(January 25, 2017 at 12:32 pm)Jesster Wrote:(January 25, 2017 at 12:15 pm)phoenix31 Wrote: I see that working together toward a common good with logic and decency for the rules of society could work well for society but I don't know that it would give a reason for personal integrity. I don't know that a majority of people would restrain themselves from behavior which we would consider immoral if they did not think they would get caught. On a small scale, if one can lie and cheat others and get away with it, and it benefits them personally, why not?
If that person can ignore the consequences of a secular society, what makes you think they won't also ignore the consequences of a religion? They seem to be able to get away with it just as well if there is no god. If there is a god, does the religious level of the society suddenly change the difficulty of getting away with it in this life? We've seen just how well people can justify crime while they are religious, as well. It happens all the damn time.
It pretty much comes down to this:
A: No god, secular society; uncaught criminals get away with it
B: No god, religious society; uncaught criminals get away with it
C: God, secular society; uncaught criminals get away with it, but not in next life
D: God, religious society; uncaught criminals get away with it, but not in next life
So how about we focus on ways of fucking catching them now? Religion does not deter people who want to break the law or punish the uncaught until the next life, if there even is one at all.
According to the biblical fairy tale God send out his evil angels to smack people upside the head. So if one of those people commits what we consider to be an evil act the person could really be doing God's will and God will reward him with good things in the after life. Jesus did say that we shouldn't resist the evil person. Matthew 5:39