What do we base morality on? (atheist, agnostics, Christian, believe)
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Is it family? Is it society? How do we know what is right and wrong?
Society is the worst place to "learn" morals. Society is corrupt and hypocritical. Society hasn't evolved very far in the realm of morals since the last few hundred years.
There is no such thing as "right" or "wrong". Nor "good" or "evil".
Both are labels, nothing more. The concepts of "right" and "wrong" are not consistent, nor universally accepted.
The German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, dealt with this theme.
Society does not determine what is right or wrong, but rather what is acceptable or not acceptable. These concepts change from era to era.
That's why many people accept intolerance, hatred, and prejudice as "right".
The best way to develop morals is by using the conscience.
I suppose my views and yours may not be the same...you probably think you're right even though your wrong...lol, jk. Yeah, society changes, religions change, people change...I change my underwear............
So are you saying that you have no absolute basis for morality w/out religion?
Your turn. What makes you say those horrible things are, in fact, horrible?
It's actually a natural reaction that the overwhelming majority of human beings feel when they're confronted with any sadistic and antisocial behavior. Human beings invented God and religion and also wrote the Ten Commandments and every other religious text which supposedly was inspired by a higher power. These feelings come from within ourselves, not from some invisible being who's giving us orders regarding what is acceptable and what is not.
Religion plays a roll in the morality of those which are governed by that religion.
Society plays a roll in the mores which help guide us.
Our parents play a strong roll in our own morality. Notice that broken families typically don't push out A quality children that many strong households do? With or without religion, our parents play the greatest roll.
Sometimes, our televisions (unfortunately) play a significant roll.
To point to only one of these as a reason you're moral is unbelievably short-sighted. I realize that many Christians want to point to their Bible as the reason anyone on the planet is good, but you must realize that your book isn't very old. The fact is that morality predated the Bible, so it is entirely silly to say that we receive our morality from it. It's not, however, silly to say that it helps strengthen YOUR morality. That is an acceptable phrase, alone.
What do you say to cultures which existed without the Bible and before the Bible was written? Society and culture likely plays the largest roll in what we think is right and wrong. Have you ever heard of Moral Relativism?
Jesus summed up the Law in Love the Lord with all my Heart, Mind and Soul, and my neighbor as myself. You couldn't harm another person like that if you love them.
Your turn. What makes you say those horrible things are, in fact, horrible?
We have laws to abide by, in this country. People don't need to read the Bible to know not to commit rape or molest a child.
Fortunately, there is no law against mixing fabrics or eating shell fish. Same sex relations are not against the law, unlike what is stated in the Bible.
I suppose it would be a mixture of both upbringing and our biological make-up. Universal feelings, learned applications.
Well said and right to the point.
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