where did moral judgment come from?

Question

I ask this question because I posed a question to atheists about although they may not believe there to be a god that by living a good life, and using the moral system of do unto others that they indeed may not call it god, but that it is the nature of man to want to be good. some said that morals have nothing to do with god, then what does have to do with? Just wondering

Answer 1

Good day fryedaddy!

I think you're asking how humans in general have a moral code, and not how I, flowery hedgehog woman, have one. So we'll roll with that.

One way to think of it is that we "evolved" to have a moral code. Societies that valued raping, murder, lying wouldn't be around long, would they? So cultures that had a natural tendancy toward altruistic behavior would flourish - encouraing more societies with altruistic behavior.

Once we're evolved enough to form societies (and humans aren't the only ones with these kinds of "morals") beings realize that it is better for the group to live with these kinds of rules. Beings even realize that one must suffer for the group to survive at times (and you see altruistic behavior in lots of critters besides just human).

So - moral behavior has to do with evolution, really! It's the best way for the group to continue - to survive. (And on a personal note, it gives me more meaning in my life)

Answer 2

Moral judgment comes from each one individuals who believe themselves as the only right people living on earth. They judge people morally because what they see and what they practiced is not what people do. They judge accordingly to their own views not minding other peoples belief or system. Sometimes they insist some things..do this or do that..those people who judge morally is the people who think that their own belief and doings are right. Sometimes they are the people who are conceited and self-centered. They have only one tract way of communication. They don't welcome others opinion.

Answer 3

What we call morality is a set of values developed in community. In living together we learn what we all don't and do like and agree what makes for a peaceful community is "good" and what we generally don't like is "bad." We blame these judgements on God as a way of taking them out of the realm of dispute.

Do you really believe we had no taboos on murder, stealing or adultery before Moses came down from the mountain? Hamurabi's Code was written long before the Bible.

It's really simple. We are, being the same species, very similar to one another. What causes one of us pain and distress likely causes it to every other humanoid, so we agree this is bad. What brings us success, peace and plenty, we call good.

Anchovie Pizza = Bad
Pepperoni Pizza = Good

There's no cosmic or divinely ordained reason for the above judgement, but there is widespread agreement. And if those in power want to put an end to anchovies on pizza altogether, we make it a command of God.

For example:

Leviticus 11:9-12 says:
9 These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.
10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:
11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.
12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

Deuteronomy 14:9-10 says:
9 These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat:
10 And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you.

Now what possible objective reason would God have to declare eating shrimp an abomination? And God having declared shrimp forbidden, who is Paul to set aside the law of God in Romans 14:14 as though it's just a personal preference?

"As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean."

This demonstrates in a very mundane way that even Paul knew "God's laws" are not cosmic constants, but a matter of culture, taste, preference and subjective opinions of men.

Answer 4

I was just reading about this in the beginning of Romans. Man, from the beginning of time, had the law of God implanted in his heart. They might choose not to worship God, but that implantation is still there.

For those who have never heard of God, but live moral lives, God will take that into account on the day of judgment, and judge you by your heart. But, if you have heard of God, and you reject Him, then you will be rejected by Him.

People ask, if he is a just God, why would He not let you into Heaven? Well, it goes along to say, "would you let someone live with you, who rejected you?" The same with God. It's His kingdom, and why would he want people there who actively reject Him?

So, in a nutshell, those who have never heard of God, but led good lives, God will take that into account on judgment day.

If you know of God, but reject Him, HE WILL REJECT YOU.

I guess you could say, "Tit for tat."

You might not say it is fair. Perhaps not, but it is just.

Answer 5

The source of our moral code, whatever imitation of goodness we might possess or perform,all have their beginning and ending in God. There is no morality or goodness apart from Him. It is the nature of man to be selfish, greedy, power-hungry, and perverse.

Answer 6

How we were taught as children, by parents and teachers and anyone we came in contact with who would give us pieces of good social behavior or examples of poor behavior. And we saw or heard the results of both positive and negative exchanges and created within our own minds what good and bad meant and also chose which behavior we felt suited us best.

Answer 7

by way of peaceful living.

Answer 8

it is instilled in us from birth but so it evil ways.