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Politics : Should God be replaced? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Greg or e who wrote (2604)	10/25/2000 5:39:43 PM
From: Ilaine	Respond to of 28931

Interesting point. I think you can be an atheist but have an ethical philosophy, although that comes pretty close to religion, in my opinion. But if you have no ethical philosophy, I suppose murder is ok.

To: Greg or e who wrote (2604)	10/25/2000 6:52:01 PM
From: E	Respond to of 28931

<<There is no morality to survival of the fittest.>> No, there is no morality whatever to that device of "God's." As a system, if it had been designed intentionally, it would be evil. Since it wasn't, it isn't, it is just terrible. No adjective is adequate to convey the horror of the detail of its workings. That is a reason I wouldn't worship Him if there were evidence He existed. But one of the things that has enabled us, us here, to be the survivors of our ancestors, over millions of years, has been the survival value (superior fitness) that was bestowed on those whose brains and nervous systems, whose innate human character, evolved to include such feelings and behaviors as reciprocity, family devotion, credibility, trustworthiness in the eyes of the clan or outsiders, courage, perceived kindness and generosity to others, and other such traits we human beings call our "morality." The ones who took and didn't give back didn't get much help next time the going got rough, and died with fewer offspring to carry on their traits-- over and over again. Same with the ones whom no one believed when he or she made a statement or promise. They had less influence, and fewer opportunities to mate. Same with cowards, same with those with no talent for friendship or loyalty, same with those who gave no affection and earned none. Many aggressive, selfish, "ugly" traits had survival value. Still do. We are mere beasts, literally, often. But so did many of the traits that constitute our moral natures-- the cooperative, conscientious, lovable and loving elements of us that give one the wisp of a hope that the state of the world will improve. I have never heard of "atheistic naturalism." What is it? Is it nihilism? Stalin, before he decided to become a revolutionary/dictator, was a seminarian who had had a thoroughly Christian upbringing. Plan A was to become a priest.