Do we need a magic deity to give us morals?

Question

The country of Norway was rated as the most peaceful country in the world in a 2007 survey by Global Peace Index. [9] A 2005 Gallup Poll found that 72% of the people of Norway are Atheist or Agnostic, and only 10% of the people of Norway are Christians. Why do we Americans seem to think that we need a magic deity to give us morals?

Answer 1

If there isn't some sort of reward at the end, they don't see that there is a benefit of being good.

I was on poker stars one night (I have the same id as I do here) and got into a conversation about my use of 666 in my user ID. He said "that's the # of the devil", I said "I don't believe in the devil and to me, it's simply 18x37"

I said that someone who was good, for no reason other than it's the right thing to do, is far more rightous than someone that is good because they want to get into heaven.

If you list the traits usually associated with hate, and those associated with religion, you will see a very similar pattern.
It's sad, and I am sure that long ago, the people that made up the idea of religion didn't intend it to be that way.

As long as there is religion in the world, you will always have two boys on the playground fighting over who's god is stronger than who's.

Think I will move to Norway.

Answer 2

There is no doubt that society traditions and behavior training go a long way to holding people in check. Norway has a tremendous history of Christianity and so traditions will coast for a long time. It also helps that times are good. We have seen that in the US, moral behavior falls apart when people leave close knit communities and go to live in big, uncaring cities.

But tradition and the set of feelings that we get out of society do not make a firm foundation for morality. What moral authority do they have over us?

Answer 3

Don't confuse "peaceful" with having morals. Remember that Sweden and Norway are reknown for their export of pornography. "Peaceful" can just mean that they have a strong police force, and people behave out of fear.
However, if everyone in the world obeyed God's 10 Commandments, they wouldn't be obeying out of fear, but out of love.
And it isn't "magic". There is a real Creator who created your highly complex and non-evolved body. He is just as real as your body, and since He created you, He is the Boss.

Answer 4

Even though one may not be a Christian, God instills a conscience in all of us to discern between right and wrong. Conscience is one of the separating factors between us and the instict in other created beings.