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passiveporcupine

(8,175 posts)

58. Love this!

Reply to rhett o rick (Reply #29)

Thu Aug 21, 2014, 05:36 PM

Aug 2014

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Morals are based on empathy not religion [View all] Yavin4 Aug 2014 OP

all gods have the manners and morals of a spoiled child. hobbit709 Aug 2014 #1

Heinlein Android3.14 Aug 2014 #17

Not the ones I allow to play in my sandbox tavalon Aug 2014 #72

^== Wow. IdaBriggs Aug 2014 #89

Just look at Trelane. Archae Aug 2014 #76

I totally agree with you! Delmette Aug 2014 #2

Welcome to DU, Delmette! calimary Aug 2014 #59

ABSOLUTELY correct! elleng Aug 2014 #3

Thank you! That's a great answer. Arkansas Granny Aug 2014 #4

And it is only their religion too not even just being religious . They like to decide what is lunasun Aug 2014 #5

I don't know what makes people behave well, but I know that some people merrily Aug 2014 #6

But if you base your morality on fear of Hell, and your "good works" on getting you into Heaven, maddiemom Aug 2014 #46

Most religions, especially chritianity offer a smorgasboard of morals allowing believers to A Simple Game Aug 2014 #90

No, you're right on the money Warpy Aug 2014 #7

^ nt littlemissmartypants Aug 2014 #75

Exactly correct cpwm17 Aug 2014 #8

You are correct. djean111 Aug 2014 #9

What, you want people running around Jackpine Radical Aug 2014 #24

I think we worship corporate logos now. :-O djean111 Aug 2014 #28

That secular=immoral bullshit was just posted in an OP on good ol' progressive DU. Arugula Latte Aug 2014 #10

Richard Dawkins actually is a total dickhead. Crunchy Frog Aug 2014 #47

Stole my line Prophet 451 Aug 2014 #127

"Bigoted" seems a bit of a stretch. bvf Aug 2014 #73

I think he's honest to a fault.. defacto7 Aug 2014 #82

I agree. Uncle Joe Aug 2014 #11

Acts of faith... dangin Aug 2014 #12

Absolutely. There is now plenty of social cognitive neuroscience to back you up on this. n/t RufusTFirefly Aug 2014 #13

What if we figured out a drug that we could give to people to make them feel empathy. Yavin4 Aug 2014 #22

Apparently we already have one - MDMA. GliderGuider Aug 2014 #34

It sounds right, but defacto7 Aug 2014 #84

Interesting question Prophet 451 Aug 2014 #128

re: "We've seen devoutly religious people commit all manner of horrific acts" thesquanderer Aug 2014 #14

some religious people azureblue Aug 2014 #83

“Kindness should become the natural way of life, not the exception.” ― Gautama Buddha Tierra_y_Libertad Aug 2014 #15

Relevant quote: trotsky Aug 2014 #16

And religion is a great tool for the destruction of empathy. Bluenorthwest Aug 2014 #18

You Are Correct, Sir or Madam! cer7711 Aug 2014 #19

A quote from a Professor I had way back in 1975.......... mrmpa Aug 2014 #20

Where do morals come from? Puzzledtraveller Aug 2014 #21

Agree. phil89 Aug 2014 #23

Morals are socially constructed. Iron Man Aug 2014 #25

Morals are innate in the same way language is bhikkhu Aug 2014 #79

Morals are not innate. Iron Man Aug 2014 #109

The details vary, but morality itself is innate in every individual bhikkhu Aug 2014 #119

You're wrong. Iron Man Aug 2014 #122

Without social interaction, a developing mind withers bhikkhu Aug 2014 #129

No, you are absolutely right n/t War Horse Aug 2014 #26

You are right. In facts, some religions interfere with natural empathy. Lex Aug 2014 #27

I think Abe Lincoln said: "When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That's my rhett o rick Aug 2014 #29

Love this! passiveporcupine Aug 2014 #58

That sums up my sentiments exactly. SunSeeker Aug 2014 #116

Religion is a scam, but JEB Aug 2014 #30

Religion is a threat and a control tool NightWatcher Aug 2014 #43

Well said. nt raccoon Aug 2014 #48

"Control tool" -- Yes, this. Arugula Latte Aug 2014 #50

Ina society without the threat of hell for doing bad deeds treestar Aug 2014 #88

Correct! I'm not religious. As I've explained in RL, I don't get my morals from religion, I ChisolmTrailDem Aug 2014 #31

Religion = the maniipulation of the masses ReRe Aug 2014 #32

Adam Smith certainly thought so. rogerashton Aug 2014 #33

I hope there are other factors to depend on beyond either religion or empathy TheKentuckian Aug 2014 #35

Yes! I was raised with an excellent moral compus, but very little religion. maddiemom Aug 2014 #36

You're correct. The lack of empathy is very apparent in people like Huck. sinkingfeeling Aug 2014 #37

It's amazing that someone would actually believe that Dont call me Shirley Aug 2014 #38

absolutely right! bigtonka Aug 2014 #39

Empathy is subjective. Morality, if it has any claim upon a person, is not. nt Nuclear Unicorn Aug 2014 #40

Christianity started with a murder albino65 Aug 2014 #41

No, you are not wrong. hamsterjill Aug 2014 #42

And what does that tell you about some religions where everywhere in their texts it.... Tikki Aug 2014 #44

Empathy seems a mammalian trait to me... ymetca Aug 2014 #45

Congratulations. what are you going to do Tribalceltic Aug 2014 #49

You are correct. Helen Borg Aug 2014 #51

You're absolutely right IMO. bvf Aug 2014 #52

Often Christian morals are founded on fear of punishment instead of empathy. Kablooie Aug 2014 #53

They may not be inherently immoral in the absence bvf Aug 2014 #67

I don't quite agree, but yours is a lot closer to my point of view than Ayn Rand's nonsense Jack Rabbit Aug 2014 #54

Socialism existed in various human societies around the globe long before Karl Marx Yavin4 Aug 2014 #60

It's very primitive socialism, suited to hunter/gatherer societies. Jack Rabbit Aug 2014 #62

Here's religious "morals." Group suicide of more than 900 people, Jonestown: blkmusclmachine Aug 2014 #55

^ http://www.kk.org/truefilms/archives/Jonestown1.jpg ^ blkmusclmachine Aug 2014 #56

I can only rec this thread once, goddamit! Iggo Aug 2014 #57

I'll go you one better, religions are based on morals... Spitfire of ATJ Aug 2014 #61

That was well put. flying rabbit Aug 2014 #63

You are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! nt LiberalElite Aug 2014 #64

The human species has survived because of cooperation. From birth, we're dependent valerief Aug 2014 #65

I like that, Yavin.. simple and true. Cha Aug 2014 #66

You're not wrong at all EvolveOrConvolve Aug 2014 #68

I think morality is innate in the human heart, something everyone is born with. Voice for Peace Aug 2014 #69

And Japan has a small fraction of the crime our Christian nation does. ErikJ Aug 2014 #70

I totally agree with the OP however comparing Japan to the US on this issue snagglepuss Aug 2014 #92

I have said this here before...empathy develops vanlassie Aug 2014 #71

organized religion has never been about morals, it is about convincing the masses to whereisjustice Aug 2014 #74

You should look up the word "empathy" flvegan Aug 2014 #77

True - morality is a universal human characteristic bhikkhu Aug 2014 #78

And real religion is based on empathy, too MannyGoldstein Aug 2014 #80

Bollocks. All religions talk a good talk but where is that stellar empathy when snagglepuss Aug 2014 #93

Hence the "real" in my title MannyGoldstein Aug 2014 #110

But real Judaism has a god that promotes warfare, who frames the world snagglepuss Aug 2014 #118

What is there to interpret? MannyGoldstein Aug 2014 #124

A big argument between men. Where's the voice of women? That said I do esteem the value snagglepuss Aug 2014 #130

I think most of it started as a means of control. Arugula Latte Aug 2014 #132

correct, and-- azureblue Aug 2014 #81

I don't think you are wrong. defacto7 Aug 2014 #85

nope. you're right. barbtries Aug 2014 #86

You are not wrong. Kicked and recommended. Enthusiast Aug 2014 #87

I agree ChristianSocialist Aug 2014 #91

We definitely should abolish faith-based funding and there s/b no restrictions valerief Aug 2014 #100

So, what if empathy isn't that common, really? malthaussen Aug 2014 #94

Your argument proves my point Yavin4 Aug 2014 #98

So true, hifiguy Aug 2014 #95

No. Need both. We know some lack empathy. Festivito Aug 2014 #96

You don't need religion for that. Hissyspit Aug 2014 #107

Neither you nor the op describe what is needed. Festivito Aug 2014 #111

Religion has nothing to do with morality. Arugula Latte Aug 2014 #112

How about: yes, it does. Festivito Aug 2014 #121

Uhhh yeeeeah. No. Arugula Latte Aug 2014 #123

Uhhh, yeeeeeah, yes. Festivito Aug 2014 #125

And the immoral aspects of religions? Hissyspit Aug 2014 #117

Religions can become corrupted. Festivito Aug 2014 #120

Absolutely true! Maineman Aug 2014 #97

To be fair, there are positive examples of religions as well. Yavin4 Aug 2014 #99

If you want to prove it, just ask a relgious person why they don't stone their neighbor for Marr Aug 2014 #101

Morals are an expression of our investing in people, DesertFaux Aug 2014 #102

You are so true!! Perfect! hue Aug 2014 #103

Yes you are wrong.. LW1977 Aug 2014 #104

How is he wrong? Hissyspit Aug 2014 #106

Pat Robertson is religious. Arugula Latte Aug 2014 #113

Empathy is what Christianity's "Golden Rule" tries (and fails) to inculcate. SunSeeker Aug 2014 #105

Morals are based on empathy not religion The CCC Aug 2014 #108

I'd agree. Some of the most Christian people I have met aren't Christians. raouldukelives Aug 2014 #114

Exactly right . Empathy was expressed in the saying by Jesus " do unto others as you would have them geretogo Aug 2014 #115

No, you're not wrong Prophet 451 Aug 2014 #126

You are not wrong fadedrose Aug 2014 #131

... napkinz Aug 2014 #133