RE: Internal vs External perspective
May 24, 2018 at 9:34 am
(This post was last modified: May 24, 2018 at 9:35 am by Little Rik.)
(May 24, 2018 at 8:38 am)Mathilda Wrote: I'm starting to see a pattern here between theists and atheists.
Theists are more likely to believe in an objective morality that exists external to themselves. Atheists are more likely to believe that morality derives from a set of evolved instincts and therefore comes from within.
On the thread 'Open discussion of the Christian Why We're Here thread' the theists were arguing that there is a meaning to life that exists beyond our own lives whereas the atheists were arguing that we each need to apply our own meaning to our own lives and not have it applied to us externally.
I also noticed that many of the atheists often had relatively low scores on the test in the 'Empathy Quotient' thread. Only one theist took the test so we can't make a comparison. Note that I am NOT saying that atheists lack empathy and theists have it in abundance, there are certainly some theists on this site that demonstrate otherwise. But I have noticed in the past that some people are more inward focused and wrapped up in their own thoughts, feelings and introspection whereas others are more focused on their external senses such as how they appear to others.
I am wondering if being more externally focused actually makes you more susceptible to a religious upbringing imposed on you externally because you will be more greatly aware of the effects of not conforming socially. Whereas those of a more introspective nature will be more keen to think things through themselves regardless of the social cost.
A difference in perspective, between inward and external, could be a common pattern differentiating keen theists and staunch atheists.
Please let me correct your point when you say...............Theists are more likely to believe in an objective morality that exists external to themselves........
I rather would say............Religious theists are more likely to believe in an objective morality that exists external to themselves..........
Atheists unfortunately got a problem in not understanding the difference that there is between spirituality and religion.
In that way they mix different things in the same pot that of course shouldn't be mixed especially in this case as morality in spirituality exist internally not externally.
(Color mine)
