Jesus
Christ.  Even pagans know better than that.

What would you change in your ordinary, everyday life?

>>> Continued to next message

 * SLMR 2.1a * Unable to locate Coffee -- Operator Halted!
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5