Moral Authority

[Theland]

Without God, where do atheists look for an objective moral authority to determine absolute right and wrong?

[wildwood]

If we are to believe the mantra related to your god, he is a selfish, murderous, lying deity. Why would anyone regard him as a pillar of morality?

[Theland]

Mibs says morality is that which brings mutual benefit.
I may reject that, and say that as a really good thief, I should use my talent to steal off others rather than working. To me, that could seem moral.
But if you tell me I am wrong for stealing, by what authority do you lecture me? Yours? Why is yours better than mine? After all, there is no objective authority that you can call on is there?

[Theland]

It's interesting how most on here have their own idea of morality, and simply believe it is commonly shared.
A drug addict may believe he has the right to your goods to sell for drugs.
A prostitute can view her trade as an honest living.
Selling drugs to kids is simply good business to some, to pay the bills and feed their family.
Yes there are a myriad of moral standards without an objective authority.

[1ozzy]

Do you think that Aber's attitudes have changed much since 26/11/2006?

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Society-and-Culture/Religion-and-Spirituality/Question327153.html

[naomi24]

^No, but the company has changed. There are several names there I'd welcome back.

[janbee]

ALL religions should stay away from preaching morals. ALL Hypocrites.

[jomifl]

/A prostitute can view her trade as an honest living./

Some may view prostitution as about as honest as one can get.

[andy-hughes]

Theland - //Yes there are a myriad of moral standards without an objective authority. //

But your 'objective moral authority' is only there because you choose to believe it is there.

I can believe that the earth is flat - plenty of people still do - but that does not make it so.

Your put your trousers on one leg at a time, so do I, but you claim the moral high ground, I do not.

[jomifl]

/Right And Wrong
God is my ulitmate authority on right and wrong, but if you don't believe in God, from where does moral authority originate?
21:44 Sun 26th Nov 200697 answers, last by Theland 18:45 Fri 08th Dec 2006/
didn't this all get sorted out the last time?

[jomifl]

1ozzy, apologies for repeating your point ....

[andy-hughes]

jomifl - //didn't this all get sorted out the last time? //

That's the simultaneous joy / curse of faith, you never really reach a definitive conclusion, because none exists.

Still - it passes the time waiting to find out which of us is actually right!!

[RATTER15]

Theland, if you dont have morals, how do you know which parts of the bible to obey and which parts to ignore?

[jomifl]

If christians use the bible as a source of moral authority they should pay particular attention to commandments 2, 5 and 8, since they habitually lie, kill and blame god for doing so.
haow can they be taken seriously?

[naomi24]

Theland, Cultures in which no notion of your God exists manage to live to a moral code – it’s the only way society can survive. In the absence of your holy book, I have no idea you think they get it from, but I attribute it to rationality.

[naomi24]

^*where* you think ...

[jomifl]

@Ratter :-)

[Theland]

Well researched ozzy.
Which parts of bible to obey? Obey Jesus Christ.
Nima, yes the company has changed. Hope I am included in the list.
2006? Wow! Nearly ten years! Ready for my gold watch?

[naomi24]

Theland, would you please answer my question? What do cultures that have no knowledge of your God use as a moral compass?

[Theland]

There is an inherant morality in our conscience as because we are made in the image of God.
But our so called enlightenment and denial of God has left us with a floundering attitude to ultimate right and wrong.
And those godless societies? Yes parts of our big cities are like that aren't they? Where everybody sets their own standard of behaviour. Loyalty to the gang for example.

[naomi24]

Right. So even people who have no concept of your God possess a moral compass because they were made in the imagine of your God. Why then do you need your God? It would appear he is redundant.