Is a God Needed for Morality?

[Al Mialkovsky]

I'm all about doing right only because I fear I'll be punished by burning forever in hell.

 

[archman]

I'm disappointed... this should have been set up as a poll.

 

[H2Andy]

OK. If that's all true then what's the point of the thread question?

to hear what others have to say, of course

 

[Kim]

to hear what others have to say, of course

So you can argue with them!

OK...OK.....that's cool too!

 

[H2Andy]

ah... i'm missing something here, KIm

anyway... what's the point of having your beliefs go unchallenged? you only get shmarter if you have to think about this stuff!

 

[drbill]

I've always felt that an ethical (which I prefer over "moral") life can be based simply on what is often referred to as "The Golden Rule" and generally associated with Judaeo-Christian belief systems (but actually stems from Confucius and is common to many religions).

When I interact with another person, I try to keep in mind how I would want them to treat me.

 

[H2Andy]

but what if you live in a soceity where it's ok to slap people for no reason?

or to keep women at home after puberty and never let them leave the home?

is that good? that's how everybody treats each other....

 

[do it easy]

but what if you live in a soceity where it's ok to slap people for no reason?

ahh, the three stooges morality...

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

or to keep women at home after puberty and never let them leave the home?

..

We get to do that?

 

[H2Andy]

ok, let me try a more realistic scenario:

what if you live in a society of cannibals, where it's ok to kill prisoners of war and eat them?

and you grow up with that, and you do it.

is that right or wrong? how do you know?