Benevolent Creator God?

[Astreja]

How can using empathy and reason result in forming a sense of morality?

Simple: If you're capable of imagining yourself in the place of someone else, and imagining what they're feeling, you can identify with them and avoid doing things that hurt them. This is where things like the Golden Rule actually came from.

The reason that we (and many other animals) evolved empathy is simple: There's strength in numbers, and we prefer to associate with those who help us rather than hurt us. Over millions of years, less empathetic animals have a harder time surviving because they have to go it alone.

[Ahriman]

How can using empathy and reason result in forming a sense of morality?

Simple:  If you're capable of imagining yourself in the place of someone else, and imagining what they're feeling, you can identify with them and avoid doing things that hurt them.  This is where things like the Golden Rule actually came from.

The reason that we (and many other animals) evolved empathy is simple:  There's strength in numbers, and we prefer to associate with those who help us rather than hurt us.  Over millions of years, less empathetic animals have a harder time surviving because they have to go it alone.

I can agree with your first statement. The second, not so much.

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A "greater good" without God, is pointless, because then the "greater good" is just whatever a ruling oligarchy decides everyone should do.

What is the “greater good” of a god? Can you define it without begging the question?

Look inside yourself. Search your heart.

[Angrboda]

In the primitive monarch system, the people were expected to perceive their king (aka, overlord tyrant) as good even though the opposite was true. The god concept was mirrored after such a corrupt system.

Seeing God as good or evil is superfluous. Everything God does, is for the greater good. That's what's important.

[Ahriman]

God can be seen as anything you want. As long as you trust that everything He does is for the greater good, you are under His grace.

[LadyForCamus]

Simple:  If you're capable of imagining yourself in the place of someone else, and imagining what they're feeling, you can identify with them and avoid doing things that hurt them.  This is where things like the Golden Rule actually came from.

The reason that we (and many other animals) evolved empathy is simple:  There's strength in numbers, and we prefer to associate with those who help us rather than hurt us.  Over millions of years, less empathetic animals have a harder time surviving because they have to go it alone.

I can agree with your first statement. The second, not so much.

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What is the “greater good” of a god? Can you define it without begging the question?

Look inside yourself. Search your heart.

Trollololol.

[Ahriman]

I can agree with your first statement. The second, not so much.

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Look inside yourself. Search your heart.

Trollololol.

What that says to me, is that you don't have an "inside". Is that true?

[Silver]

Without the reciprocasy of trust from an empirical source, that which must be taken upon by fallible faith is simply a fabricated relationship between an individual and his imagination.

[Ahriman]

Without the reciprocasy of trust from an empirical source, that which must be taken upon by fallible faith is simply a fabricated relationship between an individual and his imagination.

You wouldn't consider the writings of prominent theologians, such as Thomas Aquinas, Saint Augustine, and others, who were, and still are, considered highly intelligent people, to be a reliable source of information? Even Albert Einstein believed in a pantheistic God.

[Silver]

Take their word for it based on mere faith, no thank you.

[Ahriman]

Take their word for it based on mere faith, no thank you.

You take plenty of other things on faith.