Something close to Atheism...

[Minonoki]

Ok, basically I don't believe in God. This falls under the Atheist category correct? But, I do believe that you should have morals. I just don't think that I need a church, preacher, or some supernatural being telling me what is right or wrong, as common sense does that for me. I don't need someone to tell me not to kill, steal, rape, etc. I just know. I also understand that being an atheist has nothing to do with morality, just to get that out there.

To the point, I was wondering if there was a religion or belief system that says that morals should be followed regardless of a supernatural "superior".

-Thanks

[Compugasm]

Yes. I thought you said you had common sense.

[Minonoki]

Haha clever. I didn't think of it that way I suppose, although I was actually wondering if someone had established a RELIGION based on my ideas. Although I would probably be better off just having common sense ^.~

If there isn't one, I think i'll just start the "Common Sense" religion.

[Scribbler1]

You don't need religion to be moral, honest, fair or just plain decent. However, the religious zealots will disagree.

[Jack]

You're describing a human being, no need for religion. Religion is simply an organized belief system based on the supernatural. Live your life honestly and fairly in regards to your fellow humans and no one will have a reason to fault you, except those who demand that you view life through their favorite filter.

[Scribbler1]

Nevertheless, many of our moral codes and ethical guidelines ARE based in religion. Of course, these are often more clearly recognized by nonbelievers.

I don't think Neanderthals (and not the ones in the Geico commercials) had the same sense of right and wrong as we do. It was more like "I'd better not take that or Ogg will smack me upside the head with a big-ass bone."

[Jack]

Nevertheless, many of our moral codes and ethical guidelines ARE based in religion.

Or did religion simply lay claim to ethics and morals already in practice by contemporary societies, pretending that they originated with them?

[Scribbler1]

That's entirely possible, of course. I don't know if there is an answer to that. But considering how ancient most religions are and the tribal societies that existed back then (apart from the Romans, Greeks etc.) I would think if the majority of people were all that "good" and "moral" there wouldn't be much of a NEED to incorporate it into a religion.

[Jack]

Christians always try to paint Einstein as a fellow Christian and Hitler as an atheist. They want to believe all good people are religious and all bad people are atheists or members of other faiths. They fail to understand how a person without a belief system forcing them to be moral could be a good person.

[Compugasm]

Quote by: Minonoki I think i'll just start the "Common Sense" religion.

:rolleyes:

If you must persist with this nonsense, make sure you're leader has the pointiest hat.

[Zhavric]

It's a common misconception that morality exists only from religion. As highly intelligent social mammals, our morals come from our social biological instincts and our societal interpretations of those instincts.

Like whales, lions, canines, apes, and elephants, human beings will protect & care for their young / cooperate with allies / compete with rivals. All of our morality can be traced to these root social instincts.

Where the confusion comes from is the sophistication of our societies. Consider the American father and the father from Saudi Arabia. Both have young daughters. Both want to protect their daughters and see them grow & be happy and protect them from sexually active boys. The American father teaches his daughter about safe sex, tells her not to have sex, discusses his expectations with her, etc. The Saudi father has his daughter's clitoris surgically removed shortly after birth.

Both men are acting in a moral fashion in their respective societies. Both men look at the practice of the other as immoral.

Never forget that most religions (Christianity especially) are types of propaganda with clear doctrinal axes to grind. One shouldn't need a supernatural babysitter to conduct oneself in a moral fashion.

That being said, if you still feel the need to look for an institution for support, I suggest you look into Secular Humanism.

[Lotharia]

Morals are merely a personal set of rules one makes for ones self based on the expectations of the society one lives in. Society (humans) like order, dislike chaos - so we make rules. You choose the ones you personally feel are worthwhile to you, and the ones that will keep you out of jail/trouble.

Religion has incorporated some of human society's rules along with their own, in an attempt to enforce them out of fear of eternal damnation.

Everyone has a set of morals. They're yours personally, you've chosen them from the loose-leaf binder. WHY you follow them is the only place where religion comes in -- do you follow them because you want to belong in your social group (not go to jail), or because you want to belong in your church group (not go to hell)?

[another day]

Quote by: Zhavric It's a common misconception that morality exists only from religion. As highly intelligent social mammals, our morals come from our social biological instincts and our societal interpretations of those instincts. Like whales, lions, canines, apes, and elephants, human beings will protect & care for their young / cooperate with allies / compete with rivals. All of our morality can be traced to these root social instincts. Where the confusion comes from is the sophistication of our societies. Consider the American father and the father from Saudi Arabia. Both have young daughters. Both want to protect their daughters and see them grow & be happy and protect them from sexually active boys. The American father teaches his daughter about safe sex, tells her not to have sex, discusses his expectations with her, etc. The Saudi father has his daughter's clitoris surgically removed shortly after birth. Both men are acting in a moral fashion in their respective societies. Both men look at the practice of the other as immoral. Never forget that most religions (Christianity especially) are types of propaganda with clear doctrinal axes to grind. One shouldn't need a supernatural babysitter to conduct oneself in a moral fashion. That being said, if you still feel the need to look for an institution for support, I suggest you look into Secular Humanism.

Yep exactly...morals are derived from empathy, and animal pack/survival instincts, not religion.

And fyi, it's not "something close to atheism" it IS atheism. Atheism is a lack of belief in god(s), that and that alone. It is not any kind of institution. An atheist can hold any number of other beliefs about reality, such as karma or ghosts, and they most certainly can have morals.

[Cephus]

You don't need religion to be a moral person, in fact, I'd say religion often gets in the way of morality more than it helps it.

It sure hasn't helped those Catholic priests with their altar-boy addiction, has it?

[Jagged]

I wonder if there are any athieists that don't have morals. Perhaps those that are out of spite.

[Jack]

I'm sure there are. Atheism doesn't address morality, so someone who espouses atheism could be totally immoral or behave like a saint. Neither behavior would be caused by their atheism.

[Gods_Mercenary]

Quote by: Isherwood You're describing a human being, no need for religion. Religion is simply an organized belief system based on the supernatural. Live your life honestly and fairly in regards to your fellow humans and no one will have a reason to fault you, except those who demand that you view life through their favorite filter.

What humans do you know? Humanity is anything but fair, decent and moral.

[Scribbler1]

Quote by: Jagged I wonder if there are any athieists that don't have morals. Perhaps those that are out of spite.

I would think atheists have long been aware of the fact that you don't need religion to be a moral person.

[Jack]

Humanity is anything but fair, decent and moral.

All I can tell you is that from my experience, you get back what you put in. If you approach others with a good attitude, it generally gets returned in kind. Not always, and I'm not a Pollyanna. If we're only talking about groups of people, then that dynamic doesn't respect individual input, and I'd easily agree with your assessment.

[another day]

in the end it comes down to individuals. some individuals are good, kind, caring, moral, intelligent people. some are low-browed, violent, hateful, liars, who will cheat you. Humanity cannot be lumped into one big pile.