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To: NJ_gent
Why is it that some people have this idea that those who don't hold strong belief in a god cannot have a sense of morality? Such a thought requires that you believe no human being had a clue that murdering others was wrong prior to it having been written down in a religious text. That's just silly.

Oh, I don't know . . . could it be because in the absence of an Objective G-d all "morality" is nothing but subjective hang-ups of either individuals or societies?

But I suppose it depends on how you define morality. And since the actual definition of morality is adherence to Divine decrees . . .

69 posted on 10/07/2005 10:38:05 AM PDT by Zionist Conspirator (Ki-hagoy vehamamlakhah 'asher lo-ya`avdukh yo'vedu!)
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To: Zionist Conspirator
"in the absence of an Objective G-d all "morality" is nothing but subjective hang-ups of either individuals or societies?"

You say that as though it's not the same thing with a god in the picture. How many devotely religious people have murdered how many others? Religious belief can help guide an individual, but it's by no means an automatic pass to morality. 'Thou shalt not kill' is subjective at best. Does it apply when someone has a gun to your head? When they're part of an army invading your country? When they have a bomb strapped to their chest? 'Thou shalt not steal' seems objective enough. However, what about the poor man who steals medicine for his dying wife? Is he heading to Hell for that one? Line up 10 different religious people and I'll bet you'll get at least three different answers. The moral choice depends entirely on the situation, and not every situation is directly addressed by religious texts. In that case, you're looking inside for the answer; which is precisely what non-religious people do.

All people have a sense of moral guidance. Whether that comes from God or is simply a built-in feature of intellect is a philosophical debate we could carry on 'til the end of time. What's not debatable is that there are individuals who are religious who have poor morals and individuals who are not religious who live lives Christ Himself would be proud of. Religious beliefs are what those who believe in them make of them. Any individual can have their system of beliefs twisted in such a way that they believe they're doing the 'right' thing even as they're commiting the worst acts imaginable.

As for how the word 'morality' is defined, Merriam-Webster says that it is:

"2 a : a doctrine or system of moral conduct b plural : particular moral principles or rules of conduct
3 : conformity to ideals of right human conduct"

118 posted on 10/07/2005 11:34:47 AM PDT by NJ_gent (Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.)
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