- Joined
- 14 Mar 15
- Moves
- 28791
04 Aug 16
Originally posted by FetchmyjunkIt appears you view atheists as lacking a moral conscience or being accountable to themselves.
Atheism - If there is no God you can break whatever moral law you wish and get away with it as long as you are not caught.
Theism - If there is a God you will ultimately not get away with anything, as you are ultimately accountable to God for your actions.
Any thoughts?
Originally posted by FetchmyjunkCorrect. However, most of us do not behave morally purely out of fear of consequences.
Atheism - If there is no God you can break whatever moral law you wish and get away with it as long as you are not caught.
Do you?
Theism - If there is a God you will ultimately not get away with anything, as you are ultimately accountable to God for your actions.
Not true for Christianity. Most Christians do not believe they will be held accountable as they believe they will forgiven for all their sins.
Is that why atheism is so appealing?
I personally don't find atheism appealing. Do you know anyone who does?
I am atheist because I don't believe there is a god, not because atheism appeals to me.
In fact the whole concept of choosing a belief based on its appeal seems monumentally stupid to me. Reality doesn't change just because you want it to. If appeal were a good reason for belief I would probably start with fairies.
Do you believe in fairies?
Originally posted by twhiteheadSo why should we behave morally if we can benefit from it and ultimately get away with it?
Correct. However, most of us do not behave morally purely out of fear of consequences.
Do you?
[b]Theism - If there is a God you will ultimately not get away with anything, as you are ultimately accountable to God for your actions.
Not true for Christianity. Most Christians do not believe they will be held accountable as they believe they will f ...[text shortened]... l were a good reason for belief I would probably start with fairies.
Do you believe in fairies?[/b]
Originally posted by FetchmyjunkYou are surely not foolish enough to actually believe this 'argument', so why do you present it? Could it be that you only post this nonsense in order to attempt to belittle those who don't share your beliefs? Does that strike you as moral behaviour?
So why should we behave morally if we can benefit from it and ultimately get away with it?
Originally posted by avalanchethecatWhat argument? I simply asked a question. Was it too close to the bone? By the way you don't have to answer the question if it makes you feel uncomfortable.
You are surely not foolish enough to actually believe this 'argument', so why do you present it? Could it be that you only post this nonsense in order to attempt to belittle those who don't share your beliefs? Does that strike you as moral behaviour?
Originally posted by twhiteheadNot true for Christianity. Most Christians do not believe they will be held accountable as they believe they will forgiven for all their sins.
Correct. However, most of us do not behave morally purely out of fear of consequences.
Do you?
[b]Theism - If there is a God you will ultimately not get away with anything, as you are ultimately accountable to God for your actions.
Not true for Christianity. Most Christians do not believe they will be held accountable as they believe they will f ...[text shortened]... l were a good reason for belief I would probably start with fairies.
Do you believe in fairies?[/b]
They have to confess it, repent and make restitution. So if they have stolen something they need to return it.
Originally posted by FetchmyjunkIt does make me slightly uncomfortable realising that you and presumably others like you are only constrained to act in a moral way by the threat of punishment after death.
What argument? I simply asked a question. Was it too close to the bone? By the way you don't have to answer the question if it makes you feel uncomfortable.
Originally posted by avalanchethecatSo what is going to stop you from taking a million dollars if you know for sure that you can get away with it?
It does make me slightly uncomfortable realising that you and presumably others like you are only constrained to act in a moral way by the threat of punishment after death.
As an atheist, do you believe it is always wrong to steal or are there cases where it is acceptable?
I am not judging you I am trying to understand your beliefs.
Originally posted by FetchmyjunkThe tenor of your statements suggests you ARE judging and hope to show being atheistic is bad.
So what is going to stop you from taking a million dollars if you know for sure that you can get away with it?
As an atheist, do you believe it is always wrong to steal or are there cases where it is acceptable?
I am not judging you I am trying to understand your beliefs.
- Joined
- 29 Dec 08
- Moves
- 6788
Originally posted by FetchmyjunkThe question is about stealing. Definition of steal from google search: "take (another person's property) without permission or legal right and without intending to return it."
So what is going to stop you from taking a million dollars if you know for sure that you can get away with it?
As an atheist, do you believe it is always wrong to steal or are there cases where it is acceptable?
I am not judging you I am trying to understand your beliefs.
If what stops you from stealing is the threat of punishment by God, you are operating at the same moral level as the person whose morality depends on whether he/she will be punished by their fellow man. It may be necessary to use fear control some people's behavior, but many of us are developed to operate at a higher level such as a sense of duty or the social contract theory.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Kohlberg%27s_stages_of_moral_development
Originally posted by JS357So basically there is nothing intrinsically wrong with murder, rape, or torture, for example, but since rational self-interested persons like yourself do not want these things being done to themselves, they agree to extend the same courtesy to others? So you would not take the million dollars only because you don't want someone to take it from you? Or is it intrinsically wrong to steal?
The question is about stealing. Definition of steal from google search: "take (another person's property) without permission or legal right and without intending to return it."
If what stops you from stealing is the threat of punishment by God, you are operating at the same moral level as the person whose morality depends on whether he/she will be punished ...[text shortened]... tract theory.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Kohlberg%27s_stages_of_moral_development