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Pervasiveness of Religion
#1
Pervasiveness of Religion
Why is it that every time a mass shooting happens like the one in Connecticut religion pops up with a new vigor? All of a sudden everyone is ready to assert that there is such a thing as objective morality by judging what the shooter did as 'wrong'. It was simply an event, an occurrence. To be judgemental and declare that it was 'wrong' is to dig up the tired baggage of religion.

Morality exists to be sure, but it is purely subjective and based upon human acknowledgement. To act as though there are moral absolutes is to affirm a belief in a god such as the one portrayed in the Bible. At some point as an atheist you have to find the courage to accept that humans have no more value than dogs or soda cans. All we have in each instance is a composite of basic matter. To ascribe intrinsic value to actions or objects (such as humans) is a pastime of the religions of the world and has no place amongst intelligent scientific-minded individuals.

Morality is a social convention that has evolved in humans to help social groups function more productively. Killing people may not be productive (assuming the goal of a species is mass production of itself) but to call it 'wrong' has no basis. In fact killing IS considered moral in certain contexts such as war. Humans are adaptable. Humans considered homosexuality 'wrong' at one time because it did not promote the reproduction of the species. However, we know better now. We have established the custom that one is to stop at a red light and go on a green light. Likewise our view of killing as 'wrong' is a long standing social convention, but nothing more.
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#2
RE: Pervasiveness of Religion
Religion gives the dolts a harmless ( and useless ) way to express their concern and try to give their particular imaginary friend a little boost.
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#3
RE: Pervasiveness of Religion
Quote:Likewise our view of killing as 'wrong' is a long standing social convention, but nothing more.

This is incorrect. This viewpoint is perhaps the very key of human civilization. Morals are certainly an invention, and many of them are pointless or cruel, but such morals are rarely accepted universally. The immorality of murder is something practically everybody agrees upon, because practically everyone agrees that the effect is negative and irreparable.
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#4
RE: Pervasiveness of Religion
Popcorn

Welcome to the forum out.of.the.box
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#5
RE: Pervasiveness of Religion
I can't find any sort of objective morals either. I can however still be mad at the shooter and the aftermath because as a human being, I wouldn't like to be shot at.
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"The lord doesn't work in mysterious ways, but in ways that are indistinguishable from his nonexistence."
-- George Yorgo Veenhuyzen quoted by John W. Loftus in The End of Christianity (p. 103).
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#6
RE: Pervasiveness of Religion
Quote:The immorality of murder is something practically everybody agrees upon,

True....where they disagree is what constitutes a "murder." Churches killed many for disagreeing with their bullshit and pronounced themselves "god's servants" with every drop of blood.
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#7
RE: Pervasiveness of Religion
Manslaughter/murder/abortion/vehicular homicide/euthanasia/capital punishment...
Yeah. Humans do disagree a lot.
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#8
RE: Pervasiveness of Religion
Quote:Killing people may not be productive (assuming the goal of a species is mass production of itself) but to call it 'wrong' has no basis.

Why do we care so much about innocent people when they are murdered or even killed indirectly?
Yes, I am a Christian on these forums. I am not here to judge or condemn, rather, I am here to debate, learn, and incite discussion. Yes, I think that my avatar is hilarious.
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#9
RE: Pervasiveness of Religion
(December 19, 2012 at 1:53 am)clemdog14 Wrote:
Quote:Killing people may not be productive (assuming the goal of a species is mass production of itself) but to call it 'wrong' has no basis.

Why do we care so much about innocent people when they are murdered or even killed indirectly?

A by product of evolution? Species that care more for each other survive better.
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"The lord doesn't work in mysterious ways, but in ways that are indistinguishable from his nonexistence."
-- George Yorgo Veenhuyzen quoted by John W. Loftus in The End of Christianity (p. 103).
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#10
RE: Pervasiveness of Religion
Quote:A by product of evolution? Species that care more for each other survive better.

That makes sense, however, if this is true, why do we have so many wars and killings? Isn't this counterproductive?
Yes, I am a Christian on these forums. I am not here to judge or condemn, rather, I am here to debate, learn, and incite discussion. Yes, I think that my avatar is hilarious.
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