I still contend that the moral fabric of our nation is based largely on religious based teachings. I also fail to see how you go about replacing that with some other base and still end up with the moral code we generally uphold in the United States.
I still contend basic moral goodness is intrinsic to being human.
I agree with the statement that many of our country's moral ideas and laws were based on religious values/ideas.
However, most of those same values were based on non-religious ancient laws that were later adopted by religions.
Right and wrong are not solely religious (and are certainly not solely Christian) values - though some use religious scriptures to teach them.
Atheists can raise wonderful and moral people,
I still contend that the moral fabric of our nation is based largely on religious based teachings. I also fail to see how you go about replacing that with some other base and still end up with the moral code we generally uphold in the United States.
Shopper: Your generalization that religious beliefs are necessary for a truly moral backbone just doesn't hold up to the fact that millions, if not billions of non-religious people go about their lives in very moral lives. And, at the same time, millions, if not billions, of religious people harbor radical beliefs that harbor no compassion nor moral or ethical considerations for other human beings, simply because their religious beliefs differ from theirs. The Muslims and the Jews, for instance. The Shiites and the Sunnis, for instance. Do you call their hatred of each other moral? More hatred and intolerance have been generated by blind religious beliefs than has ever been generated by agnostic compassion for all living things.
In my experience this isn't necessarily the case. I'm not saying kids raised without religion turn out to be axe murderers, but I do think they have a tendancy to over look important moral road blocks.
I'm sorry, but my experience tells me that's nonsense. you do not need religion to know not to be a sociopathic wall street type.I was referring to fear of punishment.
We have the ability to feel right from wrong, but the subject matter for our conscience is learned. For most people that learned behavior is based on religion.
I've found people who grow up in a non-religious environment tend to lack good conscience, so I've always wondered what would life would be like in a society that had completely abandoned religion.