Stephen Pinker's book "The Better Angels of our Nature" talks about the evolution of morality and suggests some reasons for it. For example business is a thing that works to civilize a society. Instead of surviving by raiding from other groups like wild animals do, humans learned that trade created win win situations. Therefore things that foster trade, things like law and order, learning how to set aside differences for a common goal, protocol, even road building also work to civilize a group of people. With the process of civilizing comes the development of morality. I wish I could go into this further but it's a long subject. I suggest you read the book.
Anyway, people somehow attribute morality with the teachings in some sort of holy book but, if you look at it, these holy books are interpreted things. These interpretations (doctrines) change over time (though those in the religion rarely admit it). The question is, what caused the religious people to reinterpret their holy books? I say that, as morality evolved, the doctrines had to be adjusted in order to remain relevant. If this is true than morality does not come from any holy book, it evolves over time. What caused this evolution are things in a civilization (things mentioned much better in Stephen Pinker's book).
Religions are good at enforcing a moral code. This sort of enforcement does not lend itself very well to change thus they are usually behind the times.
That's my take on the situation, feel free to pick it apart. I don't think it's bullshit but it might be.
Anyway, people somehow attribute morality with the teachings in some sort of holy book but, if you look at it, these holy books are interpreted things. These interpretations (doctrines) change over time (though those in the religion rarely admit it). The question is, what caused the religious people to reinterpret their holy books? I say that, as morality evolved, the doctrines had to be adjusted in order to remain relevant. If this is true than morality does not come from any holy book, it evolves over time. What caused this evolution are things in a civilization (things mentioned much better in Stephen Pinker's book).
Religions are good at enforcing a moral code. This sort of enforcement does not lend itself very well to change thus they are usually behind the times.
That's my take on the situation, feel free to pick it apart. I don't think it's bullshit but it might be.
I have studied the Bible and the theology behind Christianity for many years. I have been to many churches. I have walked the depth and the breadth of the religion and, as a result of this, I have a lot of bullshit to scrape off the bottom of my shoes. ~Ziploc Surprise
