No morals without religion?

Question

I do have inherent morals. Animals have no religion and some are still known to adopt abandoned babies, feed a family, and help others in general. Where was their religious influence? Or are animals more moral than humans? Or are you going to make up some excuse like because animals have no religion God gave them inherent morals? Not an attack, just obvious proof you are wrong, don't make up something crazy please.I really don't understand how anyone could call atheism a bleak outlook with that kind of rationale for morals, "I'm an emotionless robot lent morals be a creator". I'm asking people who support morals as souly religious, if you don't I have no quarrel with you and I'm not generalizing.

And there were people who did good before religion was ignorantly invented by man. How can a moral-less race procreate effectively without any kind of ethical drive? Through rape? I doubt it. And you can't seperate it into morals and ethics and say animals have one not the other, the word used is human language, it's the same concept.

Animal instinct usually dictates that you have a baby of your own and insure it stays alive if you can or in many cases set it lose and hope it does, some animals won't even take their kid back if they smell different than last time they saw them, like the impala. Besides that it seems like a deeper act than ensuring the survival of the species, but if that's how you see it then I guess we just disagree.

Jake 'N' Shakes I'm happy you've been brainwashed or else we'd have another serial rapist on our hands. I wouldn't rape anyone because it would cause them pain and misery and I have compassion. Sorry but God never told me to have that. And before God spread through murder and oppression we had a lot less murder and oppression, lucky they gave us morals after though.

It doesn't bother me that your Christian whoever said that.

Answer 1

Man is created in Gods Image. So has the capacity to love, think and so forth. Even men who dose not acknowledge Gods existence. But Animals are Programmed Intuitive

Answer 2

I think morals came from the instinct: "We are all in this together." Strength in numbers. If animals tried to kill each other all the time, the species as a whole would not evolve. I don't believe in god but I do have to say this: the bible and religion did a damn good job of instilling morals in people. I think that some really great ideas were put into that book as a guideline for people to live. If the bible was not written, the same content would probably come from a great thinker as time went on, and it would be respected as the proper book of morals.

A note on Jake 'N' Shakes' response.
If you were raping someone, that action would inflict pain and suffering in your own species. Animals "rape" there own kind and are fought off from the others because they feel it is wrong as well. If a person disobeys a girls request not to have sex with her, that portion of the society would fall apart and our species' growth would be hindered.

Answer 3

Good one , and I think someone should clear this up , if not me than someone else .
The main difference between us and the animals is that , as they say, animals do not have reason .
Homosapiens they call this version (well yeah,"version" if you believe in the theory of evolution) of man . But I do not see much sapiens (reason) generally.
And back to the issue - sure moral works without religion. But nevertheless moral is a single man's vision of what is right and what's not , what is bad and what's not ...
In general , religions are just trying to sync the morals of men. Atheism is simply a man's choice to build his own moral, his own view of what's right or wrong. Emotionless? Far from it . I know this, i respect it.
I'm a Christian, a tolerate one.

Answer 4

Animals are pure and have greater morals because their minds arent clouded with such garbage (for lack of a better word) as religion. Maybe it is because their minds cannot expand that far as to understand, putting them on a lower level of understanding. I'd sure as hell want a being with morals and common sense in their head next to me in a crisis situation then a religious a$$ who needs 15 mins to flip through the "good book" to okay an action. If that means having a monkey for a side-kick over a religious person, bring on the bananas!

Answer 5

Morals and religion are two different things. I have lots of morals, but stay away from religion. Many priests and preachers are the most immoral people. How many priests have been charged with child molesting of one type or another? Why are churches so hungry for money? Isn't that greed? Knowing the difference between right and wrong, good and evil has little bearing on if you believe in religion or not.

Answer 6

Animals aren't moral or immoral. They just act by instinct. Animals also didn't suffer the fall that man suffered because they don't have free will.

There is no logical reason to act in a moral manner without the presence of God. None. If you can rape someone and get away with it, you should do it because it pleasures you. Find one LOGICAL reason not to assuming you will not get caught.

Answer 7

Animals have no morals, they act out of instinct.If there were no laws, morals would go out of the window. If there were no consequences, people would do or take what ever they pleased. Oh, yes, we would be like," animals".

Most of the laws we have today came from the Bible. Unlike atheist who are the minority, who want to keep God out of everything. I don't care that you are an atheist. Enjoy yourself. Why does it bother you that I am a Christian?

Answer 8

Humanism is a broad category of active ethical philosophies that affirm the dignity and worth of all people, based on the ability to determine right and wrong by appeal to universal human qualities—particularly rationalism. Humanism is a component of a variety of more specific philosophical systems.

Humanism

Do a search on the internet and see waht it is all about. I don't practice it or am I a humanist. I just find your question interesting and thought this might help.

Answer 9

You're definantly right, Although, Scientist, say that Animals "Morals" are just Nature, and instinct. Animals base their lives off of natural instincts, they are born knowing how to do everything. Some animals NEVER meet their parents, yet know how to do everything imaginable. Is that morals? Or inner religion? Or just Science through evolution.

It's really up to the believer to decide. If you believe in no god, then you will believe that it is strickly evololution with no religion.
If you believe in god, and science, then you'd believe that god made them that way, to adapt with their living habbitates, and abilities, for a reason.
if you're strickly religious, then you probably believe, that since god made animals, they must have some morals instilled in them from god, and from the begining lessons of man when man named, and 'took care of animals'.

My belief? That everyone learns while they live, based on their own feelings, and reactions. if something hurts you, you might be less likley to do the same to others. Unless you have a vengence nature, then you might do it twice or three times as much to that same person.

I believe because people... differant, and dont follow their natural habbitats, or their nature, they NEED a religion or something to go by. Because their natural insticts are no longer in use.

We no longer have hair covering us, (unless you're italian ;) just kidding), we dont have the heavy bone structure anymore, and we dont have the same rough feet, and thick skin, we can no longer eat raw meats, or digest now poisnous fruits and vegitiables. we HAVE to rely on other people to supply that for us. .. So we NEED to have some sort of control system in which everyone is afraid of doing somethign wrong, to keep a balance and fair system.
But then again, i do believe in god, but not as a man in the clouds, of as a natural force, that 'connects' all living things, and is a great reminder to keep on the path of helping otehrs, than being selfish. I dont believe in Hell, but i believe in afterlife & Ghosts/Spirits. But my views dont matter. ;)

Take the panda bear for example, They are not supose to procreate, but man forces them too. YET they still have a natural instinct to take care of the baby Panda, even though it's so beyond rare to have a baby panda.


You shouldn't need a god, to fear, to be a good person, if you do on to others as you want done to you, and you believe that, even if there is no reprecusion, Then you will live a great happy life... with people who love and care for you.

Answer 10

I have morals and have never been religious or attended church. My morals come from having had a good upbringing - my parents expected to see the values of good citizenship, responsibility, respect and hard work reflected in my behavior. Words and ceremony had very little to do with proving to them that I was worthy of adult responsibility and capable of being a contributing member of society. Treating others with decency and respect, seeing all honest labor as equally worthy of respect regardless of how much the laborer is compensated for his/her efforts and making sure that your life's work actually involves performing a legitimate service - these are the types of morals I was raised with.

Who you praise in my house is meaningless - I really couldn't care less (if it makes you happy, go for it) - as far as I'm concerned, your behavior determines whether you are decent and humane.