God, Morals, and Atheists (page 6)

BurnTheShips

Its true, when I watch the monkeys at the zoo, my mirror neurons drive me to scratch and fling poo.

BTS

SacrificialLoon

The key is exploring common ground and an allowance for the autonomy of the individual. (an experiment that seems to have failed thus far in human history. Maybe we are finally at the point where it could work??)

Until we can eliminate narcissisistic(?) tendencies we will still need laws, whether they come from government, religion, or both the result is the same, fear of punishment, and promise of reward, (whether it's real or not it doesn't matter it only matters that the ruled believe it) helps to keep all but the most pathological in line, and therefore allows a society to flourish.

UnDisfellowshipped

SacrificialLoon,

I do believe it is more likely that someone who believes that there is no ultimate right and wrong would come to the conclusion that there is nothing wrong with hurting other people, than someone who believes there is an Objective Moral Law given by a Moral Law-Giver.

For example, what could possibly happen if we teach all of our children that there is no such thing as a real right and wrong? Or, if we tell them, you have to be good "JUST BECAUSE" ?

But, that does not prove my argument one way or the other. My argument is found in my first post in this thread.