Why is it that every time a mass shooting happens like the one in Connecticut religion pops up with a new vigor? All of a sudden everyone is ready to assert that there is such a thing as objective morality by judging what the shooter did as 'wrong'. It was simply an event, an occurrence. To be judgemental and declare that it was 'wrong' is to dig up the tired baggage of religion.
Morality exists to be sure, but it is purely subjective and based upon human acknowledgement. To act as though there are moral absolutes is to affirm a belief in a god such as the one portrayed in the Bible. At some point as an atheist you have to find the courage to accept that humans have no more value than dogs or soda cans. All we have in each instance is a composite of basic matter. To ascribe intrinsic value to actions or objects (such as humans) is a pastime of the religions of the world and has no place amongst intelligent scientific-minded individuals.
Morality is a social convention that has evolved in humans to help social groups function more productively. Killing people may not be productive (assuming the goal of a species is mass production of itself) but to call it 'wrong' has no basis. In fact killing IS considered moral in certain contexts such as war. Humans are adaptable. Humans considered homosexuality 'wrong' at one time because it did not promote the reproduction of the species. However, we know better now. We have established the custom that one is to stop at a red light and go on a green light. Likewise our view of killing as 'wrong' is a long standing social convention, but nothing more.
Morality exists to be sure, but it is purely subjective and based upon human acknowledgement. To act as though there are moral absolutes is to affirm a belief in a god such as the one portrayed in the Bible. At some point as an atheist you have to find the courage to accept that humans have no more value than dogs or soda cans. All we have in each instance is a composite of basic matter. To ascribe intrinsic value to actions or objects (such as humans) is a pastime of the religions of the world and has no place amongst intelligent scientific-minded individuals.
Morality is a social convention that has evolved in humans to help social groups function more productively. Killing people may not be productive (assuming the goal of a species is mass production of itself) but to call it 'wrong' has no basis. In fact killing IS considered moral in certain contexts such as war. Humans are adaptable. Humans considered homosexuality 'wrong' at one time because it did not promote the reproduction of the species. However, we know better now. We have established the custom that one is to stop at a red light and go on a green light. Likewise our view of killing as 'wrong' is a long standing social convention, but nothing more.
