Does morality stem from a belief in God or from a duty to Man?

Answer 1

Reaching WAY back into history I'd have to ask if human beings knew the difference between right and wrong before the advent of the super religions. History tells us yes, they did. So, I suppose I would say that it was a duty to man originally, and did not require religion to exist.

Answer 2

Ultimately man is anti-social and we create an agreed upon arrangement to live together, at least in small groups, for survival, evolution dictates this in any situation known or studied on humans or near species. But then we develope the age old torment of "social justice", that is, life AINT fair, never was, never will be, and reasoning around this we figure there has to be a REASON. That "reason" is obviously divine intervention. With more knowledge all the while, we run into more things that defy reason. You can ask "why" the sun shines, go through all the various explanations, theories, and end up with "why" the "Big Bang" happened, and you are back at square one. This does not effect our daily life like practicing the moral code found in the "ten commandments" (forget the divine source for arguement sake here), the "golden rule", but belief in God gives us the "why" response to support following that code. (When "Because I said so!" no longer works). That is why :P
The terribly ironic thing, is when everyone worships a different God, or the supposedly same God but in different ways, and break all the rules of morality or God in bloody wars and devestation to prove which faith is best. It only causes man to curse God and each other in the end. That only proves, even if some were right and "God" is the mythical creation of man, we are still lesser beings.

Answer 3

A belief and duty. Ask this, has morality and duty changed or redefined in the past to the present? Of course, this why it is so difficult to mandate a certain morality or duty and fairly rule the world. It always changes.

Answer 4

For me, it stemmed from religion, because that is how I was taught. For my sister's children, it has stemmed from a duty to man, because she has chosen to not raise her children with religion. I will probably raise my children with religion, and use that opportunity to teach morality. But ALL of it is about our duty to each other, no matter where or how you get it.

Answer 5

Morality DOES NOT stem from God. I'm sorry to lay it on to you this way. I am not a believer but I do believe in doing good things for your fellow man. Morality refers to the concept of human ethics which pertains to right or wrong". You do not have to believe in god to discern right and wrong.

Answer 6

I would say a belief in God, as many morals are stated in the Bible.

Answer 7

it goes back to the philosophical question of is there a universal good or is good/bad something we are taught.. people like terrorists believe they are doing Gods will.. so that would suggest to me that morality stems from man.. for better and for worse.

Answer 8

Moral codes have their roots in religion. However, there are many non religious people in this world who are moral. On the other hand, there are many religiously devout people decapitating their enemies in Iraq and think it's perfectly moral to do so.

-BD

Answer 9

Morallity stems from the light of Christ. Not necessarily from belief in God, but because we are created by Him. Everyone is affected by this power that drives us to do good. Of course we can choose to ignore it. But the more you follow it, the greater power you recieve to follow it next time.

Answer 10

IMHO usually from a belief in God.