Violent Messiah

How can atheists have any basis for morality?

Lack of belief in the Ten Commandments will warrant a person freedom to do as he pleases.

I've heard some atheists argue that their standard of morality is the golden rule. ----"I don't do to others what I don't want them to do to me."

Well, this becomes then a relative issue and subjectivism and solipsism come into play.

Well.....

Mad Kally

I'm going to make some popcorn...

JCS

I don't even know the 10 requests, yet I don't even have a speeding ticket to my name. I do feel I have the freedom to do as I please. So what is the problem? Are you insinuating that what would please me would be to live recklessly and without consideration of my actions or consequences of those actions?

Violent Messiah

Good for you.

No. I'm not implying that; though, atheists may get that idea whenever asked by this question.

Curious.....you stated as if i'm labelling your lifestyle as a reckless one and without any considerations for others......well, how do you define a reckless way of life? Will I be right if I assume that your subconscious mind or even your consciousness itself base it from the principles of the Ten Commandments? Or are there any other standards?

Without consideration of your actions or its consequences? Again,an issue of subjectivity if not adhering to the T.C.

I.E. I'm applying Machiavellian ethics at work to get an easy promotion. WHy? Coz' I'm thinking of the welfare of my family? I'm considering my family......

Colander of Truth

Is the popcorn done yet?




Violent Messiah quote:
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Lack of belief in the Ten Commandments will warrant a person freedom to do as he pleases.
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First, what is it that you want to do that is SOO BAD. Then, why don't you do it? Because you've been threatened with an eternal fire in the afterlife, regardless of the thermodynamics problem? Where's the moral basis for adherence? Fear? I don't think so. You wouldn't argue a rape victim complyling with an armed threat is doing something moral, would you?

Now, the other part, and it is beyond your comprehension, if you are like all others who ignore it or fail to respond to it. You have made a moral decision to adhere to your tenets. This logically is antecedent to the benefits of the tenets. In essence, all theists choose to be from an atheist moral framework, like you.

If you want to argue some silly "miracle of faith," I'll go get my popcorn ....

Eudaimonist

Really? So are you saying that Buddhists, who have the eight-fold path, feel like they can do whatever they please?

K

Violent Messiah:

Are the Ten Commandments the only things preventing you from going on a murderous rape-and-pillage spree? What exactly would you be doing if it turned out the Ten Commandments were false? It's pretty scary to think that an ancient text might be the only thing keeping you a functioning member of society instead of an antisocial, lawless monster.

Do you HONESTLY think it works like that? Do you really believe that people who don't believe in the Ten Commandments don't have the same desires to create a mutually beneficial, functioning society? Can you really find it so shocking that I want to get along with my family and neighbors as much as the next guy? How can this question keep coming up?

Vorkosigan

Hmmm....do you think a man with the name of "Violent Messiah" would really be some kind of fundie nut?

JCS

No, that is why I asked you if that was what you were implying. Maybe, but since I don't know what the 10 requests are I can't be sure. In fact I can't be sure that the 10 requests are not based on principles gleaned from another source either so does it really matter?

More of an issue of what works.

Answerer

Confucianism is a good basis to start with and apparently, it works well for some people.