Can an atheistic society actually create a better society?

Question

atheism bases it values and or morality on what is socially acceptable at the time...lets say murder...right now it isn't socially acceptable to do it...but lets say in 100 years it is accepted...what about lying...50 years ago it was frowned upon to lie to anyone about anything because lying is wrong...but over the course of time it has become PC to lie in order not hurt feelings...has that progressed our society or regressed our society...

Answer 1

"Can an atheistic society actually create a better society?" - Yes, it can. However, considering the fact that it would be made up of humans, just as all other societies are, the likelihood is slim. After all, we humans do have a bad habit of screwing things up, religious or not.
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Answer 2

You're ignoring fundamental aspects of morality and seem to have misunderstood atheism, ethics and political correctness all at once. How could murder ever become accepted? The basic principle is universality. People tend not to want to be killed, so how could they ever say it was ok to kill another? I don't think lying IS accepted. People saying that all races are similar or whatever to be politically correct - well, its not meant to be a lie. Morality is not like fashion. Morality will change a little but only as we consider more and more the feelings of other people.

Religious morality is backwards, indeed non-existent. Do I need to prove that? Religious people refrain from sin to appease their god, that's different from not doing something because its wrong. Religious people keep asking why atheists can be moral - as if they only reason they refrain from theft, rape and murder is the fear of hellfire. I don't call that morality. I call it cowardice.

Atheism isn't a religion. We don't want a society where religion is outlawed, mostly we want a secular world. I believe in personal liberties, whatever you want to believe in is your own business.

Answer 3

All societies base their morality on what is socially acceptable at the time. Some Christians like to claim that Christian morality is constant over time, because the Bible remains the Bible. And yet, some churches used to accept and even preach racial superiority of one race over another.

The morals of a society change over time, and I don't see that as a bad thing.

Answer 4

You're mixing up two different things -- not believing in any god is not the same as using different morals from everybody else.

As for lying to avoid hurt feelings, that's hardly a modern phenomenon, and it's not important anyway. It's more important to focus on the lies that start wars or cause other real damage, and figure out how to deal with that.

Answer 5

The book of Philemon is basically "how slaves fit into the Christian world."

Good thing we've gotten over the whole slavery thing. And yes, Christians were instrumental in doing so, but it was the societal values trumping the Biblical ones.

I'd argue that our understanding of morality is superior to that of Paul, or at the very least superior to his in terms of today's society.

And your claim that lying was treated significantly differently fifty years ago is horsehockey - my grandmother has been lying to the parents of ugly children for close to sixty years now.

Answer 6

Where is there an entirely atheist society? Most people in society believe in some form of God or religion. One can not blame societies ills on the fact there are Atheists around.
I was not aware that Atheists base their moral values on what is hip and cool at the moment.

Answer 7

Well then, think of it this way:
Everyone is Christian/Catholic/Satanist etc...
Christians would start hating all other people because of different beliefs, thus causing hate to breed in everyones heart.
Satanists would love their friends and familys, but use phyiscal voilence to harm mothers. Thus causing Cristians and Satanists to hate each other ever deeper.
Budhists would be trying to bring peace, and accept everyone, but since everones religion prevents them from loving everyone, love would be hard to find.

So yes, it IS possible to have a good society if everyone was atheistic. But everone would have to have morals, and not some figure that tells them to do this not that. Happy? I actually think its people like you who are destroying our society. The harsh truth is placed in front of you. Live with it.

Answer 8

i'm a sort of who did no longer strategies rituals and going to church as quickly as a week. i individually dislike being taught that one rule suits all and being brought about have self assurance I rather have a judgmental stalker observing me each and all the time. And my technology coaching being effected by utilising mytholiogy. I regarded into Satanism when I first give up bellieving what the Bible mentioned. i did no longer accept as true with the 'harm others who harm you' I completely have self assurance in self-protection yet I additionally comprehend that normally you get harm by utilising anothers strikes yet that became no longer the objective or that there might desire to be different factors as to why that person is behaving that way. as nicely, if someone is antiChristian yet is going to doing the different of their Xian upbringing, they are nevertheless focusing on that faith. i could think of it may be extra desirable to get your strategies on different issues. when I can force lower back, i'm in all probability going to inspect studying extra approximately Wicca....i think of there's a Buddhist temple around right here (N. Tx)too yet i'm unsure. i've got concept approximately that...

Answer 9

Well to be honest it could happen but there will always be some social group who thinks murder it ok IE: criminals or drug dealers. Religion is just a moral guide for people and how to live there life, so wether its atheism, catholicism, or any other ism out there. There is always going to be people who rebel. the greatest example, you posting this in a Religion column. I would think since atheism has nothing to do with the spirit and its not a religion. Then it must be a form of protest or rebellion towards modern religion, hence the same will happen to a society based on atheism.

Answer 10

A society with value system engraved in its behaviour can protect the values. Value systems can be incorporated in education from the very early stages and in families not tolerating the behaviour against their values. Including it in some faith can be one ingredient but in my opinion it can not be the only ingredient. If a society wants to flout the values no atheism can stop it.