"Hey, Kim -- you start out by describing yourself as an agnostic -- usually a reference to the individual's sense that we cannot know with absolute certainty whether a god-creature exists or not. Most atheists don't have that issue. …"
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Alan Katz
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Alan Katz replied to allie grace's discussion 'Do you think atheism is a religion in itself?'"Luka -- your post was what inspired me."
Alan Katz replied to allie grace's discussion 'Do you think atheism is a religion in itself?'"Perhaps the problem is that the theists have (or seem to have) co-opted so many words. 'Belief' for instance. I can believe, for instance, that all magical thinking is preposterous. Believing that doesn't make me a…"
Mo Trauen commented on Alan Katz's blog post 'The Morality Question'"@Katie: I strongly recommend reading "The Blank Slate" by Stephen Pinker."
Alan Katz replied to allie grace's discussion 'Do you think atheism is a religion in itself?'"I think there is a religious dimension to atheism -- well, to some people's atheism -- in that it fulfills the same needs/functions that theistic faith does. But the word religion has been pretty well damaged by the theistic crowd. …"
Arcus commented on Alan Katz's blog post 'The Morality Question'"@Katie; I strongly recommend 'The Selfish Gene', and not just because it's penned by Dawkins. :)"
Alan Katz commented on Alan Katz's blog post 'The Morality Question'"Thank you for the kind words, Mo. Ironically, it was a conversation I had years ago with a friend who was devoutly Catholic that 'opened my eyes' to the idea that it is community (and not religion) that creates real morality."
Terry Wittek commented on Alan Katz's blog post 'The Morality Question'"i think people don't realize religion doesn't make you a moral person. you have to be a morally sound person to accept moral practices. it's too bad a lot of good christians (muslims, etc) think they would be immoral or do very bad…"
Mo Trauen commented on Alan Katz's blog post 'The Morality Question'"Excellent post, Allan. Especially that last paragraph. It provides a wonderful and concise summation of the true source of morality."
Discern commented on Alan Katz's blog post 'The Morality Question'"I used to blame Jephthah and say that he was stupid for making such a deal that God would never approve of. But then I read the story closer (Judges 11:29-39), and it says three important parts:
- The Spirit of the Lord was with Jephthah
- He vows…"
Dustin commented on Alan Katz's blog post 'The Morality Question'"reminds me of another story in the OT ... Jepthah daughter is it? The little girl who was killed by her father because her father made a deal with God and said he would sacrifice the first thing that came out of his house when he returned…"
Joe commented on Alan Katz's blog post 'The Morality Question'"A cosmic muffin sounds tasty. lol But yeah, I agree. It doesn't logically follow why there needs to be some god in order for us to have morals. There's nothing really mystical about morals. I think its all just a matter of psychology and…"
Alan Katz commented on Alan Katz's blog post 'The Morality Question'"But if god (or gods) is a human creation to begin with -- then it's kinda a moot point, yeah? Humans are social creatures. To survive successfully, we adapted to that fact by developing ways to co-exist -- not killing each other for…"
Discern commented on Alan Katz's blog post 'The Morality Question'"I think the debate is whether God put in humans an innate sense of morality - no matter if they are christians or not."
Alan Katz commented on Alan Katz's blog post 'The Morality Question'"Hey, Katie --
I agree with you too. It really gets me steamed when (Christians especially) get all high n mighty about how only a life like theirs has a moral basis. Considering the history of the faith -- um -- not so much. "
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- I believe it is essential to know more -- a lot more -- than the other side. Their way is to accept 'the word' (without even going, most of them, and READING the damned word) -- but then, that's how magical thinking works. I think it is essential to our survival that we fight all forms of magical thinking -- especially those forms that are, by their natures, the most repressive.
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- Having always been an atheist -- devoutly so -- I am increasingly heartened by 1) the broad, burgeoning atheist voice and 2) the remarkable quality of the thought behind that voice. The time has come to wade in and join the chorus.
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- I was never actually 'in' my religion. It was more a culture in which I was brought up. As far as I can remember I have always, always been an atheist and have always viewed atheism as the only 'true faith'.
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Alan Katz's Blog
The Morality Question
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 3:32pm 13 Comments 2 Likes
One of the things that has always fascinates me about our 'religious friends' is how they look at us when the question of morality comes up. How, they ask, their eyes wide with disapproval, can atheists have any morality without god?
'Cause, or course, without a god-character breathing down their necks and threatening eternal damnation, our religious friends would be utterly incapable of moral behavior -- at least that's what they seem to be saying. Yeah, sure, they're…
ContinueComment Wall (1 comment)
- At 10:46pm on April 25, 2011,
Monica Salcedo (Monicks) said… Welcome to Think Atheist, Alan! We are happy to have you here.
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