What IS good, and how do we determine it?

[Thumpalumpacus]

No, you didn't.  You passed off a slipshod insinuation that, aside from being inaccurate, is unfair.

You may have missed it. Copied and pasted, here is what I said at the end of the post:

"Of course, you don't need to believe in afterlife for that, but it can help keep things into perspective in the sense that there is much more than just materialistic things of this life. It is what helps me personally."

What makes you think I don't have other, metamaterialistic considerations in mind? What stereotypes are you applying that you're not acknowledging?

Also keep in mind the context I say all of this in. I was told that the belief in after life is harmful.

And it is. Belief in an afterlife saps the will to address issues in the here and now. We see such impulses not only in your own faith, but in many religions around the world. The idea that your god will make up for everything in an afterlife excuses evil. The idea that reward comes in the afterlife means that people don't understand how to appreciate those who treat them right in the here and now.

I'm a big believer in the idea of clean accounts. When I do something wrong, I should apologize and ask forgiveness as soon as I recognize things. And when I see the opportunity to do right, I believe it is imperative to act on that opportunity forthwith. This idea that both punishment and reward is delayed for an afterlife not only lacks evidence, but is also derogatory to the good life now.

If it took men to overthrow the Third Reich, whose supporters were Christians, what use is any conception of afterlife at all? The Christian conception of afterlife surely didn't dissuade many Germans from supporting the most evil regime in the 20th Century.

I say all this to show how it is not always harmful, and can actually be helpful. I'm not saying all this to try to prove you can only be good if you believe lol.

Oh, I know you didn't do it for me.

The thanks was just to show that I acknowledge and appreciate your kind gesture.

Once again, please be careful not to misunderstand me. I never said God or an afterlife is needed for doing good. I'm actually surprised that after such long discussions, you would still think I believe that. But that is probably me fault.

It's not that I think that you believe that -- but rather, that the words you're spouting put across a belief that you not only have abjured here, but that needs to be answered for the lurkers who aren't posting.

I think I missed that post. My apologies. What did I disagree with myself on?
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All throughout this thread. I don't have time to read back and link each instance.