Religion

Iggo

(47,591 posts)

77. You think it's rare for an atheist to do the right thing because it's the right thing to do?

Reply to Donald Ian Rankin (Reply #8)

Tue May 21, 2013, 11:35 AM

May 2013

Last edited Tue May 21, 2013, 01:08 PM - Edit history (1)

Really?

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The two big things I think religion provides that secularism does not. [View all] Donald Ian Rankin May 2013 OP

It is interesting you only consider the "positive" things that you believe religion brings, trotsky May 2013 #1

I believe religion brings many negative things, which are more than adequately discussed elsewhere. Donald Ian Rankin May 2013 #3

What leads you to the conclusion that the DU membership is cbayer May 2013 #7

Discussion in this subforum. N.T. Donald Ian Rankin May 2013 #10

JMHO, but I think most of the religious people who post on DU avoid this group like the plague. cbayer May 2013 #14

admittedly i haven't been around *that* long, but you're flat wrong. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #43

It has been my observation that there is a group of atheists... trotsky May 2013 #50

As I said, I think an honest discussion must include all the data. trotsky May 2013 #44

I believe the relevant saying here is "first cast out the beam out of thine own eye". N.T. Donald Ian Rankin May 2013 #70

You first. n/t trotsky May 2013 #74

How utterly insulting Warpy May 2013 #2

Did you get to the part where the OP identifies him/herself as an atheist? cbayer May 2013 #4

How utterly insulting to condemn my post without bothering to read it. Donald Ian Rankin May 2013 #6

Who is more ethical? Bay Boy May 2013 #5

I suspect both motivations are actually rare. Donald Ian Rankin May 2013 #8

Maybe Promethean May 2013 #21

"but if you ask the religious person why they chose to do the right thing"... goldent May 2013 #63

You think it's rare for an atheist to do the right thing because it's the right thing to do? Iggo May 2013 #77

Plato: the immoral person with a moral reputation or Warren Stupidity May 2013 #25

In regards to acting ethically (Point 1), you state: Moonwalk May 2013 #9

If I had said that, rather than saying exactly the reverse, I would have been wrong. Donald Ian Rankin May 2013 #11

sure we do. it's called 'empathy'. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #45

religions demand adherence to moral codes. Warren Stupidity May 2013 #12

i don't know that "demand" is the right word. most modern religions HAVE moral codes unblock May 2013 #16

You are condemned for eternity for failure to obey. Warren Stupidity May 2013 #18

many modern religions don't have language that strong, certainly not in practice. unblock May 2013 #26

are we discussing eating pork or killing your neighbor? Warren Stupidity May 2013 #38

you're making a distinction? unblock May 2013 #67

Yes. Warren Stupidity May 2013 #72

I don't know of many religions that preach that. Donald Ian Rankin May 2013 #30

It is obviously not "moral behavior" that gets one damned for eternity. Warren Stupidity May 2013 #39

+ 2.73 Gazillion!!! Phillip McCleod May 2013 #47

No, "demand" is the right word. Iggo May 2013 #79

As to your first point, I think both religious and non-religious people might cbayer May 2013 #13

Atheists rarely do not hear this one. longship May 2013 #15

Do you think that was what I said? If so, reread. N.T. Donald Ian Rankin May 2013 #17

Let me clarify, please. longship May 2013 #23

If you need religion to to help you be ethical atreides1 May 2013 #19

^^^^^+1,000,000^^^^^^^ Walk away May 2013 #35

In regards to acting ethically (point 2) you state: Moonwalk May 2013 #20

Oh, and your assumption is that without religion people would eat their babies. Warren Stupidity May 2013 #22

Is that satire or not? N.T. Donald Ian Rankin May 2013 #29

No it is your assumption. Warren Stupidity May 2013 #65

Perhaps you would let *me* tell *you* what my assumptions are? Donald Ian Rankin May 2013 #69

No, when you post stuff I get to decipher it. Warren Stupidity May 2013 #71

i disagree that religion "provides" a moral code. it claims a moral code as its own. unblock May 2013 #24

3'000 years of non-religious ethics disprove your first premise... Democracyinkind May 2013 #27

Which premise would that be? Donald Ian Rankin May 2013 #28

The premise that philosophy can't provide the why Democracyinkind May 2013 #31

Yup, that would be the "didn't bother to read" case, then. Donald Ian Rankin May 2013 #32

not really. Democracyinkind May 2013 #33

The answer to 'why behave ethically' might turn out to be 'because it benefits you directly'. Bluenorthwest May 2013 #34

Exactly. And a club for snooker lovers is a very sensible thing. Donald Ian Rankin May 2013 #37

You just defeated your own point Lordquinton May 2013 #41

If an atheist desires living in an ethical world, then that atheist has a really good, secular ZombieHorde May 2013 #36

There may be an additional "big thing" that religion provides. Jim__ May 2013 #40

pretty hard to see how that's a 'good' thing. \n Phillip McCleod May 2013 #48

Really? It's hard to see how group survival is a good thing? Jim__ May 2013 #54

yes, it is *hard* for me to see how group survival in and of itself.. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #57

Yup, that's a big thing alright. trotsky May 2013 #51

I would die to save my children. Goblinmonger May 2013 #78

wrong on both counts, imho. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #42

Rituals tend to be illogical. Dawson Leery May 2013 #52

I wonder if you have overlooked the allure of ritual. LiberalAndProud May 2013 #46

not everyone is allured by ritual. some of us are put off by it. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #49

I guess it depends on how we define ritual. LiberalAndProud May 2013 #53

ok but the point of the OP was that community offers something.. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #56

I'm intrigued by questions of what sociological and psychological roles religion plays LiberalAndProud May 2013 #58

softening my tone because you hit a soft spot.. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #61

To avoid any misunderstanding and as a point of reference, LiberalAndProud May 2013 #64

Same tired canard for the first point ... Trajan May 2013 #55

Community is in everyones self interest. Notafraidtoo May 2013 #59

A truely ethical person wouldn't need to be persuaded to do the right thing notadmblnd May 2013 #60

No. Without imbecilic just so stories we eat our babies. Warren Stupidity May 2013 #66

I like this quote by Marcus Aurelius Rob H. May 2013 #80

good words to live by notadmblnd May 2013 #81

Oh Please dem in texas May 2013 #62

As to your first point, that's an argument that demonstrates the ethical superiority... Humanist_Activist May 2013 #68

Very well put. n/t trotsky May 2013 #75

Let me get what you are saying right... LostOne4Ever May 2013 #73

Acting ethically..... Purplehazed May 2013 #76

it might be less offensive if you YankeyMCC May 2013 #82