One of the problems of the modern liberal viewpoint is that the result of it's prescriptions for achieving a more just and equitable society ends up violating the "law of unintended consequences." We've only now begun to see it after having bought into the argument that "sexual orientation" is a defining characteristic of a "protected class" of people somewhat analogous to race. That in itself was the first error. Instead of defining homosexual acts as contrary to the "natural law" as defined by Aristotle (hardly a Christian) we "moderns" lost insight as to why it is contrary to "natural law" because "natural law" arguments fell into disfavor around the middle of the 19th century. The irony of all of this, is that the "Founding Fathers" used the same arguments in the structuring of our political economy. If you're interested in finding out how much the "natural law" has fallen into disfavor, point out that when Jefferson wrote "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" he was using an argument straight out of Aristotle's "Nicomachaen Ethics" and see how many blank stares you get. On top of this, Aristotle references the God of Nature in his argument and any theologian or moral philosopher can point out, that this doesn't necessarily have to be the transcendent deity embraced by monotheism. In fact Aristotle's metaphysics places this God intrinsic in Nature instead of being transcendent. Something that was felt to be a short-coming by both Moses Maimonides and St. Thomas Aquinas but is an actual advantage when it comes to making a "natural law" argument, because it allows you to select any God of you're understanding, even if it's the "God of Science."
Coeur de Lion, good post. I think that part of the reason we have ended up at this point is ignorance of another of Aristotle's maxims: The least initial deviation from the truth is multiplied later tenfold.
(previous post corrected to read accurately)
Coeur de Lion, good post. I think that part of the reason we have ended up at this point is ignorance of another of Aristotle's maxims: The least initial deviation from the truth is multiplied later a thousandfold.
Didn't Aristotle define God as pure act? Wouldn't this God transcend nature?