RE: The origin of morality
April 3, 2013 at 9:10 am
(This post was last modified: April 3, 2013 at 9:19 am by The Grand Nudger.)
Any particular secular morality, or just secular morality in general, or just secular morality as opposed to religious morality? I'm sure I could find examples of secular morality that would be at best - equal with religious morality, and at worst - inferior - in your eyes, anyway.
Not, mind you, that I would disagree,but for me, it just boils down to a preference for ownership. The only thing that secular morality and religious morality (as we so often see either) simply -could not- have in common, is the source for that morality. Case in point, they could be roughly identical to each other in the particulars - with one side claiming responsibility for themselves - the other shirking it off on a god. I prefer that people own those moral directives they would argue. I actually prefer this even of those who argue for religious morality - ie "remove god, would you put your mark on the dotted line of this morality in the absence of that god". Just a preference though.
To put it another way - if some part of a religious morality stands in the absence of a god, then the reasons it stands have nothing to do with that god. The commands of that god, the religious justification, is superfluous.
Not, mind you, that I would disagree,but for me, it just boils down to a preference for ownership. The only thing that secular morality and religious morality (as we so often see either) simply -could not- have in common, is the source for that morality. Case in point, they could be roughly identical to each other in the particulars - with one side claiming responsibility for themselves - the other shirking it off on a god. I prefer that people own those moral directives they would argue. I actually prefer this even of those who argue for religious morality - ie "remove god, would you put your mark on the dotted line of this morality in the absence of that god". Just a preference though.
To put it another way - if some part of a religious morality stands in the absence of a god, then the reasons it stands have nothing to do with that god. The commands of that god, the religious justification, is superfluous.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
