Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: ThanhPhero

This is getting way off base.
This discussion originally came from the suggestion that atheists are incapable of morality.

Now we're on to trust and free trade. I believe I have made a good case here that morality was woven into the fabric of religion, but exists independently from it. That is all I sought out to prove.

I really can't even begin to analyze these other tangents you're getting into. I would say that the majority of people in America right now are not practicing Christians even if they identify themselves as such because of family tradition and heritage. America is largely secular, and yet commerce and respect for the law continues, as strong as it ever was.

Now you would say this is possible because we live in a culture that was established on Christian roots. I can't argue with that, because it is true. But then how can one analyze these other products of modern civilization when there is no control group to compare to? It is impossible, and not to mention rather moot.


248 posted on 06/10/2004 9:05:33 AM PDT by counterpunch (<-CLICK HERE for my CARTOONS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 231 | View Replies ]


To: counterpunch

Even if the majority of Americans are not practicing Christians their interrelationships are still based on that tradition. No there is no Atheist morality, just about by definition. That does not mean that an atheist does not share the same ideas as Christians. For the Christian morality is of God and he can't change the system. He can evade it or oppose it but he can't change it. For the atheist there is no such thing. He can determine with his reason what are the most useful relationships for how he wants to live. He may use the word but it is not the same word when he does. In a Christian or other religious based society the atheist is stuck with the morality of the dominant culture.In a Communist state there is no morality because social requirements are arbitrary and capricious. They change with the perceived requirements of the boss. "Morality" is what seems beneficial right now by the ruler. Communist rule is just oldtime absolute monarchy without the perceived legitimacy.


308 posted on 06/10/2004 12:52:47 PM PDT by ThanhPhero (Ong la nguoi di hanh huong den La Vang)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 248 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson