I am merely arguing that we can all be good, without God.
Whose good? "Good" has no objective meaning without an objective authority (aka God). So yes, without God we can all be good because we can each define all our personal actions as good subjectively independent of anyone else.
The thing I find interesting is that even non-theists cannot live up to their own moral standard they set for themselves subjectively. And very few people would admit they are morally perfect regardless of philosophy.
How can you be completely selfless when you have knowedge that you are making God happy, or going to heaven or avoiding hell? That means you cannot be selfless unless you don't know about God. Or would you say you wouldn't act any different without these motivators?
I don't think anyone would act any differently with or without those motivators. God's image is planted on us which is why we are naturally inclined to feel more contented when we live selfless lifestyles.
Like 'thou shalt not rape'
Something about sexual equality? Instead of the sexist way women are treated in most religions.
I think that's covered in "Love your neighbor as yourself." Why do you want God to list out everything explicitly when a simple rule encompasses all of it? I think legalism just makes a faith into a complicated religion where everyone is striving for perfection which leads to judgments as some cry out that others aren't abiding by rule #253. That's not the point of Christianity. Perfection is not the goal, salvation is the goal.
Or even 'thou shalt not be wicked to animals' instead of teaching all animals were created for human use.
Please read Ishmael by Daniel Quinn, a book with a unique take on Genesis. Also, God does not say, "Humans, I have created all animals for your use." Genesis 1:26 says, "
And God said Let us make man in our image after our likeness and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth". God gave us dominion over animals. Its a responsibility to rule over them, take care of them and help them just as it is a king's responsibility to rule over his subjects and take care of them and help them. Dominion does not imply a negative authoritarian rule. Too often people forget this.
Of course, but we are discussing human culture and evolution of memes etc. When you are talking about an all-knowing God who sees all time independently...then surely the morals will remain the same? Surely God doesn't let people 1000 years ago get away with sin that he would condemn the modern man to hell for? Does that make sense to you?
I think humanity is on a moral learning curve. The Bible is a big book and contains all the necessary information to live moral lives. Humanity's interpretation of the Bible is often twisted but the Bible cannot be blamed for human actions.
Which is precisely why many atheists implore believers to put down their ancient books. Humanity and civilistation can't stay in the dark ages. The consequences are terrible, which is plain to see in our history and modern world. Ignorance can't be condemned but it should be discouraged and remedied whenever possible.
Religion and the Bible are not the source of world problems. That is ridiculous. There have been murderous, power-hungry leaders of the world in all eras, in all places, regardless of belief system. Genghis Khan, Adolf Hitler, Pol Pot, Mao Zedong, etc are all non-Christian. Benevolent leadership is hard to find. Even today we are held in the grip of a tyranny of the capitalist corporations with head honchos bent on profits regardless of neglect of the earth or humanity. Many of these corporations head honchos are Christian but many are not. Atheists are so often logical, scientific and statistics-oriented but then they pull the "religion is evil because of its atrocities" card and I'm like, "What?"
