I know. And that's why you couldn't answer my simple question about a month back asking atheists by which standard they determine their supposed morality.
Uhm, no. First, I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU to change context. I was referring to a spiritual ruler---one in which you feel the need to measure where everyone is---therefore you see non-belief as a spiritual condition. I am telling you that I don't believe the ruler exists nor is it a valid way to measure everyone's existense.
NOW you come to MORALILTY, and really thought I wasn't going to notice the slight of hand?
What you call a simple question only seems that way, because the world is very simple to you. Good vs Evil. Period. And you don't define EVIL yourself, you use a book. I have taken a different approach. I have taken responsiblity for my morality. I understand that this is NOT a simple question, and is relative to time, place, culture and circumstance. And I take responsibility for it! I understand that the moral thing in one circumstance is not the moral thing in another circumstance.
So let's take the same request---that I utter a prayer. It is actually against my moral code to do such, as I believe I should be as genuine as possible and not misrepresent where I stand on these things.
So who requested it? A bunch of fundies that are using social pressure to subdue me? Ain't uttering the prayer.
A 90 year old lady who is sick and dying and says it will bring her comfort? I'm there for her. My identity, for this moment, can take a back seat to her comfort for a few minutes.
See how that works? We are the product of Evolution and have these amazing brains that are able to take in the circumstances, consequences, benefits, make snap judgements, and reprioritize at the blink of a nicely evolved eye.
I don't lie as a rule. It doesn't sit welll with me.
Question: Where did you eat lunch? I will answer honestly.
Question: Is so and so there, we'd like to burn him at the stake for offending our god. Answer: Barely a thought, I lie.