Ask An Atheist Anything., Actually, don't. Keep it relevant. Aliteration is cool. Options

[NoSex]

Alright, this is sort of in response to Podo's (monster's) "feeble attempt" thread.
I'm an atheist. I don't believe in the existence of any god whatsoever. Any questions?

[Peanups]

^
Well I thought that you'd understand my first statement, obviously; no.

JC- Yes, it kind of pertains to what I was saying. I wasn't stating that God makes right and wrong, I was just asking where you get your morals from. Nevermind, I get what you are saying. But isn't that then making "guidelines" of what is right and wrong? I thought nothing was absolute, isn't that what evolution states since we have nothing to put these laws into place?


Choices are relative right?

My earlier question was and I'll try to state it the best possible;

Since we don't have morals that we ABSOLUTELY have to obide by (right? We are able to pick and choose), then would you consider lying, stealing, cheating, etc. to be alright? Remember; who decides what is right or wrong? If I think the government is wrong, I could basically do whatever I want, right? (This does not mean I am not aware that I will suffer consequences, but if I think if it is in the name of what I think is right, wouldn't it be okay for me to steal money, etc?)

[NoSex]

Since we don't have morals that we ABSOLUTELY have to obide by... I could basically do whatever I want, right?

Anyone can "basically do whatever" one "wants." This is despite the fact that one is religious or not - several of us have already demonstrated this fact by presenting to you the disproportional level of religiosity and irreligiosity within our prison system. Essentially, we all do whatever we want. I would argue that most men and women are not compelled by their religious sentiments anymore than they are compelled by duty in any other field. We do, generally, what we believe, either subconsciously or consciously, will be most pragmatic for ourselves - we attempt to accomplish our goals. With happiness as a rather popular goal it becomes quite easy to see where our moral sentiments, feelings, and convictions most fundamentally arise from. We do what is "right" in order to secure ourselves, protect ourselves, and accomplish our goals. Further, we could argue that things such as the "moral conscience" arises from the evolutionary process. We already know that assimilation is quite a universal human and animalistic characteristic, but beyond that - guilt and the conscience would be useful in maintaining civility. With these traits men would be less likely to quarrel and more likely to work together in order to increase longevity and progress their species.

You see, morality is something which has been analyzed and studied on numerous academic fronts - it isn't something that is entirely alien to our psychological and sociological understandings. People act in their supposed benefit - generally. And, in a sociality context, doing what is generally considered "right" is often in one's supposed benefit. It isn't unusual that people take this course of action and I posit that with or without religion this sort of morality would still persist.

Sure, there may not be any absolute values, but that is beyond that fact that actions still hold consequences, people still have evolutionary echoes, and society is a functioning, lively, body. We act accordingly, and we formulate ideas in regards to our goals and society in which we live. That's where you get your morals, and that's where I get mine too. But, I don't even really believe in morality (at least no as an objective entity), so, whatever.

But, just to make fun of your infantile and totalitarian view of ethics:
"If I were to speak your kind of language, I would say that man's only moral commandment is: Thou shalt think. But a "moral commandment" is a contradiction in terms. The moral is the chosen, not the forced; the understood, not the obeyed. The moral is the rational, and reason accepts no commandments."
-- Ayn Rand: John Galt's radio address in Atlas Shrugged

How precious is your morality if you follow it merely because it is commanded of you? I build my own morality - I consider all angles. I am the creator of my ethical system. You don't make moral choices, hell, some might say you don't make choices at all. You have simply accepted a law for which you have no understanding, and for what? Don't start reading books, lest you find the true roots of your so-called "morality."