Hypothetically, picture a society that has never been exposed to religion but considers murder to be morally wrong. Why would a society like this consider murder to be morally wrong?
Please take this as a challenge and don't appeal to religion or God.
2007-08-13 15:16:16 · 16 answers · asked by Patty 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Because a society that dose not punish its members for killing others is bound to break down.
It is the equivalent of anarchy where the strong manipulate the weak, until they themselves are taken down by a stronger group.
As such anything (such as murder) that threatens the stability of the society would be condemned and punished and be considered wrong.
2007-08-13 15:27:23 · answer #1 · answered by Gamla Joe 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This is an interesting question.
In a society never exposed to religion, I'd suspect that natural law would be in effect. Since we are all born, live a life and die from some cause, I would think that the immoral aspect of murder in that society would be that it is interfering with a person's normal lifespan and normal life processes. No one should have the right to do that; death should occur as an effect of a disease, old age, accident, but not at the whims of another human. It deprives the person of their natural lifespan.
2007-08-13 15:34:34 · answer #2 · answered by Michael B - Prop. 8 Repealed! 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Morality in the absence of religion is nothing more than a method for humans to stroke their own ego.
That said, a society with the intellectual capacity to discern right from wrong without religious teaching would probably be very self-absorbed and self-oriented. Therefore, anything that causes self to feel pain or discomfort would be "wrong." Morality would be defined by thoughts and actions which edify people and not God.
2007-08-13 15:39:47 · answer #3 · answered by LadyB!™ 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Since the beginning man has a moral standard embedded in him, that standard says to kill another is wrong, it goes against internal programing we all should have, it is the fundamental basics of life that is embedded in every human, that when something wrong has occurred we don't like it, but the basis of right and wrong, points towards the designer of heaven who instill such a moral standard.
2007-08-13 15:27:16 · answer #4 · answered by Code 3 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, because it's still about what kind of life you and I and other people choose to live. I'd rather live a life that encompassed such things as unconditional love, kindness, gratitude, compassion, joy and so on. Even if it should turn out that God(s) didn't exist, that's still the best way that I've found to live my life. It's quite obvious that if you live your life based on the concept "love thy neighbor," you will live a much more fulfilled life than if you live a life based on murdering, raping and being rude to your neighbors. Best wishes!
2016-05-17 07:05:35 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, quite surely common sense tells any human that taking an others life is wrong. If a person was never exposed to any belief, I think that one is self-explanatory.
2007-08-13 15:27:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
One can only get morals from a moral giver. That moral giver must be the Creator of the society. God created the world so He has given everyone knowledge of right and wrong. I know you said leave God out of it but that's just how it is.
2007-08-13 15:24:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
How does this "challenge" theists? I think this would be more appropriately geared toward the atheists whom are blinded to the fact that it was GOD who CREATED humans with a sense of right and wrong and good and bad.
2007-08-13 15:32:21 · answer #8 · answered by blessed1 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Murder, by any definition, is morally wrong regardless of the society. Killing, however, is not always considered morally wrong. In our society it is common to assume that if an act is illegal then it is also immoral. This non-religious society may make it illegal to kill one of its own under certain circumstances, and then refer to that act as immoral.
2007-08-13 15:21:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Because we were born with emotions and feelings in our brain that reflects Hatred, Love, Sorrow, Depression, Guilt...etc.
These feelings within our mind is the mystery of the world.
Christians believe the love we feel for our children is the same love God has for us.
2007-08-13 15:25:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋