Do ask do tell!

[LuciferSam]

"You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout I'm telling you why. Santa Claus is coming to town. He sees you when you're sleeping. He knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good so you better be good, for goodness sake."

If the kids found out there was no Santa Claus they would never behave...

Ah! So that's what happened to me.

 

[poppy]

What defines a universal ethic or moral? When you get right down to it, a world without religion could be a very ugly, cut throat kind of place. One of the primary purposes of religion was to create community stability. Take that away, teach everyone that we live under a new code of "there are no consequences if you can get away with it" might result in some rather negative results.

(Plus I loose my advantage, I already know there are no consequences if you can get away with it. )

Or was it to use fear as a method of control?

 

[30ashopper]

Or was it to use fear as a method of control?

Same thing. So what would you replace it with? Let me guess, the federal government.

 

[poppy]

Same thing. So what would you replace it with? Let me guess, the federal government.

Fear is needed for community stability??? I don't live in fear, why do you believe anyone should? Sounds as if you have a copy of the the conservatives talking points. Fear and religion are what they are using to keep Gay Americans from serving their country.

 

[30ashopper]

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.

 

[jack S]

people without religion have a lack of conscience? More people have been slaughtered over religion than any other reason! People who's spirituality is not connected to the fear of the bible god, generally have a greater compassion and understanding of the world around them. As for gays in the military. The military has always been way behind the curve. The military will be just fine granting basic human rights to the people that serve, they just don't like change, or anyone telling the military royalty anything!

 

[Douglas the Intrepid]

Actually throughout history, religions have been the direct cause of more suffering and death then I care to think about. The ability to tell right from wrong and act accordingly has more to do with good upbringing and parenting then abstract fears of otherworldly retribution.

 

[30ashopper]

Actually throughout history, religions have been the direct cause of more suffering and death then I care to think about. The ability to tell right from wrong and act accordingly has more to do with good upbringing and parenting then abstract fears of otherworldly retribution.

I would argue that good upbringing and lessons parents teach their kids in a society like ours is largely based on religious teachings and doctrine. What would you base these teachings on if religion was abandoned? It's an interesting question if you think about it. Can civil law implemented by a government body completely replace religious doctrine in defining the subject matter of good conscience? I think not.

(I understand religion has been abused by government or groups, but you're going to get that kind of abuse no matter what those groups use as justification.)

 

[LuciferSam]

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.

It's unfortunate but that is correct. Morality in our society for most people is based on a forcefully implanted mind virus known as religion. This disease is transmitted to young impressionable children and it gives them a totally warped view of their role in society.

 

[30ashopper]

It's unfortunate but that is correct. Morality in our society for most people is based on a forcefully implanted mind virus known as religion. This disease is transmitted to young impressionable children and it gives them a totally warped view of their role in society.

Ooookey dokie!