Replacing Religious Morality

[Zazzy]

I agree with P1, sort of. Whatever metric you want to be happy, go for it. Although, in the end, it doesn't matter. I've always been fascinated with Atheists trying to break down theists arguments. I get wanting to avoid the oppressiveness of theologians, but otherwise, we know it doesn't really matter. There is no scorecard. If you are lucky enough to believe in a God that is looking out for you, more power to you. I'll be here in the corner terrified of ceasing to exist.

I'll be with you in that corner- it bugs that shit out of me that one day, I won't be. What saves me is the knowledge that I won't know it when I don't exist.

P2 doesn't follow. It, again, is based on universal truths rather than the fact only individual truths exist. The idea is that all men are created equal, and should be treated as such.

I'm not saying all men are created equal. They clearly aren't. What all men- all humans- have is this one life. That's all we've got in common- one shot at existence. It doesn't make everyone equal, but it is a sobering thought, far more sobering than any theistic notion of morality or fairness, because whatever I do to someone in a theistic universe won't matter TO THEM in the long run.

The reality, I think, is that men have no value to even compare. There is no metric. We apply whatever subjective values to whatever we want. I give myself very high importance in my own personal system, and most other people rate very close to 0. But they are all make believe numbers that only exist because I think them.

True, which is why you have to choose your moral guidelines. You can be a rapist or a murderer if you can get away with it. Is that what you want? Or would you rather be a productive member of a thriving society? In the world as it actually is, YOU choose your moral code. If mine doesn't work for you, that's OK. Find something else- or don't and be amoral. It really is up to you.