Religious versus Secular Ethics

[freethinker44]

Maybe you haven't noticed but I am a brilliant deductionist.

Here is some logical deduction for you.

In a religion where heaven exists and accepts all innocent people (babies and children) unconditionally, then the most selfless act someone can commit is murdering children. Just sacrifice your eternal life to gaurantee eternity in heaven to as many children as you can kill before the devil can poison their minds against god.

This is the logical path with religious morality. Luckily most people only see cute little baby Jesus and stop their logical process there but it's kind of scary to think about it. I mean if I can deduce this anyone can, I see it for what it is but someone with a little more faith may see it as gods will and start swinging axes or something, but I'm just an atheist what do I know about being moral right?

 

[linwood]

What is the origin of ethical (moral) principles of human behavior. Many theists believe that religion provides the sole source of ethical principles. They say that one cannot have morals without religion. Secular humanists and others believe that ethical principles can be derived from reason, empiricism, and even evolution -- that religion is not required for developing sets of moral rules.

1) What do you think about this issue?

I think the question is "If religion created morality, who created religion?"
Ultimately it`s all man-made.

2) If God were shown not to exist (hypothetically!) would theists change their moral behavior.

Some would, some wouldn`t.

 

[bobhikes]

What is the origin of ethical (moral) principles of human behavior. Many theists believe that religion provides the sole source of ethical principles. They say that one cannot have morals without religion. Secular humanists and others believe that ethical principles can be derived from reason, empiricism, and even evolution -- that religion is not required for developing sets of moral rules.

1) What do you think about this issue?

2) If God were shown not to exist (hypothetically!) would theists change their moral behavior. If so, in what ways?

In my studies on the brain and religion, I am seeing a link I believe most scientists shun to see. To me it is starting to seem very possible that the brain is programed to be religious in a way. The childs brain, teens brain and adult brain functions very differently. I believe at least for the childs brain a guidance system is necessary. This guidance system developes into our religious beliefs in later life. I only have vague theories and references right now.

 

[JohnOB]

They say that one cannot have morals without religion.

It is true, I confirm it, so-called "Secular Humanists" are Utopians.

 

[linwood]

It is true, I confirm it, so-called "Secular Humanists" are Utopians.

Have you ever met a secular humanist?

I`ve known many, most are far more skeptical about even the possibility of a "Utopia" than most theists I`ve met.

 

[Alex_G]

I believe that ethics and morals are ingrained into us from creator God, not religion. The atheist has no foundation for ethics and morals which is why most are for sex of any kind, as long as it is consensual of course, they don't consider life sacred from conception, and they have no reason to uphold one man and one woman marriage. If we truly lived in a Darwinist society it would be pretty scary indeed so most atheists accept that morals are good even though their worldview doesn't have a foundation for them.

I think your wrong. I think the idea of things good and bad being dictated to humanity from god, un-yielding and non negotiable completely defeats what ethics and morality is all about. To act purely as a slave to a totalitarian regime, no question, with hope of reward and fear of punishment, undermines the heroism of moral action.

I think its slanderous to say that atheists have no basis for morality, and are in some way therefore evil, it is especially shameful in light of the atrocities cause by religious belief.