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

To: Rye
"The answer is a resounding YES. I personally know many atheists and agnostics who display the absolute highest degree of moral and ethical integrity."

How do you know what ethical integrity entails? What standard do you use to judge your friends' behavior?

23 posted on 11/30/2002 9:00:47 AM PST by HumanaeVitae
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies ]


To: HumanaeVitae
How do you know what ethical integrity entails? What standard do you use to judge your friends' behavior?

Standards that have been with us for thousands of years, both within religious contexts and without. Do you honestly believe that before Christianity - or before Judaism, for that matter - the ideas set forth formally in the Ten Commandments (among others) were completely alien to humanity? Pre-Judaic cultures were well aware that lying, cheating, stealing, not keeping one's word, etc. ..were WRONG, and they didn't need a formal, monotheistic religion to confirm this for them. And in today's world, atheists are no more or less likely to act unethically than people who are formal members of a religion.

26 posted on 11/30/2002 9:29:21 AM PST by Mr. Mojo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies ]

To: HumanaeVitae
How do you know what ethical integrity entails? What standard do you use to judge your friends' behavior?

You've nailed the essential problem with humanism. If there is no God, there is no good. We are functionally similar to the other animals. There is no such thing as an evil crocodile. He is what he is, and he does what he does. If there is no God, then there is no reason not to kill, steal, rape, whatever. Allister Crowley said, "the sum of the law is do what thou wilt." Without God, the only two questions are, "do I want to do it?" and "can I get away with it?" I've gotten into this debate way too many times to think I'll persuade anyone, but you've nailed it solidly.

220 posted on 12/09/2002 11:34:57 AM PST by Richard Kimball
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | 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