When atheists try to tell a Christian that he is doing something wrong or unloving my only response can be, from where do you get your morals and will there be any major repercussions if one doesn't follow your morals? And I'm not speaking of crimes, I'm talking about such things as hatred or pride. Can an atheist really argue that these things are wrong? I believe it is foolish for an atheist if he attempts to do so.
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The simple truth
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H0ary H0bbit Religious Views: “Never to suffer would never to have been blessed.” - Edgar Allan Poe
Poe
.  The simple truth
February 20, 2014 at 3:49 pm
(This post was last modified: February 20, 2014 at 3:52 pm by Rampant.A.I..)
(February 20, 2014 at 3:41 pm)The Good News Wrote: When atheists try to tell a Christian that he is doing something wrong or unloving my only response can be, from where do you get your morals and will there be any major repercussions if one doesn't follow your morals? And I'm not speaking of crimes, I'm talking about such things as hatred or pride. Can an atheist really argue that these things are wrong? I believe it is foolish for an atheist if he attempts to do so. If you require the threat of punishment to behave morally, you're not actually a moral individual: You're just afraid of being punished. You can believe whatever you like, but your beliefs are meaningless to anyone else without supporting evidence. 
I'll tell you where we don't get our morals: from pronouncements in a book of increasingly-dubious and subjectively-interprative moral standards. I for one don't need to be told not to hate someone. That you apparently do tells me more about you than I care to know.
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
Lemonvariable72
Copenhagen School  Religious Views: Its all bullshit to keep you handing money to the usher. (February 20, 2014 at 3:41 pm)The Good News Wrote: When atheists try to tell a Christian that he is doing something wrong or unloving my only response can be, from where do you get your morals and will there be any major repercussions if one doesn't follow your morals? And I'm not speaking of crimes, I'm talking about such things as hatred or pride. Can an atheist really argue that these things are wrong? I believe it is foolish for an atheist if he attempts to do so. Yes a atheist can say those things are immoral,and we can tell you why. It isn't because somebody is gonna come along and punish us, your actions have real consequences in the real world. they either cause pleasure or pain, and want to leave a positive memory of your life you do as much as you can to create as much pleasure for the greatest number you can whilst minimizing pain. In other words I have more trust in morals devised by people using rationality and empathy, then I do in a 5000 year old book that has been proven wrong on nearly every count and endorses slavery(including sexual slavery) and the intentional murder of children by their parents as morally correct.
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.
Interesting take, using Jeremy Bentham to quantify it. Bentham was an historical advocate of the separation of church and state, and Utilitarianism specifically highlighted why religion and the fear of punishment are unnecessary to the rational basis of morality.
  RE: The simple truth
February 20, 2014 at 4:44 pm
(This post was last modified: February 20, 2014 at 6:25 pm by Mister Agenda.)
(February 11, 2014 at 3:59 pm)The Good News Wrote: Thanks for your replies. Nothing that I didn't expect to hear. I'll give you two points: One for hiding the bulk of text in your OP under a spoiler button, and one for not being a drive-by. At least you're sticking around to engage with us, for many people that would have been there one and only post on our forum. Thanks for the courtesy. Some Christians don't sound particularly foolish to us, like Jacob. Maybe it's your approach? It's easy to write something foolish down and predict that people will find it foolish and only the chosen few will be able to see that it's actually wise. (February 20, 2014 at 4:25 pm)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote:(February 20, 2014 at 3:45 pm)fr0d0 Wrote: Poe Now that really would be good news.
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
RE: The simple truth
February 20, 2014 at 4:48 pm
(This post was last modified: February 20, 2014 at 5:12 pm by Jackalope.)
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