Where do you get your morals from if not from the Bible?
The cultures of the world all have codes of conduct, even the ancient ones, and many of these codes predate the writing of the various books of the Bible and almost all predate each cultures first exposure to the Bible.
Where did the Greek Philosophers gain their insights? Did Socrates have no morals? Was Pythagoras lost? Confucius? Buddha? The American tribes? Eskimos?
2007-05-19 05:08:59 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Much of what is contained in the Old Testament is simply the conduct codes of the ancient Middle East. Some of these codes are commonly found in cultures all over the world, such as the prohibition against murder, but many are unique to the region and were never adopted by anyone else, like the prohibitions against eating pork or working on Saturday. Many are tribal rules, such as the requirement for a man to marry and have children with his brother's widow in order to ensure the survival of the tribe. Much of the New Testament is a reinterpretation of the older Biblical laws from the perspective of a culture that had been exposed to Greek and Roman thought for several centuries.
2007-05-19 05:09:18 · update #1
We have access to thousands of years of religion, history, philosophy, ethics and sociology from all over the world. We can see what worked well, and what didn't work so well, and we acknowledge that many things should never be allowed to happen again, such as genocides, witch burnings and Inquisitions. We do not believe that any group or culture has had all of the answers, and we refuse to be tied to laws that should be abandoned and rules that do not work. Claiming to have all of the answers is a dangerous game, and claiming to be the "One True Path" has led to some of the most horrific abuses and tragedies in human history.
2007-05-19 05:09:39 · update #2
"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death." - Albert Einstein, "Religion and Science", New York Times Magazine, November 9, 1930
2007-05-19 05:09:56 · update #3
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It's also a bit of a first draft. I posted yesterday asking for common questions asked of Atheists and this was the wording in one of the responses. It wasn't intended to represent the ultimate question, just a common one.
2007-05-19 05:25:03 · update #4
There are many biblical answers to that, but my favorite is Romans 2:14(niv) indeed, when gentiles who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.16 this will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
2007-05-20 10:20:21 · answer #1 · answered by indy kurt 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good enough that I think I'll go looking for it.
We need to discuss the ethical values of our day, because many people seem to feel that the only origin for moral values is religion, and if you want to do something bad, all you have to do is quit the religion in which your parents raised you.
No, kids, if it's bad, it's bad. Just about every culture has some variation on the Golden Rule: either do unto others what you would have them do to you, or don't do what you don't want them to do to you. This is not the only basis for moral judgment, but it's a darn good start.
P.S. Yo, Padre, you don't have a link to your 360 page on your profile!!! Hey, make it easy for us, good buddy!
2007-05-19 05:38:21 · answer #2 · answered by auntb93 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death." - Albert Einstein
I agree with this. Great blog.
2007-05-19 05:14:13 · answer #3 · answered by )0( Cricket Song 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why are you so hung up on hating and mocking Christians? If you don't like the religion don't join it.
If one comes by to proselytize you, tell them to get lost.
Many Christians have studied the Greek and other philosophies.
Why is this nagging at your gut "father".
2007-05-19 09:48:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a bit of a strawman. I'm not saying that there aren't Christians who don't argue that, but I would think they would be in the minority. A better question to have answered would be "Where do you get your morals from if there is no objective standard?", or, if someone is an atheist who does believe in an objective standard, what is its source?
2007-05-19 05:22:32 · answer #5 · answered by Deof Movestofca 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Who's a clever boy the? Really good, I'd love to hear a Christians thoughts (not cut and paste from the bible) on this
2007-05-19 05:50:19 · answer #6 · answered by mia 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
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2016-10-05 09:08:37 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A+
2007-05-19 05:22:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think it is good. You write well and make some very excellent points.
2007-05-19 05:30:18 · answer #9 · answered by genaddt 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yeah, I get this question all the time. Nice work.
2007-05-19 05:30:56 · answer #10 · answered by Dylan H 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋