Lesbians, Vegetarians, Atheists, and Feminists. If you're not scared off by now, stay and read a few more things I have to say.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Good Without God
The moral? Morality without a god is just as possible as immorality with a god. Good works are not the sole property of the religious. And Pat Roberson is a douche.
That is an excellent ad. There's a lot of work to do to convince people of the morality of atheists, but it's distinctions like these that will take us further down that road.
Some days, Astasia, I'm of the opinion that it is easier to be good without god than it is to be good with god.
For instance: who is in the habit of throwing acid in the faces of Afghan women? Theists or atheists? Who, for the most part, is behind the cruel opposition in America to gay marriage? Theists or atheists?
It is a very unpopular opinion to have, but I have it more and more often these days.
What do you think? Am I missing something when I think it is easier to be good without god than to be good with god?
Paul, I am tempted to agree with your idea that it is easier to be good without god, but there are plenty of religious organizations that I know of/work with that are incredibly helpful in terms of charity. I can't just dismiss that.
That is an excellent ad. There's a lot of work to do to convince people of the morality of atheists, but it's distinctions like these that will take us further down that road.
ReplyDeleteSome days, Astasia, I'm of the opinion that it is easier to be good without god than it is to be good with god.
ReplyDeleteFor instance: who is in the habit of throwing acid in the faces of Afghan women? Theists or atheists? Who, for the most part, is behind the cruel opposition in America to gay marriage? Theists or atheists?
It is a very unpopular opinion to have, but I have it more and more often these days.
What do you think? Am I missing something when I think it is easier to be good without god than to be good with god?
By the way, I agree with Sean. I love that ad and think it will do a lot of good.
ReplyDeleteHere's a post I wrote sometime ago that seems to deal with a particular aspect of this issue.
ReplyDeleteDamnit! I put up the wrong link. Here's the correct one. The two posts use the same material so I became confused.
ReplyDeleteSean G, I agree. I hope it will be well enough published that those outside of atheist circles will see it.
ReplyDeletePaul, I am tempted to agree with your idea that it is easier to be good without god, but there are plenty of religious organizations that I know of/work with that are incredibly helpful in terms of charity. I can't just dismiss that.
ReplyDeleteAnd, Paul, thanks for the link to your previous post. :)
ReplyDeleteYou make a very good point about the organizations that do good works, Astasia. The evidence for the thesis seems quite uneven and contradictory.
ReplyDeleteAppreciate your blog postt
ReplyDelete