Atheist morality

DHA writes:Morality is not a belief, but what we do each day.

Ben writes: But when I'm honest and open, I tend to get taken advantage of.

Ben writes:I truly believe this is the difference between "explicit" knowledge and "implicit" knowledge. Morality is not a set of rules. Socrates was wrong to judge that those who could not state what morality and judgement is didn't "know" what it is. I agree with you. True morality is not based on rules. It is an implicit system. It is not a belief, but what we do.

Dan writes:Morality doesn't come from our actions in life; it's an arbitrary set of rules handed down from an ethereal father figure. If you're ever tempted to think that humans have the capacity to make their own decisions regarding right and wrong, please remember my little tale... before it's too late.

Dan writes:I'm rather upset by all this, to be sure. But when I stopped believing in God, what else could have happened?

PS writes:Was your link supposed to have occupational data? I saw that firearms where the #1 method of suicide, but nothing about professions with access to firearms.

PS writes:For example, I wonder about the role of celibacy as well, especially since the majority of reported clergy-who-molest are Catholic priests. That is, a simple reading of the numbers would suggest that more children are molested by celibate clergy than by non-celibate clergy.

holmes writes:I agree that cops and clergy more likely go bad on the job, rather than enter the profession with ulterior motives.

My understanding is that most molestors of boys are male heterosexuals.

DHA writes:Leaving the thread, or the diversion?

whitestone journal.com writes:According to Webster, ethics is "the science of moral duty." He further describes it as "the science of ideal human character." The word in Greek means "dwelling" or "stall," as in a safe place to live (our word "morals" comes from the Latin word for ethics). The implication is that humans depend on right choices for security. For a Christian, and indeed for many non-Christians, Jesus Christ is the only perfectly ethical person. He is the perfect man, always making right choices, and to believe him to be flawed is to abandon Christianity completely. Upon this fact and foundation, we have a second belief that we are to allow God to transform us into an image of His Son, Jesus. Jesus calls us to follow him, become his disciples and inherit eternal life. If Jesus is the ideal human being, and we are called to imitate him, then we are called to an ethical life.What is the Basis for Christian Ethics?
Christian ideas of right and wrong originate in revealed truth, i.e. they stem from what God has taught us through Jesus and the prophets and Apostles. This primarily means the Bible for some, although as Catholics we accept as equally true the teachings of the Apostles handed down through the bishops and known as Tradition. For both the Bible and Tradition, we believe we must obey because the teachings come from God, not because they are wise, will ensure a long life or prosperity. Christian ethics may be contrasted with Utilitarianism, whose adherents simply "do what works." Utilitarian ethics allowed the Holocaust, slavery, and totalitarian Communism. Because Christians do not believe humans made themselves or occurred "naturally," we do not believe we are free to do whatever suits us. Because God is the author of life, He also determines the standards of behavior for those members of His creation with free will.

A.P. writes:Chimps Attack, Tear Off Man's Nose
Two Of The Chimps Were Shot And Killed
Mar 4, 2005 4:42 pm US/Eastern
CALIENTE, Calif. (AP) A couple's visit to the chimpanzee they were forced to relinquish to an animal sanctuary turned tragic when two other chimps attacked the husband, critically wounding him before the animals were shot to death in mid-assault.Dr. Maureen Martin, of Kern Medical Center, told KGET-TV of Bakersfield that the chimpanzees chewed most of Davis' face off and that he would require extensive surgery in an attempt to reattach his nose.Chealander told The Bakersfield Californian that besides the damage to his face, Davis had his testicles and foot mauled off. Buddy, a 16-year-old male chimp, initiated the attack and after he was shot, Ollie, a 13-year-old male, grabbed the gravely injured man and dragged him down the road, according to Chealander.A woman who said she was a friend of the Brauers and was leaving the sanctuary Friday morning told an Associated Press reporter that the couple is distraught. She refused to give her name."These are good chimps," the woman said. "This is just devastating."