Moral Nihilism

[Kyuuketsuki]

The question is, assuming atheism is true, why do atheists such as Russell feel any need to complain about the alleged immorality of theists? If we are just colonies of bacteria in a purposeless universe, it matters not if Christ believed in Hell, or if Christians are wicked and cruel. Indeed “moral progress” is just as meaningless as anything else. I don’t see how an atheist can say with a straight face, as he ought, that Hitler’s gas chambers at Auschwitz or Stalin’s mines at Kolyma, have the same moral import as say Mother Theresa’s charitable work. Atheism logically entails moral nihilism, yet I have encountered few atheists willing to assert it.

Why would atheism, "be true"? It isn't a philosophy, it makes no statement about anyone except that they don't believe in past/current claims to the existence of gods. As for Mother Teresa and Hitler, the former was simply buying her way to heaven (she really wasn't the icon of good many try to portray her as) and the latter was far more influenced by religion (including the Christianity of his birth) than many like to admit (including many atheists .. my view is that he was primarily Christian but it's been argued ad nauseum here with no clear victor).

Atheism implies nothing of the sort because to make that claim you MUST prove first that morality (or some aspects of) is absolute and if so demonstrate the moral arbiter that supplies it. Have fun on that.

Kyu