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To: Misterioso
Is it your opinion, then, that an atheist or an agnostic does not know the difference between right and wrong? That, by definition, they are amoral? Do you realize how absurd that sounds?

Obviously, I am saying that atheists claim there are no universal standards for right and wrong, which, by process of elimination, would make morals relative to man's preferences, in which case morals are reduced to personal tastes, and there is no right and wrong. Right and wrong are words that refer to a standard. What is the standard in atheism? The individual? The community? The culture? The government? Those are the only choices you have, but in each case, the standard would be man-made, therefore not universal, not authoritative, and containing no force. If you say morals are decided by the culture - which culture? Are all cultures their own moral authority. Here is a true statement: If there is no moral authority above society, then society becomes absolute.

683 posted on 05/07/2003 10:11:54 AM PDT by exmarine
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To: exmarine
I think Ayn Rand proved that man's life is the standard which all men can use to determine his values. As an atheist, that works for me, but her proof does not satisfy you. I have no problem determining what is right and what is wrong. I have never been arrested in 67 years.
718 posted on 05/07/2003 5:11:43 PM PDT by Misterioso
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