Originally Posted by The Batlord

I agree with this. I mean, if religion isn't divinely inspired, then it is a process of evolution that came about to fulfill some need that wasn't being met without it, and since it's still around, we likely are still not meeting that need on our own.

As an atheist, without religion to justify ethics I've largely been left with nihilism and the concept that I keep going on and engage in morality because it is in my nature to do so, which is rather circular (life perpetuates itself and seeks to exist simply because it is instinctual) and doesn't hold much logic, since it doesn't really matter whether the atoms that constitute my body continue to constitute my body or whether they instead become a chair. Religion sort of gives you a reason to go on and engage in morality that can't really be argued over so we are able to engage in the minutiae of life without our minds being taken over with such thoughts.

Originally Posted by The Virgin

what? i don't understand you. farming is for vegetables, not for meat. if ou disagree with a farming practice, you disagree on a vegetable. unless you have a different definition of farming.

Originally Posted by The Virgin

what? i don't understand you. farming is for vegetables, not for meat. if ou disagree with a farming practice, you disagree on a vegetable. unless you have a different definition of farming.

Originally Posted by Howard the Duck

^^i will just say the only thing stopping me from doing a whole lot of stuff is the long arm of the law

Originally Posted by The Virgin

what? i don't understand you. farming is for vegetables, not for meat. if ou disagree with a farming practice, you disagree on a vegetable. unless you have a different definition of farming.

Originally Posted by Howard the Duck

^^mostly murder and sex crimes, I guess

Originally Posted by tore

Are you being honest or are you pulling my leg? Performing such acts of depravity wouldn't make you feel bad?

Originally Posted by The Virgin

what? i don't understand you. farming is for vegetables, not for meat. if ou disagree with a farming practice, you disagree on a vegetable. unless you have a different definition of farming.

Originally Posted by tore

I'm a highly (really!) moral being and care deeply about how mine and others actions affect others. I believe my morality is an expression of my genes (okay, and some environment) and as such, it's just who I am. It's written into the blueprint of my being.

To me, that makes morals more relevant - not less. It's a social trait we've evolved, not for the betterment of everyone else, but for the betterment of ourselves. It is in our selfish interest to be "nice" to others. How could anyone interpret that in a way which makes morals not matter?

Originally Posted by J.R.R. Tolkien

There is only one bright spot and that is the growing habit of disgruntled men of dynamiting factories and power-stations; I hope that, encouraged now as ‘patriotism’, may remain a habit! But it won’t do any good, if it is not universal.

Originally Posted by TUИEZ

Hope you do too. Being new here, I have no idea why you decided to attack me just for being from Arizona. But since you did, I just have to ask... Is being a dick something you practice or does it just come naturally to you?