"Those who wish even to focus on the problem of A Christian ethic are faced with an outrageous demand--from the outset they must give up, as inappropriate to the topic, the very two questions that led them to deal with the ethical problem: "How can I be good?" and "How can I do something good?" Instead they must ask the wholly other, completely different question: what is the will of God?"
-Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Ethics
This, Bonhoeffer says, is the foundation of ethics. for it is the foundation of reality. It does not come naturally. It does not come "scientifically" either. In fact, changing the question is completely contrary to our inner compass. It seems wrong. It seems risky. History is full of those who called their crazy, horrible activities the will of God, or at least that is what we are repeatedly told.
No comments:
Post a Comment