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Ethics/Morality questions

Gwyn ap Nudd

Critical Thinker
Gwyn ap Nudd
Joined
Jan 15, 2005
Messages
381
I know that the fudies question the morals/ethics of agnostics and atheists because they don't have the big ole rulebook from heaven carved in stone. But, except for the "situational ethics" strawman, I can't think of any of their specific questions that they use to "discredit" atheistic ethical systems.

I am about to post something on another forum that I am sure will have them throwing those "questions" out to me. Because of the nature of the board, I need to have my responses ready to paste into my answers immediately. So I'm asking for a list of the typical "questions" to expect, so I can prepare my answers.

Thank you for your help.
 
Some of the most quoted popular concepts and arguments will be:

- This is "natural" / "unnatural" / "as nature intended".

- This just is so. I don't know why, but it is written so in this book.
 
I like MdC's suggestion.

Post what you plan to write, and posters here can play devil's advocate, or I guess God's Advocate in this case.
 
At the moment it is only half written and I'll probably be working on it for the rest of the week and post it (on the other site) on Saturday. I will actually be working within the framework of Biblical beliefs and will show Biblically, that Paul (speaking for God) specifically tells them that Christians must throw out all the carved-in-stone rules. That their behavior should be dictated not by THE LAW, but by their own character.

I'm not so much asking how they defend specific rules. (I already go around and around with them on those.) I want to know what they think that they think is wrong with relying on your own character instead of a rule book. (The double "think" in the last sentence is deliberate. Both as a reflection that their position is filled with double-think, and as an indication that they don't know [or at least will never admit] that the real reason they they want the rulebook is that they are afraid to think for themselves.)

So I'm looking for the kinds of things they usually say as a follow-up to the statement that atheists have no morality because they have no (absolute) source of morality, etc.
 
JJM --

I know all about "natural" and "unnatural." Romans 1:26-27 is one of the biggest points of contention between them and me. :catfight:

They refuse to believe me that Paul is quoting Plato and that what is described as unnatural is sexual addiction, not homosexuality. :gasp:
 
The most common follow up is something like..
"Well, if there's no god, then there's no hell. Therefore, you can do what ever you want. Why not rob, rape, kill... What's to stop or punish you?"

Typically this is said becuase the speaker hasn't actually thought through what is implied in this argument. (that they, themselves, would commit those acts if they knew god didn't exist)

Now, this will be the most common follow up, but not the most difficult.

Look into the arguments pro/con moral relativism. This will provide a better source of information for possible arguments.
 
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