(October 16, 2013 at 8:23 pm)ronedee Wrote: ...for an Atheist that is?
I see the mods have been busy!! Well.... I've been busy myself! Converting Atheists, and godless peeps in general is hard work! Plus... I figured you'd all want to wish me a Happy Anniversary!! Especially those who said I'd be run outta Dodge within a month! Really though... no cudos necessary! I know you all love me!
Back to the subject at hand! Given the natural cynicism and nastiness of Atheists [here] in general... is there any reason to live a "Moral" life?
"Moral", in terms of [Good, Honest] deemed by traditions through time. Maybe to include a few slightly general commandments: Lies, stealing, adultery, etc.
I mean... if there is no one or nothing to [say you are wrong, but you] about; a little swing w/ your buddies wife, or that $10 the acne faced kid gave you extra w/ your change at the Walmart; or telling your wife you were out w/ your buddy instead of his wife... How do you keep it in check? Or do you?
Yeah, yeah....I know you would say that Christians are doing the same thing....And they are! But, they do have a conviction in the Lord Jesus. and they know that they will answer to their words and deeds.
What do you have to answer to? Is there a point to living any kind of "honest" life?
As an observation as a Christian... Your words are pretty mean spirited to any religious. And I've witnessed a lot of hate here. Maybe you feel you have that right? But also people are individuals, and deserve at least to be heard for their ideas, and concepts relating to just about anything.... religious or otherwise.
Anyway... what do you as an atheists feel is your moral compass. And what is the gauge set at? Honesty in general... where is the line drawn, and how?
I hope you take this thread seriously! Thanks for your answers. As a Christian I have a guide/threat (if you will) in my life. I'm just curious how a person acts w/o what many here would call an "obstacle"?
Again! Good to be back celebrating ONE YEAR w/ all my A-team buddies!
Yes there's a point to living a moral life as an atheist.
Point 1. I feel good when I help people out it's a general human trait to feel good helping others.
Point 2. It isn't just god you have to answer to when not living a moral life sometimes you have to answer to the police or someone who's stronger than you punching you in the face.
Although in some ways you might be right, it's pretty depressing but the two people who I do trust the most probably in my life who I've met are 2 religious muslims who I work with.
It's pretty depressing because the two nicest, trustworthy people I've met in my life were probably only nice because god was right behind them effectively saying "DO ANYTHING WRONG AND I'll BURN YOUR SOUL FOREVER"
But then saying that probably the most sly backstabbing racist bullying guy in work was probably also a muslim so this is no indicator of anything, most people believe god is forgiving anyway so they won't have to answer for a lot of things.
I'd also say religion is responsible for many immoral things too, homophobia, terrorism, the killing of women because of a belief in witches and so on.
And as for my own moral compass I just tend to do what I think is right and basic gut instinct
Are you ready for the fire? We are firemen. WE ARE FIREMEN! The heat doesn’t bother us. We live in the heat. We train in the heat. It tells us that we’re ready, we’re at home, we’re where we’re supposed to be. Flames don’t intimidate us. What do we do? We control the flame. We control them. We move the flames where we want to. And then we extinguish them.
Impersonation is treason.
