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Jackie Offline OP
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We had a lively discussion at lunch today about morality. One person maintained that morality comes from a Higher Power, for lack of a better term, and that if you're not religious you don't have morality, you just go by what's "right" or "wrong" according to the laws of whatever society you live in.

I maintain that an atheist can have morals.

I would love to read your-all's thoughts on this, if we can do it without getting into whether or not there is a Higher Power (of whatever name) or judging the various religions.

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Morality is a trait of any successful social species. Without morality it would be impossible for that species to survive. If there's a higher power involved that higher power is natural selection.

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I maintain that an atheist can have morals.

I've never bought the "only the religious have morals", which in my experience means those whose religion is closest to the speaker's.

I think all humans have morals (just step on somebody's toe or reach into another person's shopping cart at a store and remove an item for yourself).

And, what one's ethical system is a mishmash of the traditional plus the idiosyncratic.

As to its origins, like many things, it comes from the individuals who make up the societal group.


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Originally Posted By: Faldage
Morality is a trait of any successful social species. Without morality it would be impossible for that species to survive. If there's a higher power involved that higher power is natural selection.


Yes, but not exactly.
Morals are but an aspect of the mechanics of evolution.
A Higher Power is needed to effect a Creation to put the billiard balls in motion.

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A Higher Power is needed to effect a Creation to put the billiard balls in motion.

Ah, deity qua big bang.


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Originally Posted By: jenny jenny
Originally Posted By: Faldage
Morality is a trait of any successful social species. Without morality it would be impossible for that species to survive. If there's a higher power involved that higher power is natural selection.


A Higher Power is needed to effect a Creation to put the billiard balls in motion.


Too many capitals in that sentence.


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Morality is, morals are the principles that maintain in or bring into equilibrium the interests of the individual with the interests of a group/ society.

I think it comes from our hunting, gathering, cave dwelling past.
How to fight and compromise over territory and bone. From rudeness to refinement. Who's the expert in the does and don'ts of our prehistory?

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Clearly said BranShea.
And buffalo, if you can't capitalize THE Creation how can you justify capitalizing Walmart or Chicago or Obama or Sin?

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Originally Posted By: BranShea

I think it comes from our hunting, gathering, cave dwelling past.


If we didn't have morals to start with we would never have made it that far.

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Originally Posted By: jenny jenny

And buffalo, if you can't capitalize THE Creation how can you justify capitalizing Walmart or Chicago or Obama or Sin?


Well, three out of four are what they call themselves, so who am I to say? I don't know anybody named Sin.


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