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Actually...no. A Christian doesn't steal the bike in the first place. In fact, he makes sure his neighbor's bike is protected.
Don't you mean that a Christian isn't supposed to steal the bike? Or are you trying to suggest that no crimes are ever committed by Christians?
More accurate would be to simply state that a good person doesn't steal the bike, religion is no guarantee of honesty, nor is the absence of belief a guarantee of criminal behavior.
Don't you mean that a Christian isn't supposed to steal the bike? Or are you trying to suggest that no crimes are ever committed by Christians?
More accurate would be to simply state that a good person doesn't steal the bike, religion is no guarantee of honesty, nor is the absence of belief a guarantee of criminal behavior.
Nor is lack of religion a guarantee that people will retain basic moral principles like stealing is wrong. Without religion, perhaps the only thing keeping people in check is the legal or physical consequences of such actions.
We have a prime example of this scenario back at the turn of this century. A new thing called Napster came on the scene. For the first time ever, people could feast on all the music they want and download it for free. Movies too. The industry tried to fight back and teach people that this was still considered stealing, but since the consequence factor was completely gone, millions of people did it. If the laws against theft were wiped off the books, how long do you think it would take stores like Walmart to be ravaged? Probably immediately ,I would say.
Nor is lack of religion a guarantee that people will retain basic moral principles like stealing is wrong. Without religion, perhaps the only thing keeping people in check is the legal or physical consequences of such actions.
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I already mentioned your first sentence, don't know why you are repeating it.
All that is required to bring morality about is a desire for civilization. The choices are disorganization and anarchy where it is everyone for his or her selves, or civilization where we agree to submit to some rules so that life may unfold without serial chaos and combat. Those rules...we won't steal, we won't murder etc, are the basis for morality.
Morality certainly predates organized religion, it would have to do so. How could you possibly organize a religion in a setting of anarchy? Civilization is required for organized religion and morality is required for civilization.
It is obvious that religion is not the source of our morality because it came after moral principles were already established.
I already mentioned your first sentence, don't know why you are repeating it.
All that is required to bring morality about is a desire for civilization. The choices are disorganization and anarchy where it is everyone for his or her selves, or civilization where we agree to submit to some rules so that life may unfold without serial chaos and combat. Those rules...we won't steal, we won't murder etc, are the basis for morality.
Morality certainly predates organized religion, it would have to do so. How could you possibly organize a religion in a setting of anarchy? Civilization is required for organized religion and morality is required for civilization.
It is obvious that religion is not the source of our morality because it came after moral principles were already established.
Nazi Germany had a form of civilization, but the ideology and laws were quite immoral. I think you are confusing government or societal structure with individual morality.
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