After reading this article, can you really say that with no god there is no morality?

Question

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/20/science/20moral.html?ref=science
"Scientist Finds the Beginnings of Morality in Primate Behavior"

I'm not making any claim here that primates are exactly like us or anything like that, just read the article and see if it makes you wonder if belief in a god is REALLY necessary for morality.

Answer 1

The notion that morality derives from god has always been preposterous, and requires no proof or evidence to refute. Morality derives from evolution, which applies to societies as well as to species: a society which lives by a sound moral code will survive preferably to one that does not. Thus, actions such as murder and theft, which are inimical to any society, are properly condemned. The claims of religion to be a source or repository of moral precepts are groundless.

Answer 2

How exactly can anyone define morality? Based on what standard? If morality is defined in human standards, then some animals have morality, and some animals don't. But, if we base morality on the standards of God, then we can immediately see that animals are completely moral at all times, because they behave exactly as they were designed to behave. However, humans don't always behave morally by the standards of God. We have the choice to behave one way or another, but animals do not conceive of this choice. A rabbit is designed for having a lot of sex life, and they do this. It isn't that some rabbits choose to be celibate. Having sex life is moral for a rabbit. Monkeys behave the way they were designed also. We may see some behavior similar to our own, but we cannot say that sometimes monkeys are moral and sometimes they are not. They are moral for a monkey, regardless of their behavior. We are not the designers of morality, and we are not the standard of morality. The standard is set by God for each species. A penguin may mate for life, but that would not be moral for a lion. A lion's position is different, and the circumstances that determine the morality of an animal is dependent upon the characteristics of the animal. The circumstances that determine the morality of humans is dependent upon the characteristics of humans.

It is ridiculous to compare morality of animals to morality of humans.

Answer 3

I read the article referred to and it all makes perfect sense.
Further, as an atheist of the 'strong' variety, I am an example that having no god has nothing to do with one's morality. That is a result of your upbringing by parents and your exposure to your peers while still at the learning stage of life.
Thus, I had a sensible upbringing, I did not mix with hooligans when I was a teenager. I have never been arrested for anything. I am tolerant, understanding and generous and I also realise that, if I do step out of line, I stand a fair chance of being punished here on earth and not anywhere fictitious after I die.

Answer 4

Ok, I read it and I have to say it doesnt surprise me at all, I disagree en every sense with the biologist, and I consider his finding that of a primate.

Every animal, and from my point of view every living being has some kind of feelings in some way, monkeys and chimpazees arent the only ones who protect other lifeforms as part of their instinct. The fact that only humans have feelings sounds to me not only idiot but really greedy and selfish.

Dont take any offense but the article isnt even interesting to me, it is evident the biologist lacks a lot of common sense, a philosopher vs a psicologist maybe would be more appealing as a scientific discussion, but a biologist talking about removing morality from the hands of philosophers sounds NAZI to me.

And at last, I dont see what God has to do with all this, he didnt meant scientific stupidity when he created man.

Answer 5

We *are* primates, so to say that they're exactly like us is tautological. You probably mean "non-human primates." The article itself makes it clear that they aren't exactly like us: "Every species of ape and monkey has its own protocol for reconciliation after fights, Dr. de Waal has found." But the point is they're close enough.

However, some of your intended audience will not accept that we are primates.

P.S. A disinterested look at the Bible reveals that the Judeo-Xian-Islamic god is the *last* source you'd want for morality.

Answer 6

But morality or the lack thereof was never the issue. SALVATION is the issue and that does not come by morality. It comes by the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross and applied to the individual heart. For salvation you must have God and His plan and His way of salvation. Besides your article I happen to know that dolphins also exhibit moral behavior. I have a young friend who is mentally handicapped and was taken on a vacation to see dolphins. The kids were allowed in the water to touch the dolphins and one dolphin came up to this child who was "different" from the other kids and was butting against my friend and "jabbering" in what I can only describe as a "hateful" way. Another dolphin got in-between the mean dolphin and this child and drove the other dolphin off "scolding" it the whole way. And then the kind dolphin came back and "took charge" of my handicapped friend and let the child touch it and it "jabbered" in a kind tone and "protected" this child from the other dolphins. It was really amazing. Morality? Kindness? Call it whatever you will, but the point is that in man morality and kindness will not open the gates of heaven. Only salvation will do that - and only God's paid way of salvation is acceptable to Him.

Answer 7

1. Allah (SWT) 'God' is only 'One', has no partner or son, and neither gives birth, nor is He born. He is eternally besought by all and has no beginning or end, and none is equal to Him (Holy Quran example)
2. He is the Merciful and the Compassionate, the Guardian and the True Guide, the Just and the Supreme Lord, the Creator and the Watchful, the First and the Last, the Knowing and the Wise, the Hearing, and the Aware, the Witness and the Glorious, the Able and ' the Powerful. (Holy Quran example).
3. He is the Loving and the Provider, the Generous and the Benevolent, the Rich and the Independent, the Forgiving and the Clement, the Patient and the Appreciative, the Unique and the Protector, the Judge and the Peace. (Holy Quran example). The question of Allah's (SWT) 'God' existence has preoccupied men's minds for many centuries. Those who believe in Allah (SWT) 'God' seem to agree that the limited finite human intelligence cannot prove the existence of the infinite boundless of Allah (SWT) 'God'. It can only illustrate or demonstrate his existence to the satisfaction of the curious human mind.
Those who deny Allah's (SWT) 'God' claim to rely on science, philosophy, or special theories of knowledge. Their arguments are sometimes inapplicable, sometimes irrelevant, always complex, and often incomprehensible. However, the developed mind will find its way to Allah (SWT) 'God'. Failure to find the way does not mean that there is no way. Denial of reality does not make it unreal.

Answer 8

You can find similarity's in anything if you really want to and quite frankly have you taken a good look at the morals of mankind now-a-days? Apes could very well appear to have more in the way of morals than man ,easily.

Answer 9

I dont need to read an article to know that religion has nothing to do with morality. More people have died because of religion than any other cause known to man.

Answer 10

i'm religious but i believe that people with no religion can have morals if they choose. People, think anyways, are to the core, good. but i think being religiou helps!