Isn't religion an invention of people just to meet their psychological needs?

[Ian Smith]

.....

I believe it would be (was for me) easier not believing,, I never considered myself an atheist,,, when someone would ask me if I believed in god,,, my answer was...."I dont know, Im somewhat lost right now"... Even when I was at my worst I still tried to do the best I could by everyone, and would still find myself praying every now and then,,, not for anything particular,,, you know typicle prayer....' please watch over my family" stuff like that..... Now I do consider myself a christian,, kind of in the baby phase,,, I have alot to learn, and still have questions that may never be answered,,,,, But thats what faith is----- Believing in something you cant easily prove to another person, or even yourself at first....

 

[Bob Smith]

Glad to hear of your decision, Ian! Phreezer and I had talked about that last week or so. If you ever have any questions, feel free to email me.

 

[Ian Smith]

thanx

Glad to hear of your decision, Ian! Phreezer and I had talked about that last week or so. If you ever have any questions, feel free to email me.

Thanks Bob,,,

 

[Grizzly]

I'll read the posts after I reply to the title....

Yes.

 

[Grizzly]

However, if you are an atheist, from where do you get your morality? Your values? If you do not believe in God, how do you determine what is right and wrong?

Awwww, come on now. Certainly you didn't stop with Augustine and you bothered to read atleast one or two more philosophical texts. Hell, I know you're read Plato and I'm pretty sure he's answered your question. Don't saddle me with the title of Kantian, but his Categorical Imperative works plenty fine for answering your question.

How about utilitarianism for determining moral rightness? No, you say? Isn't the story of Jesus a prime example of utilitarianism.(don't try too hard to rip this apart, Cyniq. I just came up with it this very second. )

To create the greater good(salvation for humanity in all aeons to come) Jesus/God sacrificed him/theirself to provide for the greater good.

It's the same as the storys "Those Who Walked Away From Omelas". In order to create a utopia, it was necessary to torture ONE SINGLE little child in order to create happiness for the entire rest of humanity.

Seems like the two are analogous to me.

 

[CyniQ]

Isn't it interesting that philosophy consists almost exclusively of mans efforts to explain away a creator? BTW, Bentham was an idiot! No, no explanation, that's it. Jesus' sacrifice works just fine (in a general sense) as an example of a utilitarianism, if you choose to express it in that way. But who came first, Jesus or Bentham and Mills?

That "greater good" bullshit doesn't work and you know it. There is no morality or justice in sacrificing an innocent for the good of anyone else.

I still challenge anyone to come up with something that negates the bible's influence on our morality and value system.