On what grounds is it wrong. If it benefits me or my loved ones why then is it wrong? Don't the ends justify the means? Animals do it all the time and since i am an animal i am simply acting naturaly. Athiest's always say they have a moral code they follow and thats all fine an dandy, but what makes their morals absolute? I always hear "as long as you arn't hurting anyone" to justify sin. But why limit to that. Why not hurt people? Morals are simply relative with out God. Please let me know of your personal opinion. I'm not trying to be rude just curious on how an Athiest calls somthing good/evil, right/wrong, and somthing the truth.
2006-12-13 17:40:21 · 20 answers · asked by Yo Yo Ma 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think you keyed in on what will probably be the perpetual problem with atheological attempts at constructing a viable moral code of ethics.... the most prominent of atheists are also the quickest to acknowledge there is no single "doctrine" of atheism that obligates its members to agree to it. In the absence of any defining standard, the atheist that lives a truly "moral" life (whatever that means) merely lives better than his or her philosophy warrants.
2006-12-13 17:45:28 · answer #1 · answered by Daniel 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because all moral codes are social constructs created by people. Even communist, atheist countries like China or the former USSR had their own moral codes. (Animals by the way are much more social and peaceful in general and not as savage as you imagine.)
Most people can agree on many things, one of which is that in their social groups people are to treat others with respect and compassion. This has nothing to do with a God-given set of rules. It has everything to do with being human and feeling normal human emotions.
Christians use your line of argument all the time. What's funny is how brutal and inhuman Christians with their so called 'God-given' commandments have been throughout history (crusades, inquisitions, extermination of Indians, colonialization, slavery ,etc.)
All of these horrible acts were carried out by Christians from supposedly Christian nations.
2006-12-14 01:43:09 · answer #2 · answered by Underground Man 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Moral action clarifies the mind.
Many people get this intuitively.
That said, to truly clarify the mind a person needs to meditate *and* act morally. The two work together.
You can lead a very good life with moral action, but it takes moral action *and* meditation to become permanently enlightened.
'God' is completely unnecessary, but can also be a way toward moral action, but not enlightenment.
2006-12-14 01:47:43 · answer #3 · answered by Bad Buddhist 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What make a christians morals absolute. The fact is here pal that the basic laws of the land that existed for the first 73000 years of human existance worked just fine without the legislation of morality. People didn't go to jail for homosexuality and smoking weed until the 20th century and civilization got along just fine. Your the ones who have stirred up all the sh!t on this planet. More people have been killed in the name of whatever god than for anything else. When will you people just cease to exist already?
2006-12-14 01:49:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
If there is no God and it's merely survival of the fittest, I can do whatever I like to you and should have no penalties. I'm merely exercising my ability to be "fitter" than the next person.
But...if there is a God and our morality comes from Him, we are responsible for every idle word we say. We are responsible to whatever we think or do that doesn't live up to perfection. We are also responsible to take the penalty for that "sin". Penalty is death for any sin. Even sins of thought, not just deed. This condemns us all and places in a position to need a Savior. Interesting how that works eh?
2006-12-14 01:46:31 · answer #5 · answered by sheepinarowboat 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Human Morality is unique in that we are capable of having it through our own reason. I don't go out and kill people because I'm afraid of the Law (Although some people are only held in place by their fear of the Law), I have a respect for other people and their right to live without being hurt by me. Besides, animals who hurt one another do so out of need for survival. When was the last time you heard of a dog that killed another dog over the color of it's fur? We're the only ones that do that. Animals kill for food and self defense. In reality that is the only moral precedent for killing another human being. I have the right to live free from harm from my fellow man, just as my neighbor does. And it's not from love of god that I refrain from cracking people in the head with a hammer, it's for respect for other people.
I will ring your doorbell and run away!!!
2006-12-14 01:50:06 · answer #6 · answered by Satan Lord of Flames 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1) No such thing as sin. Replace that word with "immoral".
2) Why not hurt people? YOU are immoral.
3) So... you ONLY have "morals" because of your god? Just so you can suck-up to be on His good side? To get into "Heaven"? That's not morality. That's pathetic.
4) Would you still be moral if your god was proven to not exist?
If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed. - Albert Einstein
2006-12-14 01:45:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's a social contract. I want to live, I want my property to be safe, I want my children to have good lives. Therefore, I agree to basically follow the Golden Rule and I need you to do it, also. If we don't then, clearly, society will fall apart. Additionally, I think that life is better when I am a good person, when I contribute positively, when I am nice to other people, and when other people are nice to me.
So my question back to you - Why are you good? Because someone ordered you to? Because someone will reward you if you are good and punish you if you are bad? That doesn't sound like adult motivations to me.
2006-12-14 01:49:57 · answer #8 · answered by Alan 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you have a point.
but....have you thought of this ? :
christians have been hurting people for 2 thousand years and they say they do have a god and a lot of morals....could it be that they all think the way you do ?
p.s. "do as you wish as long as you don't hurt anyone" is not to justify sin..........we don't believe in sin.....we do believe in respecting the life and well being of every living thing.
2006-12-14 02:03:09 · answer #9 · answered by peaceful light 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Atheists assume there is no God. That is their belief. They chastise "religious" people for their beliefs but isn't saying "there is no God" some sort of belief system in itself?
Even Atheists and Agnostics have "moral limits" (or all of them would be imprisoned for murder, theft, etc.) which proves there must be some "cosmic regulator" of some kind.
I can't fathom how anyone could say, "there is no creator". Where do they think everything originated from??
2006-12-14 01:50:52 · answer #10 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋