reply to post by Barcs
Knowing right from wrong has nothing to do with evolution. It has to do with empathy. People don't need religion to have empathy. It's a very simple
philosophy known as the golden rule. Do unto others and you would have them do unto you. You don't need a religion to teach you that. When you see an
innocent person suffering, you will either put yourself in their shoes and imagine how they feel and why its wrong, OR you ignore them and don't care
at all because it's not you. That's the type of mentality that started slavery and torture for not believing in the same god as another. That
mentality isn't exclusive to atheists, a large portion of religious folk are pro war, regardless of the suffering it causes. Right and wrong can be
subjective, but the general rule of thumb is this: Ask yourself, "Is this action going to cause any harm or suffering to others?" If it does, then
it is wrong. If not, then who really cares? Some believe smoking weed is wrong, gay marriage, premarital sex, masturbation, etc etc.. But do those
action harm anybody other than potentially yourself? I don't understand the concept that religious folks can tell right from wrong, while non
religious cannot. That's simply false and right and wrong is mostly about empathy, just as jesus taught and most other religions teach as well. It
really has nothing at all to do with evolution.
Nope, still don't get it.
We are nothing more than 'animals'. A bit smarter, more sly, adaptable and manipulative than other animals, but animals all the same (according to
Why would I want to hinder/hamper my life by basing every action on how it affects others?
Does a lion feel guilty for killing a gazelle?
Maybe that sounds a bit primitive, but if all I have is the HERE and NOW, consequence is a man made construct to keep me playing 'the game' by the
rules that someone other than myself determined. Why would I want to play by anyone elses rules? Why would I limit and hinder my existence to a
temporal code that has no real bearing? If I die tomorrow, everything I did serves me no purpose.
Might cause some ripples in other peoples' lives, but I wont be watching from some cloud or fiery pit thinking, 'Oops, my fault that eventually
happened/they did that/they didn't do that', and ultimately I won't care. When I'm dead, it serves me no good, so whatever I do now won't serve
me any good when I'm dead either.
Would I like to be hunted down like a wild animal into an alleyway and have my wallet and my life stolen from me? No not really, but that's the
survival of the fittest. No need for a 'golden rule' just to pacify the collective needy conscience of humanity.
No room in evolution for the 'It's not fair' sentiment that humanity constantly cries out like an angry child.
Why should anything be fair? Who made that rule up?
Oh yeah, the golden ratio-ists....still don't get it.
Does it serve me or do I serve it?