We should take the Moral Highground

[DeistPaladin]

Seems to me we should both take a deep breath.

I'm not upset. A bit frustrated with what I saw as strawmanning, perhaps, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and try to explain again.

My speculation, which seems probable to me, that we developed our sense of empathy, compassion and fair play from our evolution as community animals is just that. It would make no difference to my argument if it turned out that GodDidIt, an alien race programmed it in us or if we got it when the purple snorklewacker sneezed in our intergalactic direction. The "why" of why we have compassion is actually irrelevant and we need to put that aside.

For my part, I cannot see wherein lies the conflict of interest.

Religion, by its nature, can be expected to promote first and foremost a greater following and stricter adherence among its followers. The ones that do not will be eclipsed by the ones that do. Compare the success of Islam or Christianity with that of, say, Zoroastrianism.

This is not mere speculation but is borne out when you read either the Bible or Koran cover-to-cover. When these books condemn what they call "evil", they are occasionally speaking of real evil but more often are railing against blasphemy, idolatry, apostasy or turning to other gods. Similarly, "righteousness" refers to non-moral "virtues" like proper observance of rituals, prayer, faith, church attendance, obedience to religious authority and other useless activities.

Religion condemns victimless crimes while exalting activities that do no earthly good. Truly good behavior, like charity, compassion, mercy, love, goodwill to fellow humans, etc are afterthoughts at best.

I offered you could look at Exodus 20 for a prime example (the Ten Commandments).
1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not commit idolatry
3. Thou shalt not take the Lord's name in vein
4. Thou shalt remember the Sabbath
5. Honor thy mother and father
6. Do not murder
7. Do not steal
8. Do no commit adultery
9. Do no lie
10. Do not covet.

1-4 have nothing to do with moral behavior but pertain to proper religious activity.
5 is questionable. Some parents deserve respect. Some do not. Half a point.
6-9 do indeed encourage real moral behavior. One point for each.
10 forbids what keeps our economy going. No credit there.

Score: 4.5 out of 10. That's an "F" in my book. And this is the best of what the OT has to offer in terms of moral guidance. Other parts of the Bible fall even further short.

Some may say I'm being unfair to the true message of the Bible but this is precisely what we should expect. As I've said, a religion that doesn't concern itself first and foremost with piety and only secondarily with real morality is going to be eclipsed by one that does.

Religion is not only not necessary to understand either what is moral or what morality is, it's actually counterproductive. At best, it muddles the moral landscape, demonizing the harmless and sanctifying the useless. At worst, promotes the kind of fanaticism that demonizes others, glorifies cruelty and sanitizes inhumanity.