Apologetics, No. 5:  How can we have morals unless they are given to us by god?
608407
I agree, you even see this in animal behaviour. Animals like elephants take care of their young and only kill when in danger, or when they feel danger. Elephants normally don't kill humans but because of lots of poachers, they do now. Elephant’s memories are apparently very good. We are of course much more evolved than elephants.
335128
For me, and this is just my perception, morals have a basis in religion. The Jewish 10 commandments, for example, constitute a moral code. Ethics on the other hand are derived from sources out side religion. You might derive a moral code from philosophy, science, or any number of other things. I, personally, do not consider myself to be "moral" because I'm not religious. I do however have an ethical standard that I try to live by. I derive my "code of ethics" from what I think of as a simple Universal Principle (This principle also defines the subject for me.) ... Cause and effect. I do a thing. That's the cause. That causes a sort of chain reaction that culminates in the result or effect. So I consider that I can pretty much do what ever I want so long as I'm willing to accept and live with the consequences. Which thing makes me stop and think before doing a thing. So I tend to act rather than re-act. That works pretty good for me. I usually end up treating the other person the way I'd want to be treated, accepting things as they are, just letting some things pass (I mean, how important is it ... Really?), etc. So ... For what its worth, that's my take on the thing. And it works well enough for me. ~ Peace & Blessings ~
1136370
Assuming for the sake of argument that the Christian mythology is true, of course it's not a fair judging. Just because God is more powerful than we are and made us doesn't automatically give him the right to tell me what to do. Granting us free will is philosophically identical to granting us control over our own being. It's irrelevant that he made us. It's just like the government, just because it's big and has all the guns doesn't give it any actual authority over us other than what it takes by force (in God's case, threats of hell).
590629
Morality as in?\nIf you tell me I can help.
915016
Morality is absolute. It's only people with a perverted sense of ethics that try to make it seem relative.
1125672
A better title for your question would be "What is the basis for 'moral values' in a society that doesn't pay attention to God?"\n\nThis kind of question encourages a "rant", but I'm not going to do that.  I believe that we, as children, learn what is "right" and "wrong" from our parent(s) as we grow up.  We accept their rules because that's all we can do - children have no power to "change the rules".  But what happens when we get older and reach adulthood?\n\nBeing an "adult" means more than just accepting rules for what they are - rules made by someone else.  Being an "adult" means knowing the "reason" for the rules.\n\nCollege showed me that many of our governmental laws were inherited from English Common Law.  They, in turn, partly inherited it from the Romans.  The Romans partly got it from the Ancient Greeks.  Where did the Greeks get it?  I believe they got it from God.\n\nIn the book of Romans, Paul claims that God showed his power and divine nature to all of us.  That divine nature was imprinted onto our minds.  We recognized it, knew that it came from God, but we chose, instead, to follow our own ways.  We try our "own" ways for a while, find it doesn't work, and then come back to God's ways.  However, we still don't want to acknowledge God as the source of those ways.  Instead, we make laws.\n\nSo the basis for morality, the origin of how we know what is right and what is wrong, is God.  Are we "ignorant" if we ignore that?  Perhaps.  However, God still lets us go our own ways if we want.  He's being the patient parent, waiting for you to return to Him and His ways.
1186774
How in the World are you asking that question of "moral man"?  \n\nGOD has a plan, and JESUS CHRIST is part of the plan...\n\nGOD knew that we would screw up, and that HE set up HIS SON, so that we might have Salvation after all our sins were forgiven.  We are a sinful race by nature, as we were given free will, and we dont do very well, with it at the moment, do we?\n\nBelieve in HIS SON, that HE died for our Sins, and you too, can be forgiven of them...\n\nI wish you well..\n\nJesse
495006
Of course. It does not take a god to make one moral. Our human minds are capable of knowing what it takes to be a good person in society. Saying it takes a god is weak and it takes away from what a human can do.
632213
Where can we find those free people, coty?\n\nJenni, tell me, how do we enforce morality? Morality has to be ingrained.  It has to be in examples seen and heard every day, from different sources.  TV? Turn it on.  What do you see? Trash?  Radio? What do you hear? More trash? People cheating, lying, stealing, killing, cursing, drinking, doing drugs? Morality is learned from our national and community leaders (who have failed abysmally to establish high standards, either party), newspapers, TV, radio, schools, peers, other adult acquaintances, and of course from parents and other adult family members.  You sound like a moral, caring person, but how many of them are out there?
663970
We are not saved by faith. We are saved by grace( Ephesians 2:5). Faith is the justification for grace. However, we are not justified by faith alone(James 2:17). We are justified by faith and works. If you continue to sin without repentance you cannot be saved even if you do have faith. \nHebrews 12:14 says it best:\n"Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord."
940389
I hope you don't mind, but I'm just going to copy and paste a previous answer I posted to a similar question:\n\nIt's called a social contract. Morals and integrity do not come from religion at all. Religion preaches about morals, but from the example of many religious leaders, it's not always the priority.\n\nA social contract is basically not doing to someone what you don't want to be done to you. I'm not going to kill people because I don't wish to be killed. I don't damage property because I know I wouldn't want my property to be damaged. \n\nPeople who have no morals are "sociopaths", getting the "socio" from the "social" from social contract and getting the "path" from the Greek word "pathological," meaning "uncontrolled or unreasonable".
749698
My Christian upbringing tells me to have compassion for those less fortunate, to help the poor and the needy, to give and share for the benefit of all, to love my neighbor, to turn my back on hate and violence, and to put my fellow man (and woman) above material wealth.\n\nThe liberals, even the ones who are atheists, espouse the Christian teachings and the examples of Jesus we're supposed to follow more than conservatives.
92508
God has always been more than fair if you look back through the Bible.  Even still people do evil things and can be forgiven by just simply asking.  Yes, this is how we want things in my opinion.
484255
I find it very depressing.  Without a God, there is no absolute moral standard.  The only morals are what people and society "feel" is right or wrong, which change with every generation.  Also, if there were no God, and after we die there is nothing...then what is the point of life?  Why not just run out and murder and rape and do whatever you feel like?  Very good question.  I'm glad I am assured that I have eternal life thanks to my Savior Jesus Christ, and that I have an absolute moral standard to live by...the Bible.
905558
It's the easy way out of having to answer for your own actions.  If all you have to do is BELIEVE to justify and be forgiven for theft, lies and murder, why would you choose to take responsibility for yourself?\n\nWhy else would a true individual choose to quote scripture instead of coming up with their own answers?  Or try to prove the existence of God by listing technological advances of mankind?  Flawed logic by brainwashed sheep.
1096673
Morally? No-God permit this with the people. Until he changes things to a new way people were allowed to judge of earthy things just not the heart. it was a protection to the people.
158623
I think that God's teachings tell you what is right and if you truly follow the heart of say the 10 commandments, and love everybody, you will choose to do what is right. Your conscience is God's gift to us to help us in our free will. People will always be tested and will not always pass their tests with the "best" answer or response. Your belief in God and your faith is a matter between you and God. The outward appearances that people put forth are a reflection of what they want other people to think, and cannot accurately show what is in somebody's heart. That is between a person and God. You can live a good life and lose it all in the last breath, or live a terrible life and realize Faith at the last moment. Who are we to judge people's characters?