I was an athiest for many years until I started persuing Buddhism and I never judge religion as a whole. It helps bring happiness in many peoples lives. Sure, people have done wrong in the name of God, but people have still done wrong in the name of atheism. Look at what China has done to "wipe out religion." I would hardly call it kind in nature. So, what makes todays atheist believe in their own moral authority and moral high ground?
2007-02-09 08:17:42 · 11 answers · asked by joe1max 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There is a slight flaw with the argument of the Chinese "wiping out religion" when comparing it to atheism in western civilization.
Your comparing a Communist state sponsored initiative of banning religion. The one primary difference is that the populace of these countries did not have the right to choose their belief system. The government was looking to ban all forms of religions.
Atheism in the western world is a choice made by those who have the right to pursue any system of belief they would like, or lack thereof.
2007-02-09 08:29:31 · answer #1 · answered by taa 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You never judge religion as a whole, you say. That obviously doesn't apply to atheism, which you gladly judge that as a whole (hey, just look at China!). Finally, you proclaim that atheists claim the moral high ground. What is your basis for that? That religion is, heaven forbid, criticized? What has actually been going on, is that religious people have claimed the moral high ground since, like, forever. There are still lots of people, here on Y! answers, for instance, who seriously claim atheists have *no* morals (you know, because they don't believe in god, who hands out morals).
2007-02-09 16:50:14 · answer #2 · answered by ThePeter 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The same thing that makes Christians believe in their own moral authority and moral high ground. People have a tendency to think that because their point of view works for them, it will work for everyone else too. Also they think it helps validate their pov the more people are like them.
But none of that's true, and if people understood that the world would be a happier place.
2007-02-09 16:26:14 · answer #3 · answered by KC 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Atheism is not the base of morality, just like faith is not the base of morality. Atheism should not even be a word in the dictionary because it is an anti-concept invented by the religious people. It means no-god. A negative term to indicate what does not exist!
Isn't that absurd? We do not have a negative term to indicate everything we might imagine that does not exist. We don't have a word that says "no-ghost", "no-fairy", not even one for those who do not believe in Satan. Have you ever heard someone saying I am a-satanist?
The fact that neither God, nor Satan, nor witches or fairies exist is a conclusion of our intellect from the evidence of the senses and logical reasoning. Morality comes from reasoning, logical reasoning. Morality teaches that only reason can tell us the difference between what is for life and what is against life.
If I choose to obtain the things I need for living by stealing and defrauding people, my moral code is the product of this kind of irrational reasoning: "For some special reason, I am entitled to get what others produce." If my moral code is derived from logical reasoning, I choose to trade my work for a paycheck and I follow this reasoning: "Nature does not provide for our needs automatically. We have to produce, work or trade in order to meet our needs for living."
No God, no divine commandment is needed to reason like that!
Morality is just plain logic. In a court of law you don't want to be found guilty by someone who says: "You are guilty, because God told me."
Without reason there can be no morality, no peace, and no justice.
2007-02-09 16:41:34 · answer #4 · answered by DrEvol 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe in my moral authority because I have to answer to myself and my conscience. I don't follow a 2000 year old book to know what is right or wrong.
I don't care what people want to believe. If someone needs religion of any kind in their lives then more power to them. Just don't push those beliefs on me and keep those beliefs OUT of our laws.
2007-02-09 16:23:39 · answer #5 · answered by Stormilutionist Chasealogist 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Er, the fact that atheists in general act more morally than believers in general. Just look around you.
The "China" and "Stalin" arguments are at least somewhat reasonable arguments that "wiping out religion" is not a good thing, but they're certainly not good arguments that atheists are a great source of evil.
2007-02-09 16:22:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
I don't believe anyone has moral authority or high ground... I believe very firmly in equality (at least with human interaction) unless an individual does something to deserve less.
2007-02-09 16:30:55 · answer #7 · answered by billthakat 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
what made YOU believe in your own moral authority and moral high ground when you were an atheist?
or were you just raping and pillaging your way through life before becoming a Buddhist?
2007-02-09 16:29:09 · answer #8 · answered by answer faerie, V.T., A. M. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My moral authority only applies to myself and my children.
2007-02-09 16:33:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you have anyone in particular in mind?
I don't think I've heard an atheist make this particular argument before.
2007-02-09 16:23:19 · answer #10 · answered by Samurai Jack 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋