|
well naomi yes and no. I agree with the doing it for fear of punishment thing but decent people are not born decent. They become decent (by our definition) by being taught by other decent people.
|
|
Who is the authority on what is decent ?
|
|
excellent question.
|
|
Question Author
Woofgang, we are all taught - that's a given.
OG, most of us are, hopefully, aware of what is socially acceptable behaviour and what is not.
|
|
If I look at some societies, especially those from the past, I may conclude that the majority held immoral viewpoints, and yet it would have been they who defined what was socially acceptable in those societies. Were they immoral, or am I ?
|
|
Question Author
OG, I don't know you. I've no idea if you are immoral - but if you are I presume you haven't been taught to fear punishment in the afterlife.
|
|
no i hope i know how to behave, and also enjoy the freedom to drive and having an education, unlike women in some muslim controlled countries!
|
|
The prospect of eternal hell fire has kept many a potential sinner on the straight and narrow.
|
|
Question Author
^^ I know - and that's exactly the point. What keeps the rest of us on the straight and narrow?
|
|
I think atheists have teams of Guardian Angels appointed to watch over them. I can see no other reason.
|
|
indeed we are all taught...some of us are taught to carry knives and guns, rob intimidate, rape and so on.
|
|
Question Author
^^ That's irrelevant. We're talking about those who stay on the 'straight and narrow', as Sandy puts it.
|
|
And atheists, seeing the exemplary lives of many theists, may ape their behaviour.
|
|
Question Author
Ha ha! I'll treat that ^^ with the contempt it deserves. ;o)
|
|
so the discussion is about what makes good people good, not about what makes people good?
|
|
Keyplus, jesus does not need 'pbuh' after his name, he wasn't a muslim as islam was invented about 500 years after his death, also( if he existed) he is dead, that is about as peaceful as anyone can get. I would suggest that it is far more likely that people would follow a moral code of their own devising if they have the intellect so to do. If they are brought up in a society free of gratuitous violence, self rightiousness and vengeance, then they have more hope of becoming moral people who benefit society and it's future (and their descendants).
|
|
Question Author
Woofgang, oh, dear. Tell you what - let’s go back to the original question –‘Do you need moral guidance?’ - and take it from there.
Dave, meant to say earlier, just making an effort to keep the section lively, you know. ;o)
|
|
Do you mean any moral guidance at all? Or do I need more than I have from previous learning and experience or is the question " does an individual need moral guidance"
With respect, that s a different question from "does a child need to be guided by the fear of punishment in the afterlife?" to which my answer as someone who believes on god is a resounding no!
On the other hand, hypothetically, if the only way that a hardened and thoroughly unpleasant individual could be made to behave in a kind and decent way was by the threat of hellfire (not saying its possible, just hypothetical) would that be wrong?
|
|
Question Author
Woofgang, the question is ‘Do you need moral guidance?’ Simple enough, I’d have thought.
|
|
Okay then the answer is yes, no and maybe.
|
