If you're only a decent person when consistently threatened into being one, you're not a decent person. I say we get rid of the system that rewards and encourages the worst parts of humanity.
Bullshit. This is how Christianity works. People fear damnation for their darkest impulses and they don't hold back because they've become a better human and realize why those are dark impulses, they hold back and don't do it because they're afraid of sky-daddy.
I've literally had one of these fucking freaks approach a philosophy group I was part of at a local coffee shop. It became creepily more and more apparent, as he kept referring to scenarios like rape and murder, that really the only thing holding him back was fear of Holy retribution. He basically admitted that if he were to become an atheist like us that "nothing would stop him."
It was eye opening and fucking disturbing, so no, I don't agree at all that "ultimately actions matter more than reasons."
I agree with you that that person is a monster either way. I also would prefer there was no rape involved too. That's a tough one. It kinda comes across as a threat the way I see it. "If I can't retain my specific view of society, I'll start raping people." That's what was said with different words
I think you mean -1 for Christianity. Christian leaders think that fear will hold the people in line, but then turn around and sell indulgences and absolution. The poor may feel like they have to toe the line, especially when people are looking, but the rich know they can buy their way into heaven. Ignore camels and needle's eyes, the currency of the church is the same as in the board room, and the golden rule is exclusively about the commodity and the only reciprocity in it is the earthly interpretation of a divine quid pro quo.