Why is murder wrong? Evolutionists and Athiests!?

Question

Seeing as the mechanism thats supposed to drive evolution is 'survival of the fittest', why do we have a conscience?(why do we say murder is wrong) also why do we have an appreciation for art and music etc? And what about love? is it just an illusion designed to keep mating couples together? Serious answers please

Answer 1

Hey!
I know you asked Evolutionists & athiests but.......................

Even in his state of alienation from God, man still has the general ability to distinguish right from wrong. This is because he was made in God’s image, so that he to some degree reflects the godly qualities of wisdom and righteousness. (Genesis 1:26, 27) Regarding this, the apostle Paul wrote under divine inspiration: “Whenever people of the nations that do not have law do by nature the things of the law, these people, although not having law, are a law to themselves. They are the very ones who demonstrate the matter of the law to be written in their hearts, while their conscience is bearing witness with them and, between their own thoughts, they are being accused or even excused.”—Romans 2:14, 15.

This moral nature, inherited from the first man, Adam, works as a “law,” or a rule of conduct, in people of all races and nationalities. It is the ability to look at ourselves and render judgment about ourselves. (Romans 9:1) Adam and Eve manifested this faculty as soon as they broke God’s law—they hid themselves. (Genesis 3:7, 8) Another example of how the conscience operates is the way King David reacted when he discerned that he had sinned by taking a census. The Bible says that “David’s heart began to beat him.”—2 Samuel 24:1-10.

The ability to look back and judge one’s moral conduct can produce the very important effect of godly repentance. David wrote: “When I kept silent my bones wore out through my groaning all day long. My sin I finally confessed to you, and my error I did not cover. I said: ‘I shall make confession over my transgressions to Jehovah.’ And you yourself pardoned the error of my sins.” (Psalm 32:3, 5) Thus, a functioning conscience can bring the sinner back to God, helping him to recognize the need to have God’s forgiveness and to follow His ways.—Psalm 51:1-4, 9, 13-15.

The conscience also provides warnings or gives guidance when we have to make a choice or a moral decision. It was this aspect of conscience that may have helped Joseph to sense beforehand that adultery was wrong and bad—a sin against God. A specific law against adultery was later included in the Ten Commandments given to Israel. (Genesis 39:1-9; Exodus 20:14) Clearly, we stand to benefit far more when our conscience is trained to guide us rather than just judge us.

Sorry dunc - couldn't resist!

Answer 2

It is wrong because each and everyone of us has a use in our society, whether it be a teacher, mother, father or an assistant in some way.
As for the conscience bit, it separates us from the animals- we can freely think for ourselves whilst animals react according to instinct. Art and music are equally so in that they express higher feelings than animalistic senses such as hunger, thirst, sexual appetite....they are a window to our very personality.
There is also a marked difference between survival of the fittest and murder- murder is simply about getting rid of life, whilst 'survival of the fittest' is about the weaker characteristics of animals and humans being weeded out so that we are improved. SOTF is also fairer in that anyone person or animal is affected, and every animal goes through this purpose.
PS Sorry, didn't read the second part of your question- I'm a Creationist!

Answer 3

We are human beings and therefore have a conscience.which seperates us from animals.murder is wrong, for any reason,since God gave us all of a chance to live.There is self defense, and so forth, of course, but out and out murder is wrong.Survival of the fittests is taken care of, individually,by God,when he thinks we can`t survive, he takes us with him.We all have the capacity to love art and music, and so do many animal species, which is why we are the highest ranked species.Its a gift that we must cherish.Love is the most precious gift that we have, and it is a natural feeling that we all have, although some people have the passion of love in different degrees.Love is real, not an illusion, love for your child , love for your friends,parents,siblings,and mates, is one thing that nothing can take from you.Humans have the wonderful gift of emotions and how to express them, no other species has this gift that is developed as far as ours, i say sit back and enjoy what we have all been given to live a good life, right here on our beautiful Earth.DC

Answer 4

Murder is wrong (killing without cause), many killings however can be justified...

If we were just to go around murdering eventually someone would stop us, and therefore this would negate any "survival of the fittest" theory. Anyone can kill; for example a peodo priest with a shotgun could kill, this doesn't mean he was the fittest, or best choice for the Human race...

Music - our capacity to create is equal to our capacity to destroy.
Love = our capacity to hate...

Love is just a state of mind, that is real - it means many different things to many people

Answer 5

Ducks don't have God either right? Why don't they kill each other? A better example would be this, since you are a Theist (I won't assume Christian) then what is stopping us from killing you? Shouldn't we, as "Satan's chosen" be out to do just that? I don't think so. I believe that human life is sacred. Just for posterities sake...
sa·cred (skrd) KEY

ADJECTIVE:

1.Dedicated to or set apart for the worship of a deity.
2.Worthy of religious veneration: the sacred teachings of the Buddha.
3.Made or declared holy: sacred bread and wine.
4.Dedicated or devoted exclusively to a single use, purpose, or person: sacred to the memory of her sister; a private office sacred to the President.
5.Worthy of respect; venerable.
6.Of or relating to religious objects, rites, or practices
I am using the fifth definition. If you want to get philosophical about emotions, all emotions are illusions. They are a set of chemical reactions brought about to bring a given behavioral response. Does that make them any less powerful, or useful? I don't think so. Why do you assume we have no morals? Is that moral of you?

Answer 6

Because the human animal is gregarious. We achieve more if we form small groups or tribes and work together. Killing one of your own tribe that is still adding value to the family group is counter-productive to the group as a whole. This is not good survival technique and is discouraged and has a nasty label attached to it - "Murder". For the sake of this argument we'll call your group "americans".

Now, when your tribe or group which is operating at optimum efiiciency in terms of numbers, acquired skills etc bumps into another group, the two groups start competing for scarce resources. Let's call tribe 2 "Iraqi's".

Now it IS in your interests to kill the Iraqi group because then you get to keep more stuff for yourself. This is not "Murder", It's"War".

You justify the difference to immature members of your group by inventing a "god", in case any of them ever ask "what's the difference"?

Unfortunately for you, you don't always win and god is on their side, too. Fickle, isn't he?

Answer 7

Makes sense if all there is is life, just procreate in order to keep the species going without anything else to distract from that like learning and such. Murder and death should be just common occurrences and people come and go like farts in the wind. Evolution at it's best.

I don't think this way but it would make sense from the view point of evolution.

Answer 8

yes it leaves a big mess on the carpet and you go to prison art music life is an illusion and evolution keep life gowing on the planet

Answer 9

1) Killing members of your own species reduces the abundance of genes similar to your own.
2) Aesthetics have developed from our primate ancestor's ability to interpret their environment.
3) In so much as it gives the offspring a better chance for survival and therefore better chance of your genes being passed on.

Answer 10

One word: society.

Humans band together. One of the simplest covenants of the society is, "I won't kill you and you won't kill me." Murder is killing someone within society, outside societies rules. How many cultures allowed killing a man to kill his wife's lover? That certainly has evolutionary implications.

Ultimately, killing in war is justified, not only on the grounds that "they" might kill you, but your society is fighting outsiders.

Art, music, aesthetics, comfort, and so on, can define a society, and help to bind it. Where are many works of art found? Palaces and churches.

As for love, it is one of the many bonds in a society.