[DannyTN]

But in the absence of a Creator.... What is good? Should human life be considered sacred?

I agree with Thomas Paine that duties include doing justice and loving mercy. But why? Why should are duties include that? And what makes us believe that? Is it designed into us or a mere societal norm?

Must we continue? What call? What is noble? Says who? What is progress if this universe is all there is? For even our secular scientists say this universe will end. Why do we care about the cause of humanity? Why should we care at all? Was it designed into us?

[BikerNYC]

I agree with Thomas Paine that duties include doing justice and loving mercy. But why?

Even if God tells us to follow these duties, why should we listen to him? Where does the universal principle, "We should always do what God tells us to do" come from? It can't come from God, for we can always ask why we should listen to him on the issue.

Are you making it up? Is it just a preference of yours? Are you jsut going with the crowd or what your parents taught you? Does something make us believe it? If so, is it not freely chosen?

Believing in God does absolutely nothing about relieving us of the responsibility of choosing for ourselves what is right and wrong. Both theists and atheists create our own morality

[Renderofveils]

I think that human life should be considered sacred. That being said, I also think that someone that threatens to end others' lives places himself in that same dangerous position. Yes, I support the death penalty for murderers. Murder is a choice, killing in defense is a response to the threat of your own death. Capital punishment to me is killing in defense of society.

Must we continue? I have no other rational choice. Starve to death? No thank you. Work 7-7 in a mindnumbing job, wasting my time on this planet? Not worth it. Helping others appreciate the profound life they have? Seems noble enough for me. I care because I care, not because a religion has told me that it's the by-product of belief.