One of the more popular myths is that religion is a necessity for morality. With it to guide us and keep us in line, we would all be out raping, murdering, stealing and otherwise making life hell for our fellow humans. But, is that true?
Sam Harris in The Myth of Secular Moral Chaos writes:
If religion were necessary for morality, there should besome evidence that atheists are less moral than believers. [emphasis added]
Atheists account for approximately ten percent of the American population, but account for less than one percent of the prison population. According to one study the marriages of atheists last longer than those of Baptists. Outside of the United States, the most secular nations are the ones that are in the lead in terms of human advancement while the lowest ranking nations are religious.
There has also never been an undeniably atheistic leader running about the planet killing people on the basis of their atheistic beliefs. Some leaders, such as Hitler, have used pre-existing religious hatred to further their goals. Others, such as Pol Pot, are testaments to what happens when critical thought is not utilized.
As Sam Harris put it:
I know of no society in recorded history that ever suffered because its people became too reasonable.
In short, religion is not the basis of morality and a failure to obey the dictates of a holy book does not result in moral chaos. In fact, the opposite seems to be true. The more religion is banished to the private sector and the more holy books are ignored in the realm of public law – the more reasonable the society becomes as a whole.
If religion and holy books are necessary for anything it is the continued enslavement of humanity to all manner of hate, bigotry and ignorance.
{ 4 comments }
Hi. I’ve been surfing blogmad and I came across this site. I tried but could not pass up the opportunity to comment.
The real question is whether an atheist can claim any absolute morality given that a governing and superior absolute is necessary for such a standard to exist.
What exactly are you asking? “Absolute Morality” is code-speak for ‘might makes right’ and does nothing but further destroy the moralness of religion.
If you’re speaking of ‘objective’ morality – I don’t believe such a thing exists so I’m not the atheist to ask. Until given further evidence, I believe morality is a product of our own minds. Yep, a real live moral relavist – lock up the children & get the shotgun.
And on the off chance that you’re asking if atheists can be moral – the answer is yes.
Thanks for the reply. I followed the link and read the article. I agree completely with there being no true and self sufficient absolute morality. In fact, everyone, whether they like it or not, is a relative moralist. But what is it relative to? Is it relative to the changeable or the unchangeable? If the changeable, no one can criticize the morality of another, good or bad. If the unchangeable, said unchangeable must have the authority to decide “right” and “wrong”.
The article suggests that to the theist, right and wrong are whatever God decides. I disagree. I would say that it is God’s nature. It is simply a matter of us being what we were created and designed to be, an image of God. But this would delve into a realm of religion that would have us debating for weeks.
The article also plays on the Problem of Evil. First, I do not believe that God has absolute knowledge. Second, I don’t believe He has absolute power. So that solves that problem. I also believe that He will do away with evil.
This “problem” is nothing new. It has existed ever since Christ left. Peter even addressed this issue in His second letter stating, “do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
Regardless of either of these latter two arguments, the Problem of Evil is still hardly relevant to whether God defines what is good and evil, much less whether good and evil can be defined apart from an absolute.
So, either morality is determined by an absolute or you must allow me my shotgun and children.
P.S. Is there a plugin for the live comment preview below the submit button or is that encoded into the theme?
But what is it relative to?
Our families, our societies, our time and our experiences.
The article suggests that to the theist, right and wrong are whatever God decides. I disagree. I would say that it is God’s nature.
If God is the author of morality and there is none above or equal to God, then it stands to reason that ‘good’ and ‘evil’ is indeed whatever God says is ‘good’ and ‘evil’. As to its ‘nature’ – what does this mean? Is this a restriction and if so – where did this restriction come from? It seems to me that placing God and its nature into the question of morality serves only to introduce questions, not answer them.
The article also plays on the Problem of Evil. First, I do not believe that God has absolute knowledge. Second, I don’t believe He has absolute power. So that solves that problem
Interesting. If God is not all-powerful nor all-knowing – why is it still a god? What do you think of verses in the Bible where this being does claim to be all powerful (Daniel 4:35)and all-knowing (Hebrews 6:18)? Also, how do you understand the passage where God claims to be responsible for good and evil (Isaiah 45:7)?
…that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. …â€Â
How does the author know this? What evidence do we have that God has a different definition of time? And exactly why would this being say something such as “I’ll be there tomorrow” with full knowledge that a day is 24 hours to us – not one thousand years? This seems to me to be back-pedaling. Someone made a prediction and the world did not ‘end’ as prophecized.
As to the problem of evil, I think it addresses the character of God. Here is a post where I lay it out, your comments are quite welcome. Of course, it’s formed on the traditional view of God as all-knowing, all-powerful and perfectly benevolent.
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