If the world was atheist

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Chinaski
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Re: If the world was atheist

Post by Chinaski » Tue Aug 11, 2009 11:11 am

Pappa wrote:
FrigidSymphony wrote:Moral authority would have to come from a validated source, rather than an arbitrary one.
How could there ever be a validated source of morality?
I was under the impression that the study of memetics has produced results showing how morality stems from socio-biological evolution, which would mean that objective laws about human behaviour on an ethical plane could be developed. Even barring that, however, it would be better to have as a moral guide the Oxford ethics class than a religion.
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Pappa
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Re: If the world was atheist

Post by Pappa » Tue Aug 11, 2009 11:33 am

FrigidSymphony wrote:
Pappa wrote:
FrigidSymphony wrote:Moral authority would have to come from a validated source, rather than an arbitrary one.
How could there ever be a validated source of morality?
I was under the impression that the study of memetics has produced results showing how morality stems from socio-biological evolution, which would mean that objective laws about human behaviour on an ethical plane could be developed. Even barring that, however, it would be better to have as a moral guide the Oxford ethics class than a religion.
Well, I understand that they are part of us because evolution put them there (and possibly in some other animals too), but still, that's a happenstance of evolutionary history. It doesn't necessarily mean they have any objective validity. No that I see anything wrong in that, one of the greatest things about being human is that we can recongise the insignificance of our existence and our creations, and yet have the most wonderful and meaningful lives anyway.
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Re: If the world was atheist

Post by Trolldor » Wed Aug 12, 2009 5:08 am

If the world were atheist nothing would change at all. Rather than gods people would deify humans.

What should be asked is what would happen to the world if we were given a glimpse of the true cosmos?
"The fact is that far more crime and child abuse has been committed by zealots in the name of God, Jesus and Mohammed than has ever been committed in the name of Satan. Many people don't like that statement but few can argue with it."

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Re: If the world was atheist

Post by Rum » Wed Aug 12, 2009 6:06 am

born-again-atheist wrote:If the world were atheist nothing would change at all. Rather than gods people would deify humans.

What should be asked is what would happen to the world if we were given a glimpse of the true cosmos?
Well it wasn't asked. Go start your own thread! :Erasb:

On a serious note, why on earth would an atheist world 'deify' humans? Morality based on humanist values would hopefully reduce the need for leadership cults.

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Re: If the world was atheist

Post by Trolldor » Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:15 am

Atheism does not mean humanism nor will it ever.
"The fact is that far more crime and child abuse has been committed by zealots in the name of God, Jesus and Mohammed than has ever been committed in the name of Satan. Many people don't like that statement but few can argue with it."

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