This blogger has posted in the past regarding Kohlberg's stages of moral reasoning. Following is a summary of these stages and how they relate to Christianity:
At stage 1 children think of what is right as that which authority says is right. Doing the right thing is obeying authority and avoiding punishment.
At stage 2, children are no longer so impressed by any single authority; they see that there are different sides to any issue. Since everything is relative, one is free to pursue one's own interests, although it is often useful to make deals and exchange favors with others.
At stage 2, children are no longer so impressed by any single authority; they see that there are different sides to any issue. Since everything is relative, one is free to pursue one's own interests, although it is often useful to make deals and exchange favors with others.
At stages 3 and 4, young people think as members of the conventional society with its values, norms, and expectations. At stage 3, they emphasize being a good person, which basically means having helpful motives toward people close to one. At stage 4, the concern shifts toward obeying laws to maintain society as a whole.
At stages 5 and 6 people are less concerned with maintaining society for it own sake, and more concerned with the principles and values that make for a good society. At stage 5 they emphasize basic rights and the democratic processes that give everyone a say, and at stage 6 they define the principles by which agreement will be most just.
In order for a man to be moral, to reach levels 3, 4, and beyond, he must disregard the claims of theism.
As the philosopher Spinoza stated: "A moral act is never an act done solely for an external reward, it's done because the act, itself, is rewarding."
Christianity can only undermine natural morality....through it's infantile use of external threats. True morality is internal.
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