2011-01-18, 06:10 PM
I never said lack of religion means lack of morals. In fact religion is NOT the same as faith and beliefs. Religion teaches a way of life within the values of faith and beliefs, nothing more. The fact people use religion as a crutch or excuse is appalling, even to me.
Atheism is a broad term in fact, often too broad to actually have a true definition. It can mean anywhere from anti-religion to anti-deity. Faith and values can be present even in a person claiming atheism. Focus of those faith a values can vary from the self to society. Even some people could say due to this Atheism is in fact a religion of sorts even if denied by those who practice it.
Let me use me for an example: By religious teachings, I'm a heretic gnostic. I am a Christian who has abandoned religion in favor of faith. My focus on my deity (God in this view point) is learned from religion, it is only keep to me by faith because I know there are things of this universe and it's dynamics mankind is never going to understand, nor explain. Should I not have some fallback to the unknown, or was that my free-will to choose that there is some force, entity, and power beyond my knowledge that is there? I feel I should. But, I never go to church, I don't agree with everything religion teaches. I feel there is lots of bigotry, hate, intolerance, and even hypocritical at times in religion.
And prime you're statement...
Atheism doesn't equal Hedonism but it walks a fine line.
A Hedonist cares not for society, and often not even for themselves. For them, if it feels good, they do it, regardless of consequence. Now place this in the context of a government without values that seeks only the advancement of it's power, influence, and superiority. Governments of this type never last and can not function.
Even an Atheist has some foundations of principle value, ethics, and even faith that are learned or assimilated from a religious source. It might not be viewed towards a deity, but you have to ask yourself... do you value things, beliefs, and ideas of any type, kind, and source?
Atheism is a broad term in fact, often too broad to actually have a true definition. It can mean anywhere from anti-religion to anti-deity. Faith and values can be present even in a person claiming atheism. Focus of those faith a values can vary from the self to society. Even some people could say due to this Atheism is in fact a religion of sorts even if denied by those who practice it.
Let me use me for an example: By religious teachings, I'm a heretic gnostic. I am a Christian who has abandoned religion in favor of faith. My focus on my deity (God in this view point) is learned from religion, it is only keep to me by faith because I know there are things of this universe and it's dynamics mankind is never going to understand, nor explain. Should I not have some fallback to the unknown, or was that my free-will to choose that there is some force, entity, and power beyond my knowledge that is there? I feel I should. But, I never go to church, I don't agree with everything religion teaches. I feel there is lots of bigotry, hate, intolerance, and even hypocritical at times in religion.
And prime you're statement...
Quote:An athiest may say to a religious man oh it's only fear of your imagined diety that holds you to the confines of your religion, just as someone may say to an athiest it's just fear of the possible consequences that keeps you from complete hedonism and taking whatever you will....is one of the many truths of the broadness of "where do you draw the line" and how much of a mixture of faith and values is needed to function within the acceptable limits of society.
Atheism doesn't equal Hedonism but it walks a fine line.
A Hedonist cares not for society, and often not even for themselves. For them, if it feels good, they do it, regardless of consequence. Now place this in the context of a government without values that seeks only the advancement of it's power, influence, and superiority. Governments of this type never last and can not function.
Even an Atheist has some foundations of principle value, ethics, and even faith that are learned or assimilated from a religious source. It might not be viewed towards a deity, but you have to ask yourself... do you value things, beliefs, and ideas of any type, kind, and source?