He attacked religion, saying that it degraded gays and women and therefore did not give them their basic human right. He say other things which I cannot recall, but he definitely believed in basic human rights. My question is: if there is no god, how can there be basic human rights?
If human rights are man made, they are not basic and can be easily changed, so what decides these rights if we are just here by a freak accident.
2007-04-03 07:42:01 · 6 answers · asked by Batmanthebig 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Social contract & evolutionary morality determines those rights.
When he says, "you're violating their basic rights," he is saying, "your version of social contract does not mesh with my version of the social contract."
Evolution provides us the baseline of morality in the form of an instinct for empathy and an instinct for altruism.
2007-04-03 07:47:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Human rights are a default. We have them because nothing implies that we don't have them. For instance, no race is superior to any other. How could that make sense? What would make one race more deserving of respect and dignity than another? The only thing, in fact, that could do that would be a god. If we were not made by a creator, then we truly are all equal. There is no logical reason why women are less than men, or why homosexuality is worse than heterosexuality.
An atheist's god is logic. Morality is logical, not magical, I always say.
2007-04-03 07:48:26 · answer #2 · answered by Dan X 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Basic human rights" vary from culture to culture, having nothing to do with god. Religions have tried to control people since some one looked up and saw a sun. Basic American human rights give, or should give, women and gays the same rights as everyone. Religion says differently which is why we have so many problems in the US. Basic human rights are in conflict with religious rights.
2007-04-03 07:48:54 · answer #3 · answered by bocasbeachbum 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There can be basic rights because as thinking creatures who also act as herd animals we have a basic need to make sure we all have some common rights. As we grow and better ourselves we have found that societies do much better working together and making sure everyone is respected and happy rather than brutal slave states. So we have come up with basic rights for everyone which makes everyone happier, which makes for better society.
Just because they are manmade does not mean easily changed. You cannot say to someone "You now love being a slave" and it is now the truth..it is based on what we all want and hence very hard to change
2007-04-03 07:49:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
These are rights we as humans believe should be granted to each other. They are subjective, and are formed and dictated by society. Just for the record, religion is man-made, it is not the source for any morality. Morality existed before it and will exist after it. Look at Christianity's long bloody history before you try to argue that morality comes from your God.
2007-04-03 07:52:23 · answer #5 · answered by Momofthreeboys 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Guess what, religion is man made too.
According to the bible, it's ok to stone your children.
Rape victims must marry their rapist.
When is the last time you heard of that happening? Why have many parts of Christianity changed of the past 2,000 years?
2007-04-03 07:47:58 · answer #6 · answered by TLG 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋