Originally Posted by apb
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Short answer, yes. Those morals that allowed humans to work together helped them survive, so were passed on to the next generation and so forth. As an example, one common thread that we see in all hunter-gatherer socieities is the sharing of food. Given that we see this cross-culturally, it suggests this is something that is part of humans, it helped them survive.Interesting, so moral judgement was developed as we evolved from apes in order to get along.
Good points. Guess we are looking at it from two different perspectives. When I say religion neither helps or hinders people from doing good or bad, what I mean is that, just because someone is religious does not mean they will not do bad things. For example, the stories of pediphile priests a few years ago. The priests were religious people, but their religion did not keep them from doing evil things. Likewise, you will find many people in jail who would consider themselves religious people, they just messed up....I would have to disagree with your statement that religion neither helps or hinders people from doing good or bad. I can't speek for other religions, but Christianity teaches nothing but loving thy neighbor and obedience to God's commandments. This teaching helps me every day to be a good and moral person. Without it, I know that I wouldn't be as good a person as I am today...
A lot of what I have read in the New Testiment certainly is in line with what you indicate: love thy neighbor, do unto others, etc. Topics that we can both agree are of good moral value. However, look at some of the stories in the Old Testiment. For example, the story of Lot. There is much about that story (e.g., offering up his daughters to the masses, incest) that we would not see as moral. This suggests that, while the bible can certainly provide some good moral direction, there is something outside of religion that shapes our moral values. I would argue that this something is genetic. Humans have the capacity for both good and bad. I have no doubt that religious people who do good things would still do those same good things without religion.
The way I see it is that a person of good moral charactor will do the right thing even when no one is looking or no one will know. It is so much a part of who they are that they do the right thing because that is who they are. I am amazed at the people who say things along the lines of: if one does not believe in god, then there is nothing stopping them from doing evil. These people scare me. Suggests that these people would do all kinds of evil if they were not somehow forced to do right.
Interesting topic. I could go on, but have work to do. Be back after the new year if you want to continue discussing this.
Have a great New Years everyone!
Andrew
