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I never 'had' religion - I was raised by atheists. So, I never had a 'void' to fill. So, what does that make of me? I feel like a 'moral' person - do I need
by ap22213 12y ago
I never 'had' religion - I was raised by atheists. So, I never had a 'void' to fill.
So, what does that make of me? I feel like a 'moral' person - do I need something other than common sense, empathy, and civility to be moral?
- explorigin 12y agoThe trouble is when a serial killer says the same thing.
- drzaiusapelord 12y agoSerial killers who are almost universally white Christian males?
- ap22213 12y agoI have a hard time believing that a serial killer will be cured by religion.
- arkj 12y agoI don't know about serial killers but I know a slave trader who was cured.
- jqm 12y agoLike John Wayne Gacy who read bible verses to the young men he was strangling?
- anigbrowl 12y agoSerial killers are practically defined by their lack of empathy, so no.
- gyardley 12y agoNo, of course not. You're obviously just fine as you are. That said, your atheist parents may have done a particularly good job teaching you common sense, empathy, and civility, or you may be naturally inclined towards common sense, empathy, and civility in a way that not every person is. For those individuals who aren't inclined to common sense, empathy, or civility, and for those individuals with parents who aren't so good at teaching common sense, empathy, and civility, religious organizations can play a very useful role. The god-talk isn't the important part, it's belonging to a broader community that specializes in teaching moral lessons. The decline in religious institutions really doesn't affect smart well-off people with good parents, but it's been terrible for the rest of society, because no secular community has replaced it. As an aside, the void that so many of these cults fill isn't an absence of moral precepts, it's that sense of community and belonging.
- enraged_camel 12y ago>>For those individuals who aren't inclined to common sense, empathy, or civility, and for those individuals with parents who aren't so good at teaching common sense, empathy, and civility, religious organizations can play a very useful role. It can also make them use religion to justify their lack of common sense, empathy and civility.