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Go Back   Spiritual Forums > Religions & Faiths > General Religion

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  #1  
Old 19-08-2013, 08:04 PM
Mazulu
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Does atheism discourage values?

In a country where atheism squeezes out religion, what happens to values? What happens to honor, integrity, virtue, modesty and loyalty when belief in God is discouraged? What about respect for others? What about culture? It seems to me that atheism has destroyed American culture. In a world dominated by atheism, nothing is sacred; not your body, not your values, nothing. Everything is reduced to money, sex and power.
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  #2  
Old 19-08-2013, 09:26 PM
Animus27
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Atheism is a term that can apply to various people whose values are different. A person might be an ethical nihilist, and identify as atheist, or a person may be atheist and have a more standard set of ethics.
From an evolutionary perspective, morality and ethics arose as a way to help people get along with one another, not stealing, killing or sleeping with someone else's mate ensure some degree of peace is ensured.
Atheism in and of itself doesn't entail a moral free-for-all, but a starting point to a personalized ethical code that can depend upon the inherent goodness of virtue, rather than fear of punishment or retribution of a god. Of course, there will be atheists who don't inspire much when it comes to their virtue; but that doesn't reflect upon atheism itself; since there can be just as many morally reprehensible people who believe in god.
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  #3  
Old 19-08-2013, 09:26 PM
Tobi Tobi is offline
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My father was an Atheist, but he lived every single one of those values every day. He just couldn't get his head around religion.
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  #4  
Old 19-08-2013, 09:33 PM
psychoslice psychoslice is offline
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Religion hasn't really given us anything worth while, if one needs religion to be a good person, that to me is so sad. Do we need a silly set of rules shoved down our necks to keep us in check, of course not, atheist are mostly good people who don't need a God breathing down their necks, where as if you take away religion everyone would fall apart, how sad.
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  #5  
Old 19-08-2013, 11:16 PM
Mazulu
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Quote:
Originally Posted by psychoslice
Religion hasn't really given us anything worth while, if one needs religion to be a good person, that to me is so sad.
I don't drink, but I know that AA (alcoholics anonymous) relies heavily on faith. It sounds to me like you are selfish and calous about the suffering of other people. As long as your life is happy, nobody needs faith, hope or a Higher Power.

What about the Declaration of Independence?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Declaration of Independence
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--
It is probably true that atheists don't care about anybody but themselves. If there is no Creator, then where does that leave our rights? Would an atheist put their life at risk to protect the constitution? Libery? The lives of others? I don't see why they would.
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  #6  
Old 19-08-2013, 11:26 PM
Animus27
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mazulu
I don't drink, but I know that AA (alcoholics anonymous) relies heavily on faith. It sounds to me like you are selfish and calous about the suffering of other people. As long as your life is happy, nobody needs faith, hope or a Higher Power.

What about the Declaration of Independence?

It is probably true that atheists don't care about anybody but themselves. If there is no Creator, then where does that leave our rights? Would an atheist put their life at risk to protect the constitution? Libery? The lives of others? I don't see why they would.
It leaves our rights in our hands.

Let me ask you this: whose which creator and underlying theological system do you think is best to govern humankind? If one posits a creator god who gives out rights, etc. Which is it? YHWH? Ra? Zeus? Or some nebulous God that can be used to argue points we agree with?
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  #7  
Old 20-08-2013, 12:54 AM
psychoslice psychoslice is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mazulu
I don't drink, but I know that AA (alcoholics anonymous) relies heavily on faith. It sounds to me like you are selfish and calous about the suffering of other people. As long as your life is happy, nobody needs faith, hope or a Higher Power.

What about the Declaration of Independence?

It is probably true that atheists don't care about anybody but themselves. If there is no Creator, then where does that leave our rights? Would an atheist put their life at risk to protect the constitution? Libery? The lives of others? I don't see why they would.
Originally Posted by psychoslice
Religion hasn't really given us anything worth while, if one needs religion to be a good person, that to me is so sad.
I don't drink, but I know that AA (alcoholics anonymous) relies heavily on faith. It sounds to me like you are selfish and calous about the suffering of other people. As long as your life is happy, nobody needs faith, hope or a Higher Power.

Now your being silly, I just don't know how you came to the conclusion, makes no sense.
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A belief system is nothing but poison to your capacity to understand. Good words are used to hide ugly things. – Osho
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  #8  
Old 20-08-2013, 01:14 AM
Mazulu
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Quote:
Originally Posted by psychoslice
Originally Posted by psychoslice
Religion hasn't really given us anything worth while, if one needs religion to be a good person, that to me is so sad.
I don't drink, but I know that AA (alcoholics anonymous) relies heavily on faith. It sounds to me like you are selfish and calous about the suffering of other people. As long as your life is happy, nobody needs faith, hope or a Higher Power.

Now your being silly, I just don't know how you came to the conclusion, makes no sense.

Where do atheists get their values from? I just don't see atheism as a family oriented way to raise ones children. Atheists most likely let their kids look at porn, smoke, drink, use drugs and run the streets. Isn't atheism just the absence of values?
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  #9  
Old 20-08-2013, 01:17 AM
psychoslice psychoslice is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mazulu
Where do atheists get their values from? I just don't see atheism as a family oriented way to raise ones children. Atheists most likely let their kids look at porn, smoke, drink, use drugs and run the streets. Isn't atheism just the absence of values?
I don't think so, atheist are just normal people, they simply don't believe in a god, why do you need a god to do the right thing, are you that weak ?.
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A belief system is nothing but poison to your capacity to understand. Good words are used to hide ugly things. – Osho
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  #10  
Old 20-08-2013, 01:27 AM
Mazulu
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Animus27
It leaves our rights in our hands.

Let me ask you this: whose which creator and underlying theological system do you think is best to govern humankind? If one posits a creator god who gives out rights, etc. Which is it? YHWH? Ra? Zeus? Or some nebulous God that can be used to argue points we agree with?

I think values and morals are a good thing. I think it's good to live by a code of morals, a sense of justice, self discipline and principle. Atheism offers none of this. Atheism will lead you to do things that will destroy your self respect. Once that's gone, you're useless to the atheist world.
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