Achtung Religiöser Fanatiker

**deputyfestus** · 11-17-12, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by deathgodusmc

We can apply that same logic to any animal. Does that mean all animals have morals?

"Man is a two legged animal without feathers" Plato

**deathgodusmc** · 11-17-12, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by deputyfestus

"Man is a two legged animal without feathers" Plato

Ironically the same item that puts us above the average animal is the same thing that makes us worse then them.

**Morningfrost** · 11-18-12, 01:07 AM

This is a question without an easy answer for me. To begin with, I would like to state that there is a difference between morality and ethics. Morality is essentially knowing the difference between right and wrong based upon personal belief. Ethics deals more with taking action one way or the other, usually based upon a set of agreed upon behaviors. I remember a quote I heard years ago, I don't even remember where I heard it from, but it's stuck with me. It's about the difference between morals and ethics. "The moral man knows it is wrong to cheat. The ethical man chooses not to cheat." To my interpretation, a moral person may know the difference between right and wrong, but is not bound to act according to that knowledge.

As for where morals come from, I believe they come from multiple sources, but that ultimately they come down to unconscious, personal decision. Parents try to instill us with certain morals, faith in a higher power attempts to instill us with yet more, but ultimately it is up to us to decide for ourselves what we believe is right or wrong. In a way that seems to be an argument that we are hardwired at birth with certain points of morality, because there are people who see morality completely differently than their entire environment would have them see it. For example, a hypothetical person who grows up in a crime infested neighborhood yet still believes that stealing from others is wrong. All the factors of their environment (crimes and general attitudes towards crimes in the area) would have them believe stealing is just something that happens, that there is nothing wrong with it, and yet there are people that come from those environments believing the exact opposite.

I don't believe morals spring from a supreme being any more than they spring from the government, parents, or childhood friends. I believe all those things are a factor in that they all hold influence over what a person's personal morals turn out to be, but that this learning is not limited to just one group or one factor.

As for the "golden rule" of "do unto others" being a religious or Christian concept, it is actually a concept that has existed since long before Christianity. It has several different interpretations such as "an eye for an eye", "karma", and various other beliefs that essentially what you do has an effect on what is done to you. While the Christian version of this is probably the best-known incarnation, that particular "rule" was here before Christianity.

I'm not sure how much of this was understandable. It's late and my brain is frazzled from copious amounts of homework, and I tend to ramble when I'm tired, so my apologies if something didn't make sense.

~Morningfrost

**jakt** · 11-18-12, 12:59 PM

well said

**Ranger10** · 11-18-12, 01:31 PM

Good discussion.

**deputyfestus** · 11-18-12, 06:40 PM

On the subject of morality,Steve Rothaus' Gay South Florida any thoughts?

As a side note we now know deathgod's preferred media source.

**DJ Ms. White** · 11-18-12, 07:04 PM

Wiener

**bobbarkerissatan** · 11-18-12, 07:27 PM

We're turned on, and for the most part, want to stay turned on for as long as possible. It's a hell of a lot smarter to work together and follow a system of joint social rules that might lead to beneficial coexistence. Then we can spend less time worrying about neighbors clubbing us and more time time procreating.

**-Lazarus-** · 11-18-12, 08:41 PM

There are some excellent discussions on Morality and where it comes from in this video debate between William Lane Craig and Hitchens. I highly recommend this. What Lane Craig argues mirrors what I would as well.

http://youtu.be/4KBx4vvlbZ8

**Ranger10** · 11-19-12, 03:12 AM

Originally Posted by -Lazarus-

There are some excellent discussions on Morality and where it comes from in this video debate between William Lane Craig and Hitchens. I highly recommend this. What Lane Craig argues mirrors what I would as well.

Debate - William Lane Craig vs Christopher Hitchens - Does God Exist? - YouTube

Very impressive. I watched the whole thing.