Poll: Atheist Morality

[Zacharine]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn4DT5sHNWs&feature=channel


This basically sums up all you need to know.

Ah, the excellent videos of QualiaSoup. Yeah, he deals with this issue in great detail and in clearly understandable terms.

A really nice video. I agree, it sums up pretty much everything you need to know for quick reference.

 

[Shynobee]

*snip*

1.) "Atheism can be either the rejection of theism,[1] or the position that deities do not exist.[2] In the broadest sense, it is the absence of belief in the existence of deities.[3]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism

2.) I thought it was clear that I refered to the distinction from spiritualism as well since it was in the same paragraph as my sentence about religions. I said that where there were religions, there also was a secular view. Sorry for just implying it.

Well, your first point loses a bit of credibility from the offset just by being from wikipedia. But, whatever.

Your second point, well I'm sorry for not catching that implication.

 

[Skeleon]

Well, your first point loses a bit of credibility from the offset just by being from wikipedia. But, whatever.

Okay, then this:

Etymology: Middle French atheisme, from athee atheist, from Greek atheos godless, from a- + theos god
Date: 1546
1 archaic : ungodliness, wickedness
2 a : a disbelief in the existence of deity b : the doctrine that there is no deity

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheism

Says nothing about religion as a whole, just gods.

 

[WayOutThere]

Of course it does. Unless you think all atheists partake in immoral acts.

This is not the case. The question is if atheism has a basis for morality without God. That atheists can't be moral is one argument but the quesion in the poll asks if atheism has a "basis for morality" as in "can we explain why we encourage 'good' things without reference to god?". The second argument is that religionists say our morality is founded on *their* beliefs.

Anyone who doesn't understand that you can be moral without a belief in god or a fear of hell is a sociopath.

Empathy, sympathy and stability of a society are the things that create morality.

You've been listening to deccha 1981, yes?

"Positive emotions" are not a basis for morality. This is an is/ought fallacy. Sure these emotions explain kindness but to transition from an "is" (these emotions exits) to and "ought" (we should act on them) can't be done.

Many people who don't understand morality without God believe in objective morality based on the nature of God. This means their morality is not based on fear. The important thing is they DO believe in doing good things for the sake of doing good things they just feel some compulsion to make their morality a fact of reality (an "is") instead of a logical arguement based on what "is" (an ought).

Are people sociopaths if they don't understand morality without fear of punishment? Maybe, but no one (or at least not nearly as many people who make this argument) actually believe it. The majority of people born have a conscience and wouldn't be able to look at themselves in the mirror the next day hell or no hell.

Its funny, in the end no matter what we say we are all moral rationalists.

I would say that Atheism is faith in the non-existence of a God(s). But that may be getting a little philosophical

Who cares if it is getting philosophical? No, atheism is not a faith. Atheism is the lack of belief in god no the belief their is no God. The latter indead is a faith. Their is "strong atheism" which is an affirmation that there is no God. That is a faith but its not what most people mean when they say "atheist".

 

[WayOutThere]

As for Apatheism

The only reason I'm not an apatheist is because I'd like to have an afterlife. For that reason only I hope some sort of God exits.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

I acknowledge god's existence. I simply neglect to worship him.


But my moral code can be summed up quite nicely by this:

Nemo Me Impune Laccessit

 

[civver]

Of course it does. Unless you think all atheists partake in immoral acts.

This is not the case. The question is if atheism has a basis for morality without God. That atheists can't be moral is one argument but the quesion in the poll asks if atheism has a "basis for morality" as in "can we explain why we encourage 'good' things without reference to god?". The second argument is that religionists say our morality is founded on *their* beliefs.

Actually, yes. It's all about doing what's best for society. Same as the foundation of secular law.