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2007-10-31 17:37:42 · 22 answers · asked by realchurchhistorian 4 in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

22 answers

Do not do to someone else what you would not want done to yourself in similar circumstances.

It's practically universally recognized. Otherwise, there are also humanist values that I adhere to.

^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^

2007-10-31 17:40:23 · answer #1 · answered by NHBaritone 7 · 10 0

1) Am I treating this person the way that I would want to be treated.
2) Will my actions have a beneficial effect on the world, or a negative one.
3) The knowledge that as a human, I am no better and no worse at base than any other human, and no more important in the grand scheme of things.
4) Only I, myself, am responsible for my actions both good and bad. I can't blame Satan, I can't expect God to make the other team lose for me. I better think about how I act.

Frankly, I'm more than a bit scared at the internal workings and world view of someone who thinks that the only reason to do good is their future heavenly reward, and the only reason not to do evil is possible personal punishment. Goodness. I far prefer people who do good because they like how it feels and want to make this world better, and who don't do evil because they would prefer not to hurt other people!

2007-10-31 19:06:07 · answer #2 · answered by jennifer K 4 · 0 0

I notice many either quote the Golden Rule or something like it. The problem none address is what is the strength of that moral foundation.

They picked the Golden Rule because??? In one way or the other, it's in their self interest and it feels good. Empathy is a feeling, conscience is a set of feelings, common sense is a feeling, etc.

They chose the GR (or similar) because it made them feel good about themselves. If they can choose it for that reason, how quickly can they abandon it when it isn't working to make them feel good?

2007-11-01 22:47:34 · answer #3 · answered by Matthew T 7 · 0 0

Reason, contemporary Postmodern theories and study of cultural universals, some influence by the Enlightenment on issues of human rights and freedom of intellectual expression, the United States Constitution, Libertarianism, personal conscience.

P.S. Why are those Buddhists in Myanmar so peaceful if they don't believe in a god? You can find plenty examples of non-Christians doing very moral things. I believe France is 80% atheist or agnostic yet they have lower rates of violent crime than Americans. If you can't explain why we're moral people, perhaps you should move away from the mistaken assumption that only people who fear a Christian god are moral. But that requires throwing out false assumptions, which many Christians are not prepared to do.

2007-10-31 17:41:40 · answer #4 · answered by Dalarus 7 · 7 2

Not an answer to the question, but most athiests I know or met have higher morals than most Christians. Main difference is Christians believe Jesus absolves them of all sins. Athiests believe they are responsible for all the wrongs they commit here and now.

As to implying athiests are gay. Look in your own mirrors.There have been plenty of Christians, especially clergy convicted of pediophila as well as exposed of homosexuality. Some TV evangelists.

2007-10-31 17:58:22 · answer #5 · answered by genghis1947 4 · 2 0

I think the golden rule concept is pretty universal, you don't actually think it's an idea that originated with the Bible, do you??

I was raised 'religious', so I'm sure I got a lot of the good of religion drummed into me along with all of the bad. In rejecting the bad and the notion of gods, original sin, heaven, hell, jesus I didn't reject morality, as it wasn't tied to what feeble religious beliefs I had.

I really don't feel I need to believe in a deity that tells me its a 'sin' to kill, steal, lie, covet etc. (I can safely ignore the first 4 commandments since they are all really the same one., and depend on you believing in the guy in the first place.)

the other good rule is "happy wife: happy life"

2007-10-31 17:48:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3 1

I remember being asked this once before by a bible thumper. Of course my basic answer is; common sense, rationality, and basic human decency.
I then had to ask them; 'what keeps You from sinning?' Isn't it the exact same thing?
If the only thing that keeps you from robbing, raping, murdering, or otherwise rampaging is fear of punishment from an invisible parental figure... man, that's really scary.
So, what gives an atheist a moral comapss is the exact same thing that gives a religious person one... we just need a book to justify it.

2007-10-31 17:50:46 · answer #7 · answered by lmn78744 7 · 3 1

A lot of Christian teachings are similar to, or exactly the same as Platonian philosophy. He and the ancient Greeks were passing laws and conducting trials based on morality thousands of years before Christ and with no YHWH influence. Also, OT has a lot of similarities to Sumerian myths...which are older and have their own basis for morality.

2007-10-31 17:46:03 · answer #8 · answered by strpenta 7 · 3 1

The only kind that exists, according to Deutoronomy 29:19-20 . If you have a moral compass, you are not living under the law and are not a christian. The law is based on turning your ethical decisions over to the priesthood, and in turn God, rather than deciding for yourself what right and wrong are.

If you ever stop to think "am I doing the right thing", and don't check the bible, you are in the wrong. If what you want to do is not covered by the bible, you are supposed to consult a priest. Doing otherwise goes directly against the law, and according to the bible, will get "Every curse God has to offer" upon you.

2007-10-31 17:45:04 · answer #9 · answered by Just Jess 7 · 1 6

1: Don't be a dick.
2: Treat other people the way you would want to be treated.


I don't need anything else, really - and I especially don't need an old book to claim to have absolute morals.

2007-10-31 17:49:00 · answer #10 · answered by nobody important 5 · 3 1

Life furthered is good, dimished is evil.Or dating back to confucius if I am correct the golden rule is a standard for honor.

2007-10-31 17:49:43 · answer #11 · answered by dogpatch USA 7 · 2 0

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