morality and atheism challenge?

[nana053]

In my view, morality is a structure to maintain social coherence and to enhance survivability among social creatures. It is present in any animal that has a social structure, not just in humans. Morals are subject to change and are not absolute, but the basic principle for humans is personal responsibility and seeing all humans as persons who are worth our time and effort. While it can happen that we meet individuals who seem not to meet that standard, we must presume that they are first and foremost worthy human beings until this is proven otherwise. Thus do unto others as you would have them do unto you is the start, but not the end of morality. We need to take the other person's perspective into account and do good to him by his standards not just our own.

To teach our children this, we need to teach empathy for the other. This includes empathy for both people and animals. Asking *what do you think the other person is feeling?* is the beginning of this moral sense.

This really has very little to do with God or religion at all. It's part of our survival instinct and of our genetic code.

[aidxen]

We are very religeous but I would agree that there are many religeous people who are not moral.

To me though, my religeon does give me a basis for my morality.

I can accept that non religeous people can have a moral position too.

On the "its not fair" thing that kids say.
I say "why said anything about life being fair?"

[passwithoutatrace]

You learn morals by example, in my opinion. Children learn the value of helping others by seeing their parents donate clothing to a thrift store, volunteering at their school, or opening a door for a disabled person. They learn how to "do unto others" by watching how their parents treat people, or having them explain that "it's wrong to do X; how would you feel if someone did that to you?"

Religion provides a platform for teaching moral behavior, but it is not necessary to create a moral person.

[somebodynew]

Originally Posted by Nairobi

If they are a true Christian, in that they follow the ways of Christ (as their belief tells them to), then yes, morality is automatically a part of it. If they acted immoral or evilly, then they would not be a Christian, regardless of what they might call themselves.

Is there an official governing body that determines who is and is not a christian? Or what it means to BE christian? Seems to me that the different christian factions cannot even agree on what the bible says.

[somebodynew]

So the thing that I keep coming back to in my mind is

- what are people's moral codes BASED on. Some have said successful interpersonal cohabitation, some have said the golden rule.
- if the personal moral code is not based on anything, is THAT what we mean by immoral?