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Originally posted by r2d246
reply to post by PerfectAnomoly
Why be moral though if this life is all there is. Who are you trying to please? As you have no creator to please but yourself.edit on 16-11-2012 by r2d246 because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by PerfectAnomoly
[color=E0CE77]Atheists however, have no doctrine.. no guidelines... we [color=E0CE77]are just good people because we know it is the right thing to do.... we don't need to be blackmailed into doing good..... common sense and reason dictate that it is the best thing to do for all parties....
Originally posted by r2d246
Why be moral though if this life is all there is. [color=E0CE77]Who are you trying to please? As you have no creator to please but yourself.
we are just good people because we know it is the right thing to do....
No, you're just people that have been influenced by the Christian values that have influenced Western civilization.
People get really far lying and stealing. Some countries make a habit out of killing. So I don't think you can say morals are that which benefits us.
Originally posted by noxvita83
As an atheist myself, I will tell you there is no such thing as morality. It's a human construct. Being "moral" is doing things that will benefit ourselves by fulfilling our instinctual nature of being social animals. You aren't gonna get far or much if you go around being a complete jerk to everyone are you? You don't need religion to teach you how to be moral, but the religion itself creates a social paradigm in place in which fulfills your social nature as human. Atheists flock together with the label Atheist due to the fact it fulfills their social nature, as Christians do, as Muslims do, ect. So, ultimately, yes and no to your statement. You need religion, and you need atheism to teach you morals. It's because you identify yourself with your group, your "tribe". Why do you think wars happen. Murder, even under Hitlers rule was unacceptable, unless you are killing Non-Nazis. So religion specifically is not needed per se, but it is if that's the social group you identify with.
If eternity exists, shouldn't our goal be to show people the fragile characteristic of this planet, and at least give them reason to search for something transcendant of this world?
Originally posted by randyvs
I suggest to you that Atheists aren't very bright people at all, if they think there is no model for morality.
Originally posted by addygrace It's almost absurd, to me, atheists even claim they have morals. The problem I see is; an athiest who doesn't believe in the supernatural, suddenly believes there's this extraordinary "factor" that keeps them from lying, stealing, killing, or sinning in general. Doesn't that seem odd?
Originally posted by Asktheanimals
Atheists don't even recognize anything divine in each other, themselves or the world.
Originally posted by randyvs
How pompous can someone be to say we all invent morality in our minds ? You even have people agreeing with you ?
Originally posted by addygrace I totally agree. With no moral compass, man would give in to animal desires.
Originally posted by phroziac
According to religious people, if it wasnt for their god they would rape, murder, steal, etc, all the time every day.
So yes, atheists have true morality.
Sadly, I have heard believers use this argument.
Originally posted by Tiger5
Originally posted by phroziac
According to religious people, if it wasnt for their god they would rape, murder, steal, etc, all the time every day.
So yes, atheists have true morality.
The only people who would propound such a notion must be the mentally handicaped. The OP is a "straw man"argument.
Tiger5
Originally posted by addygrace
People get really far lying and stealing. Some countries make a habit out of killing. So I don't think you can say morals are that which benefits us.
Get out of here, what a load of bs. If we truly where influenced by Christianity we all be running around forcing our beliefs down on others.
Originally posted by randyvs
reply to post by mc4denmark
Get out of here, what a load of bs. If we truly where influenced by Christianity we all be running around forcing our beliefs down on others.
An absurd and sweeping statement pasteurized in ignorance.
Originally posted by MrXYZ
In short, SOCIETY imposes morals, not religion
Originally posted by MrXYZ
Originally posted by randyvs
reply to post by mc4denmark
Get out of here, what a load of bs. If we truly where influenced by Christianity we all be running around forcing our beliefs down on others.
An absurd and sweeping statement pasteurized in ignorance.
Given that a lot of laws aren't Christian should tell you that times are changing...and so are morals. For example, last I checked we can now mix cloth and eat shrimp...that's a big plus. You also don't get to force your killed enemy's wife to marry you and become your slave. Hitting your kids (or even killing them as the bible says) isn't cool either...
In short, SOCIETY imposes morals, not religion