Do Atheists have any moral and ethical backstops?

[Petros2015]

Isnt this topic generally aimed at
showing atheists to be morally inferior to believers?

If it was, I think we lost that fight at post #20. *facepalm*

 

[Astrid]

If it was, I think we lost that fight at post #20. *facepalm*

Sorry, I'd not see that yet. Why " facepalm"?

 

[durangodawood]

No one has a backstop aside from their own best conscience.

Even Christians decide to submit to the morals outlined in the Bible, and that decision is revocable. The deciding conscience sits in the highest seat.

 

[Astrid]

I think @Petros2015 is saying it's settled the other way around, that is, atheists are not morally inferior to believers--at least based on that post.

I was more struck with the evident repugnance re atheists
and their contaminating ideas than by any sort of racist
thing.

 

[VirOptimus]

Please note, I'm not asking whether Atheists possess moral and ethical values. I'm asking whether there are any backstops that prevent atheists from deciding that behaviours that are currently considered immoral and unethical, are now morally and ethically acceptable.

There are no "backstops" for anyone. Look at how morality has changed through history and how it varies between different cultures.

 

[GoldenKingGaze]

Isnt this topic generally aimed at
showing atheists to be morally inferior to believers?

In the ancient world, pederism was normal everywhere except in Israel.

I would suppose abortion is rejected by many Christians because of the belief their lives are eternal too. Some atheists may have a sense of fate and be pro-life. I also met a Jewish Christian who thought that since we watch TV with it's immoral persuasions that we owe it to the women to allow them to abort.

There are backstops from traditional and academic and popular spiritual interpretations of the Bible from Israel, but some Christians pass them by if it suits them. The Bible the conscience and the Spirit of God create backstops.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Like everyone else on earth, I have a worldview. It's not exactly rigid and inflexible, but I'm willing to bet good money at ridiculous odds that I will never believe that murder is okay or that homosexuality is wicked.

 

[rturner76]

Please note, I'm not asking whether Atheists possess moral and ethical values. I'm asking whether there are any backstops that prevent atheists from deciding that behaviours that are currently considered immoral and unethical, are now morally and ethically acceptable.

I think the practice of basic humanism should get most Atheists through the majority of ethical decisions. There is also an innate desire to be accepted by family/friends/society. Doing things that go against societal norms, especially things that harm others, would hurt your ability to operate in mainstream society. There is a problem though if one is antisocial. Not antisocial like you don't like being around people but antisocial as in no empathy.

 

[Astrid]

In the ancient world, pederism was normal everywhere except in Israel.
,
I would suppose abortion is rejected by many Christians because of the belief their lives are eternal too. Some atheists may have a sense of fate and be pro-life. I also met a Jewish Christian who thought that since we watch TV with it's immoral persuasions that we owe it to the women to allow them to abort.

There are backstops from traditional and academic and popular spiritual interpretations of the Bible from Israel, but some Christians pass them by if it suits them. The Bible the conscience and the Spirit of God cre⅞ate backstops.

Pederism? Pederism: report of a clinically diagnosed case in an ecological park in the city of Goiania, Brazil

If you mean child abuse, the assertion is absurd.
Just for one-
There is no way to know "normal" for thousands of
cultures around the world in that day.

In any case you did not address the topic.

 

[Astrid]

Like everyone else on earth, I have a worldview. It's not exactly rigid and inflexible, but I'm willing to bet good money at ridiculous odds that I will never believe that murder is okay or that homosexuality is wicked.

The problems enter at the fuzzy edges.

When is it murder, when is killing justified?
How do we view Bible accounts as examples to go by?

 

[Sparagmos]

Have you ever heard of the Milgram Experiment? It's surprising what some people will do

Good example! Most of those people were atheists, right?

 

[GoldenKingGaze]

Pederism? Pederism: report of a clinically diagnosed case in an ecological park in the city of Goiania, Brazil

If you mean child abuse, the assertion is absurd.
Just for one-
There is no way to know "normal" for thousands of
cultures around the world in that day.

In any case you did not address the topic.

Pederasty, I should have written, is immoral in Christian circles, but did Socrates speak against it? Do atheists have a block against it? Or philosophers? Jews always did.

Here is the closest Wikipedia article to the one I read four years ago.
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pederasty&oldid=815009811#Other_venues

It mentions Israel in, other venues, in ancient times.

 

[Ken-1122]

Please note, I'm not asking whether Atheists possess moral and ethical values. I'm asking whether there are any backstops that prevent atheists from deciding that behaviours that are currently considered immoral and unethical, are now morally and ethically acceptable.

To ask if atheists have a moral backstop is as senseless as asking if artists, or mathematicians have a moral backstop. Perhaps they do, but it has nothing to do with atheism. IMO too many people seem to confuse atheism as just another form of theism, or assume it is a replacement for theism; it's not. Most theisms are about morality, atheism is not, so although an atheist may have a moral backstop, that back stop will have no more to do with atheism than a mathematician or an artists moral backstop will have to do with math or art.

 

[Astrid]

Pederasty, I should have written, is immoral in Christian circles, but did Socrates speak against it? Do atheists have a block against it? Or philosophers? Jews always did.

Here is the closest Wikipedia article to the one I read four years ago.
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pederasty&oldid=815009811#Other_venues

It mentions Israel in, other venues, in ancient times.

You seem loathe to accept that you made up the
"Fact" about other cultures about which neither you
nor anyone can possibly know.

You go on to speak of atheists as some cohesive
group (a stereotype) who might think alike on
child abuse.

I find it a horrible crime that deserves the
harshest penalties. As surely any decent person does.

It does not uplift anyone to make claims that others
are not as good and moral as they.

In general, it has a "protest too much" air to it.

You have some good points to make? Say it straight
and we will consider it.

 

[zippy2006]

Read the Bible. There are plenty of backstops. But that is not really what this thread is about.

• Bloke: Do Atheists have backstops?
• Zippy: Can you say what you mean by 'backstop'?
• Bloke: No, I refuse.

Welp, that was a fun thread! Do you have any other topics you want to pretend to talk about? Because I love wasting my time and pretending to talk about things.

 

[Blade]

Please note, I'm not asking whether Atheists possess moral and ethical values. I'm asking whether there are any backstops that prevent atheists from deciding that behaviours that are currently considered immoral and unethical, are now morally and ethically acceptable.

What they can not explain is why its in them. God wrote His ways on our hearts. Saying GOD is not real.. its nothing more then words. No one needed to tell them don't take what is not yours. Do not hurt others.. on and on. Its in their heart. Its a belief yet not one they fully believe. My life shows fruits... I believe in Yeshua/Jesus Christ. Anyway.. its a dance

 

[Astrid]

What they can not explain is why its in them. God wrote His ways on our hearts. Saying GOD is not real.. its nothing more then words. No one needed to tell them don't take what is not yours. Do not hurt others.. on and on. Its in their heart. Its a belief yet not one they fully believe. My life shows fruits... I believe in Yeshua/Jesus Christ. Anyway.. its a dance

Of course we can explain it.
And you are surely NOT someone to say otherwise, nor
comment on the depth and sincerity of atheist morality.

 

[returntosender]

By what right?

If by " they" you mean atheists, that is quite a question.

If I may?
Is it not an open forum.?
There are forums closed to outside thoughts,
if that is preferred. But-
Why would anyone be afraid of examining their beliefs?

They are not Christian's so what right do they have to say anything about Christianity. Personally, I don't care what they think about it and I don't want to read it.

 

[Astrid]

They are not Christian's so what right do they have to say anything about Christianity. Personally, I don't care what they think about it and I don't want to read it.

I wonder what your Jesus would say of so uncharitable an attitude.

 

[returntosender]

I wonder what your Jesus would say of so uncharitable an attitude.

He's said plenty about them but you will never know since you don't read the Bible. Why would i have any charity about them, they have rejected a loving God?