In the absence of religion, do we need a different system of morals, ethics and values to follow?

Question

As religious belief dies out do we need another formalised and codified system of morals, ethics and values to replace it, that is not based on superstition, and if so what would that be?

Answer 1

I'd like to believe that religious belief is dying out, but I don't see any sign of that. It has adapted very well to its environment, and looks certain to persist at least for my lifetime, and almost certainly for hundreds of years after that.

To your question, we do need a different system of morals, ethics, and values, one that is not based on false religious beliefs. I'm really glad to see that you recognize that fact.

However, it's FAR too early to say "Oh, and here's that system". I don't think that anyone has done significant work on it yet, though I suppose that the moral philosophers can claim to have made a few stabs. I'm interested in John Rawls' Theory of Justice, though mainly because I'm told that it establishes a relationship between evidence and justice that sounds like the one that I think must be central to a deeply rooted moral system.

It's clear that the main thing standing in the way of the establishment of a deep morality is the pervasiveness of religion, particularly as
- Religious systems claim to have already established the only morality necessary,
- Religious believers are apparently almost uniformly unaware that there could even be a deeper basis for morality than the one they believe in, and
- Many religious believers are convinced that there cannot even BE a morality other than the one that they believe in (the whole "Atheists are ammoral because morality comes from god" line).

The Brights movement has a "Morality Project" (IIRC) aimed at helping educate people about this. It's going to be a long haul, though.

Answer 2

There are some codes that are just natural laws.

Murder is naturally wrong because it serves no purpose. (killing for food serves a purpose)
Stealing is naturally wrong because it benefits no one. (no honor among thieves and all that)
One should get from society what one puts into society.
The choice of inaction is still a choice.
etc.

Despite all that Fundamentalists would have us believe, most of our founding fathers were not Christians. In fact, many were Masons and our laws reflect that. The freedom of religion is worded so that the government doesn't exhalt one religion over another. This was to ensure a more secular approach to law making. Sure, the Bible says "Thou shalt not murder". But you don't have to believe in the Bible to know murder is wrong. (This is also why it may be written to keep the Sabbath holy, but there is no law halting business on Sunday--- the Post Office got that because of a compromise made after the Pony Express came to be).

Answer 3

What Jesus did became in reality repeat what rabbi Hillel stated one hundred years earlier and the most effortless moral education, "do unto others" were round for a number of thousand years earlier that. you do not certainly trust that people did not have moral values earlier jesus got here alongside. the muse for moral values in in our genes. we are social animals and any social animal without the ability to cooperate and stay mutually would not very last lengthy on earth. This looks so glaring that i'm wondered why people ever ask this question.

Answer 4

Societies figure out morals based on what works best for the group. We don't need to replace religious moral codes with new secular moral codes....Just have laws like we do now so there is an ordered process for how to handle those who do harm to society.

p.s. I don't think religion is going to die out anytime soon...but I do think it would be good if it did (less junk to fight over).

Answer 5

This sounds good to me.

The Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth

by Anton Szandor LaVey ©1967

[Spanish, Croation]



1. Do not give opinions or advice unless you are asked.

2. Do not tell your troubles to others unless you are sure they want to hear them.

3. When in another’s lair, show him respect or else do not go there.

4. If a guest in your lair annoys you, treat him cruelly and without mercy.

5. Do not make sexual advances unless you are given the mating signal.

6. Do not take that which does not belong to you unless it is a burden to the other person and he cries out to be relieved.

7. Acknowledge the power of magic if you have employed it successfully to obtain your desires. If you deny the power of magic after having called upon it with success, you will lose all you have obtained.

8. Do not complain about anything to which you need not subject yourself.

9. Do not harm little children.

10. Do not kill non-human animals unless you are attacked or for your food.

11. When walking in open territory, bother no one. If someone bothers you, ask him to stop. If he does not stop, destroy him.

Answer 6

I am a good person, at least my friends seem to think so. They are also good people, so their opinion may count for something. I do not follow or practice any organized religion. They have nothing to offer me except rigidity and rules. I can be a good person without that. So can anyone if they dedicate themselves to being that good person.

Answer 7

So long as you do not violate anothers rights to personal life, liberty, happiness, or ideals, ( as long as those ideals are not forcing another to their oppinion), then even without religion, we would be able to live content, and free lives.

Live and let live.

Answer 8

It isn't about religion. It is about what God has laid down (Ten Commandments). If you love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself you will follow the commandments and there will be morals, ethics and values. Jesus is not a superstition but a fact and we all must account for whether we have accepted Him or not.

Answer 9

Religious belief is not dying out.

And everybody has his own system of values already.

And I like your avatar, guinea pigs are adorable.

Answer 10

Love, respect, honesty, truth.

All that is way too hard for humankind to successfully achieve