my brothers question... his reasoning being, he won't tell me....
2007-09-23 04:47:43 · 41 answers · asked by Verity 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
atheism is not an excuse, just like theism is not an excuse. it's just a different set of beliefs.
and we all invent our own morality at every decision we make that requires a moral perspective. we do this because morality is not absolute. so, we have our own versions of what we consider moral/immoral behavior. as humans, since we're so competitive and naturally inclined to destroy our competition to ensure our own survival, we would actually prefer to be completely immoral; the last things we want is to be restricted based on moral grounds. so, we would actually try to avoid morality, instead of inventing it. but, this is socially impractical. so, we have some guidelines.
theism vs atheism is usually a debate that centers on god vs no god, not on morality.
2007-09-23 04:55:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I will tell you this! That after months of reading answers from both atheists, and chriatians? I would much rather have an atheist at my back, than a christian, any day of the week! Atheist have an ethic, or a logical way of looking at issues! chritians use a morality that they can preach about on Sunday, and the moment they hit the door, what the learned, and what they believe stays at the church!
I have also noticed that they carry this into their political views as well! it seems that many times, many christians are republican, and that stance, is for number one, and everyone else can be left on the side of the road! Especially neo rep's! Their only concern is how they can keep their money! The poor and needy are casualties of the war they are fighting to gain supremacy in the government!
Social programs are denounced as created by Liberal bleeding hearts, and as such, propaganda!
ALCU is seen as a tool of the devil, as it usually rights for the rights of people like Gays, or other members of society that have fallen through the cracks!
So the accusation that atheists have no morals, is a joke! They have more than any number of most mainline Christians! There are, of course the exception to any rule, and those individuals are not included in my statement about the selfish people above?
This has been my observation, and these are my opinions,based on what I have seen and heard and read in the news,and on t.v.! and of course, right here in R&S!
2007-09-23 10:13:51 · answer #2 · answered by Renee 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Better yet is religion an excuse to blame your immoral actions on? I cannot tell you how many people I have come across in this forum and in life that say it is God/religion who keeps them in line and without that influence they would straight up be doing horrible things.. of course they believe that it is "satan's influence" that causes them to do those things or think about doing those things.. according to them anyway. Now atheism is not an excuse.. you want to know what atheism is? its morality without any excuse at all.. if you do something good its because you want to, if you do something bad its your own fault.. Most Atheists quite simply hold the idea that you do good because it's the right thing to do not because somebody told you that you would be punished..
"People don't need to know my name if I hurt someone, I'm to blame. If I help someone, then I've helped me and thats the way that it should be." Excerpt from On my Honour
Religion says.. If I hurt someone I will be punished so I better not do it, I am told to help people or I won't get my reward so I better do it.
2007-09-23 05:06:33 · answer #3 · answered by Kelly + Eternal Universal Energy 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
morality is not a solely religious concept. you can have the one without the other. In the same way, atheists do not live entirely by their own rules. There are those concepts which both atheism and religion endorse, just as there are those which the one abhors, whilst the other supports. Atheists are human, and must conform not only to society's laws, but to the confines of their conscience, just as the followers of a religion are bound by belief to obey God's commandments. The difference is that whilst atheists are not wholely free to 'invent' their own morality, but must abide by the regulations set in place by members of all cultures within their country, they have a certain independence of thought. Believers are restricted by a fear of eternal damnation upon their departure from the mortal coil. One might go so far as to wonder if perhaps the more moral-minded of the two cultures are those who call judgement from within upon themsleves, and so live their lives in a respectable manner out of natural goodness and a desire to act with decency than that which lives in fear of the judgement of another, and so is grudgingly honourable.
2007-09-23 07:50:42 · answer #4 · answered by country gal 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
At least we have discovered that the Crusader is, like many who use such statistics, mathematically illiterate. The math implies that things are not random, but this in no way suggests a personality behind a "creation".
Atheism is not an excuse, it is a product of somewhat clear reasoning, or a rebellion. I was an Atheist, but found reason lead me to Agnostic/irrelevantism.
2007-09-23 04:56:12 · answer #5 · answered by neil s 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, it is not.
Society has it's own morals, which differ a little based on the region, but encompasses people of all religions within those regions.
For instance, in the US, we believe it is wrong to murder, rape, steal, cheat, or swindle. I'd say most people would follow those rules willingly, but for big wrongs such as these, which exist in most countries, we have laws to make sure they are followed. And people that break these laws come from all faiths and backgrounds.
Atheists agree that religion shouldn't be the slightest bit necessary for morality.
2007-09-23 04:54:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It means you do not believe in the existence of God, but you could be quite happy to follow secular rules in society(you could argue these rules are often based on religion) but also that it is humanity that has come up with rules- after all, most religious texts are written by man- so nobody can actually prove if there is a God- they just have faith. I'm an agnostic- i can't disprove that god exists, just as nobody else can prove it- however, due to the floods, earthquakes and general state of the world- i wouldn't worship a creator of this mess. I prefer to abide by logic.
2007-09-23 04:56:00 · answer #7 · answered by brainlady 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No it is not, as people we all know right from wrong.
Christians can be immoral just as much as people with no beliefs. Jimmy Swaggert for one, priest that molest children another example.
I also think it is immoral for a preacher to be one of the wealthiest members in the community, living in a million dollar home. There are good hearted preachers and reverends out there that are sincere in what they do, but the ones that have turned religion into big business leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
2007-09-23 04:56:28 · answer #8 · answered by Ricky H 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Morality:
hurting others = bad
helping others = good
And I didn't need any gods to tell me that.
It's the old "all morals come from a god, and specifically my god".
If you found out tomorrow that no gods have every existed, would you start killing, raping and stealing? Is your belief the only thing preventing you from doing that right now?
If so, are you really a moral person?
If theists believe they are rewarded for doing good, it's only atheists who only do good because they are good, not because they believe they will be rewarded.
And let me point out that your god is not somebody I'd consider moral - sending bears to kill kids for making fun of a bald guy, murdering babies, drowning kittens...
For a more detailed explanation: http://www.abarnett.demon.co.uk/atheism/morals.html
2007-09-23 04:52:57 · answer #9 · answered by Dreamstuff Entity 6 · 8⤊ 1⤋
yes it will be a better morality than the ones the relgions invented all thay has done is start wars for 2000yrs the men who invented religion got it wrong thats why this planet is in a mess
2007-09-23 04:56:56 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋