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Does Atheism Lead to Immoral Behavior?

SkepticThinker

Veteran Member
I do not believe we can .. but I know what you mean.


Of course we need to learn from history .. but I do not agree that history shows that
tougher laws are not effective.
I'm not saying "tougher laws are not effective."

I'm saying that a society in which people are killed, tortured and maimed for breaking laws is not a society that maximizes human flourishing, happiness, health and liberty. I'm saying such a society is a violent society. You seem to think it's a less violent society than one in which people are tortured, killed or maimed for breaking laws, which is generally not borne out in reality, historically speaking. It just makes for a crappy society in which people can have their lives taken, and/or their bodies mangled for any number of non-violent crimes. Which to me, is an infringement upon human rights. I don't want to live in a society that places such low value on human life.
 

muhammad_isa

Veteran Member
I'm not saying "tougher laws are not effective."

I'm saying that a society in which people are killed, tortured and maimed for breaking laws is not a society that maximizes human flourishing, happiness, health and liberty. I'm saying such a society is a violent society. You seem to think it's a less violent society than one in which people are tortured, killed or maimed for breaking laws, which is generally not borne out in reality, historically speaking. It just makes for a crappy society in which people can have their lives taken, and/or their bodies mangled for any number of non-violent crimes. Which to me, is an infringement upon human rights. I don't want to live in a society that places such low value on human life.
This is becoming a debate on capital punishment..

The point that I was making, is that the only "signal" that secular law gives to people
about sexual relations, is one about adult consent.
That is because public opinion has shifted, and started with the advent of the contraceptive pill, imo.

Atheists often tell us that the universe came into existence "naturally" .. but I see nothing
natural about the contraceptive pill. Time will tell where mankind will end up in their present trajectory.
 

SkepticThinker

Veteran Member
This is becoming a debate on capital punishment..
Yes, because you've advocated for the torture or killing of people who commit adultery.
The point that I was making, is that the only "signal" that secular law gives to people
about sexual relations, is one about adult consent.
That is because public opinion has shifted, and started with the advent of the contraceptive pill, imo.
Consent is paramount, yes. Engaging in sexual relations without the other person's consent is rape. This has nothing to do with contraception.
Atheists often tell us that the universe came into existence "naturally" .. but I see nothing
natural about the contraceptive pill. Time will tell where mankind will end up in their present trajectory.
I have no idea how this ties into anything or what one has to do with the other. Eyeglasses aren't natural either, but I need them to see.
Contraception allows women to have some control over their own bodies and their own reproductive cycles, which contributes to human flourishing. I take it you disagree?
 

muhammad_isa

Veteran Member
We live in the least violent era of human history ever..
I would think that depends on where you live..
I doubt whether those in Vietnam were thinking along those lines, for example.

It is a fact that violent crime is on the increase in US .. what will change that, do you think?
It is not as though US as a nation is poor .. or maybe it is .. how much was the national debt?
..or maybe that is just a figure in a sum, calculating who gets what somehow..
 

muhammad_isa

Veteran Member
Contraception allows women to have some control over their own bodies and their own reproductive cycles, which contributes to human flourishing. I take it you disagree?
I am not criticising what women want to do with their bodies..
I am merely saying that public opinion about virginity, and sex before marriage has changed
because of the pill. Can you not understand that?
 

muhammad_isa

Veteran Member
I'm wondering what it has to do with the point about violence in society.
Already explained..
We think that it's OK to have sexual intercourse outside of marriage,
because we consider ourselves in control of pregnancy.

..but we disregard the fact that sexual relationships involve strong emotions,
and often causes violence.
 

YoursTrue

Faith-confidence in what we hope for (Hebrews 11)
LOL! You have it so backwards. When a person believes in an obvious fairy tale the burden of proof is upon him. If you want to learn about again talk to an expert, but our DNA alone puts a limit on our age.

Telomeres and aging - PubMed

Now find some evidence that a man could ever live to such an age.
From your link: "Telomeres play a central role in cell fate and aging by adjusting the cellular response to stress and growth stimulation on the basis of previous cell divisions and DNA damage."
 

YoursTrue

Faith-confidence in what we hope for (Hebrews 11)
We live in the least violent era of human history ever.

Even with two world wars, a person's odds of dying by violence were lower in the 20th Century than in every century that preceded it.
When those people have died I guess you can say ok, it's over for them, right?
 

YoursTrue

Faith-confidence in what we hope for (Hebrews 11)
We live in the least violent era of human history ever.

Even with two world wars, a person's odds of dying by violence were lower in the 20th Century than in every century that preceded it.
One death by violence is more than enough.
 

YoursTrue

Faith-confidence in what we hope for (Hebrews 11)
Once again, so what?

If you could learn how to make a point it would help you when you tried to debate.
I know it says debate, but honestly -- I do not debate but sometimes post my opinion about things. Take care. So once again -- "Telomeres, the specific DNA–protein structures found at both ends of each chromosome, protect genome from nucleolytic degradation, unnecessary recombination, repair, and interchromosomal fusion. Telomeres therefore play a vital role in preserving the information in our genome. As a normal cellular process, a small portion of telomeric DNA is lost with each cell division." Telomeres, lifestyle, cancer, and aging.
 

YoursTrue

Faith-confidence in what we hope for (Hebrews 11)
That is a belief that is of no value. There will always be some violent deaths due to human nature. The goal is to continually lower the number. Stating the obvious does not help the number of violent deaths go down.I
I do not believe that will always be the case about violent deaths. I know you don't believe the Bible. Lowering the number doesn't bring back or restore those who have been killed violently.
 
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