Where do you think we get our morals from?

Question

There was a study in which where we get our morality was checked. They had two study groups, Believers in god and Atheists. They gave a scenario in which one person's life was threated and so was a group of 5. In order to save the group, you had to sacrafice the one. Both groups chose to sacrfice the one in order to save the 5.

How is this? Believers say that their morals come from a book or their god. Atheists say that they get their morals from our evolution, not from design. Who is right?

Society has nothing to do with it. Humans were around before we had a modern society.

Answer 1

They were developed from what society currently says is ok.

Answer 2

It is the human brain that does this on it's own... I read an article a week or so ago. Let's dig it up, shall we?

Oh, I found it! I put the link below in the source section. It's actually quite interesting and shows how human morality changes when particular areas of the brain are damaged.

Here's a few interesting excerpts:

"A total of 30 subjects of both genders faced a set of scenarios pitting immediate harm to one person against future certain harm to many. Six had damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPC), a small region behind the forehead, while 12 had brain damage elsewhere, and another 12 had no damage.

The subjects with VMPC damage stood out in their stated willingness to harm an individual – a prospect that usually generates strong aversion."

I guess I haven't really answered your question. I am agnostic and firmly believe that humans obtain their morals through evolution, not from a higher power or from some book that tells us it's not okay to kill people.

Answer 3

For Christians, God is the measure of all things, but for Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists man is the measure of all things.

One the source of morals is God, Himself, for God is Love, but for the other group man determines what is right in his own sight.

An infinite source of morality versus a finite source of morality.
An omnscient source versus an ignorant source.

The Creator has given us His words and the perfect example in Christ.

While men without God are still searching for answers, but find the answers they have are inadequate because they refuse to accept their Creator.

Judge for yourself who is right, because the decision you make will echo on into eternity.

Mark :o)

Answer 4

I think both are correct in their claims to some extent. Once people stopped being nomadic and had to settle down to make towns and larger populations, they found that they needed some rules to keep things in line. Ultimately they're derived from things very biological: self-preservation, protection of those we care for, and protection of our surroundings (these last two can even be seen as byproducts of self-preservation). It's not too suprising then that you see some of the same rules popping up in different cultures (don't steal other people's stuff, don't kill other people unless maybe we all agree we're better off without that person around us, etc.)

Over the years that got blended in with mysticism and became intertwined with religious dogma. So that's the first time a lot of people hear any of these sort of social codes as codified rules. But ultimately I think they can be traced down to something very biological.

Answer 5

Neither.
Religious matter comes from people
representing God, and evolution is
just a wild goose chase.

Quantum theory suggests we are a
constant, while it's the time and space
that comes and goes.

If this is true, I have to believe we develop
our own standards of conduct, each time
we hit our particle stage. It's not likely any
change occurs while energy is in a quantum
zone.

Answer 6

Everyone is born with a conscience, which is your moral compass. The degradation of this moral compass begins at birth, through societal influences, MTV, parents, etc.

Answer 7

Young people today get their morals from MTV and the other crap on TV. Morals are in a person, you are either a good person or an evil one. All the freaking books in the world can not turn a psychopath into a do gooder and vice versa. Armeggedon is daily.

Answer 8

morals are founded in reason and logic in both groups .And that logic is founded upon the premise of honor ,and our value of life is the guide to discerning right from wrong regardless of ones other beliefs.if you substitute moral for ethical and virtue for righteousness you'll see the two systems are parallel and/or synonymous. they are fulfilled in our most basic instinctual desires .

Answer 9

The Bible says in the OT that God wrote his laws on our hearts. We get our laws from God, our morality, our sense of justice, ethics, right and wrong. This is what I believe.

Answer 10

I got my morals from a can of Campbell's moral soup. Oh, and a Cracker Jack box of coarse.