As for me, i believe that for an atheist and a religious person holding the same morals, the atheist is the one who is holding the better morals as they are holding them of their own free accord, as opposed to a religious person who believes that following the morals increases their chances of ending up in the right place in the afterlife.
namelessfly wrote:Daryl wrote:I do find the assumption that "the moral limits of a Judeo/Christian ethos" is a unique and good thing, to be typical of what many outside the US look askance at.
Lots of good people both inside and outside the church, and it is somewhat offensive to believe in an absolute moral superiority held only by christians. Like a great many others I'm somewhat biased because of nasty things done to me in my defenceless youth by religious people in authority. In this country we are currently in the process of a major investigation regarding sexual abuse to children by all organisations which is exposing a massive cess pool of evil. While organisations like the Scouts and such are coming in for some criticism, the bulk of the crimes are by churches.
While I am a believer in a monotheistic faith, I concede that the Judeo/Christian faith does not have a monopoly on morality. Most faiths around the world share a consensus with the Judeo/Christain faith on many moral issues. To be blunt, I have theological differences with many Christains yet share their opinions on moral issues. I consider this consensus among many faiths including non judeo christains, to be a validation of my belief that morality is divinely inspired. I also understand that there are atheists who share my views on morality yet few can articulate a rationale for their moral code. (Logic and socio-biology can actually validate morality)
One thing is certain is that membership in a religious organization that exposes a certain morality does not guarantee that a person will abide by that morality. The idea that ALL humans are fallible is a major tenant of my religion. We are dependant on God's grace for forgiveness. Because humans are fallible, religious groups are also fallible. The Catholic church in America has been guilty of some rather grevious sins as have various Protrstant denominations. The new Pope (I am Baptist, not Catholic) should be commended for reprimanding Catholic leaders in the US who have allowed their desire to protect the church to take precedence over their moral obligations to the victims of abuse.