You make some great points but I think you are missing the gist of the first belief. It isn’t claiming that all truths in the Bible are “absolute truths” only that there is, in fact, some moral truths that are absolute.

Your claim that “there is no moral way to perform what is an inherently immoral act” is highly subjective. For example, is it wrong for a soldier to kill in war?

The first belief is meant only to seperate those who make a claim that they wouldn’t agree with (that there are *no* absolute truths) from those who know that such a denial is nonsense.

So, what are the “absolute” moral truths? That’s going to wind up being a highly subjective list itself . . . Still, you’re right; I’m probably not 100% up-to-speed on the full implications of the first item. If they’d asked me if I agreed with it, I’d say “no.” It’s not that I don’t believe there are absolute truths–I’m just not sure there are absolute moral truths.

In fact, your example is a good reason of why I’m not sure. There are circumstances in which war is justified, and therefore the killing it entails is morally justified. And there are circumstances in which it isn’t.

James:

You’re probably right vis. the secretaries. But until Jesus walks the earth again physically, then earthly consequences will almost always hold more moral sway than eternal ones! And Starbucks is much more to blame for my sleep deprivation than you are . . .

A person should never torture an infant solely for one’s pleasure.

Can you think of a legitimate exception to that rule? If not then there is at least one absolute moral truth (and, therefore, the chances are likely that there are more).

I think I understand what you’re trying to say and do, Joe. The problem I have is that, to my way of thinking, “absolute truth” only exists in statements of logic–if the conclusion follows from the premises of an argument, then it’s “absolutely true.” “All squares are rectangles; this thing I’m looking at is a square; therefore, this thing I’m looking at is a rectangle.” That is an absolute truth. Can’t possibly be wrong unless I’m wrong about the thing I’m looking at being a square.

Oh, and there’s a powerful global tradition of infanticide which may–may–argue against your principle. And then there’s the matter of Abraham, Isaac, and the sacrifice . . . of course, Isaac was about 13 at the time, and therefore not an infant.

Corollary: But it’s perfectly fine to stab its head with scissors and suck its brains out with a vacuum hose if it’ll make Mom happy.