What would have to occur or to have occurred to constitute for you a disproof of the love of, or the existence of, God?
Antony FlewRead
Now, if anything at all can be known to be wrong, it seems to me to be unshakably certain that it would be wrong to make any sentient being suffer eternally for any offence whatever.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote argues against the idea of eternal punishment for even the gravest offenses, emphasizing the importance of compassion for sentient beings.
In this quote, Antony Flew presents a strong moral argument against the notion of eternal suffering as punishment. He asserts that if it can be universally agreed that some actions are wrong, then it is inherently wrong to impose eternal suffering on anyone, regardless of their offenses. This perspective encourages a more humane approach to ethics and underscores the value of compassion towards all sentient beings.
Themes
SufferingSentient BeingsMoralityCompassionEternal Punishment
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate on moral philosophy, one could use this quote to support a point about the ethics of punishment.
More from Antony Flew
All quotes →Although I was once sharply critical of the argument to design, I have since come to see that, when correctly formatted, this argument constitutes a persuasive case for the existence of God.
Antony FlewRead
Similar quotes
I can't even say I made my own mistakes. Really - one has to ask oneself - what dignity is there in that?
Kazuo IshiguroRead
Arms, like laws, discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe and preserve order.
Thomas PaineRead
It is better to cherish virtue and humanity, by leaving much to free will, even with some loss of the object , than to attempt to make men mere machines and instruments of political benevolence. The world on the whole will gain by a liberty, without which virtue cannot exist.
Edmund BurkeRead
Off to one side sits a group of shepherds. They sit silently on the floor, perhaps perplexed, perhaps in awe, no doubt in amazement. Their night watch had been interrupted by an explosion of light from heaven and a symphony of angels. God goes to those who have time to hear him-and so on this cloudless night he went to simple shepherds.
Max LucadoRead
We believe deep down that we've lost something precious and are seeking it outside ourselves, never realizing that we are carrying it within us wherever we go.
Tsoknyi RinpocheRead
The unexpectedness of life, waiting round every corner, catches even wise women unawares (...) To avoid corners altogether is, after all, to refuse to live.
Freya StarkRead