Would an Atheist World Be More Moral?

The "Evolution of God" author weighs the argument that human moral progress might depend on abandoning religion.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• bigthink

[dem0nthesis]

Let me sum this up with one word: yes.

[AMomentOfClarity2011]

@ocelot113 While the 'stargate' idea that gods and their prophets are kindof advanced aliens and the ignorant people at the time did not understand that and equated it with magic is interesting, its far more likely that priests simply take credit for natural events, like the US Jerry Falwell did about the disasters that killed people being gods wraith on anyone he did not like.

The level of ignorance and superstition that existed in the past is hard to credit nowadays.

[iamihop11]

@nrvrine427 Sure, we won't ever reach perfection, but I suspect that if you actually talked to individual common folks in any region on the planet, you'd find the same basic desires and values. That tribal mentality - the determination to find an "other" - doesn't have to be the only thing that can galvanize people and build a community...at least that's my observation.

Anyway, when the alien invasion fleet arrives, then maybe we'll put aside our marginal differences :D

[N3bu14Gr4y]

The idea that various gods are manifestations of the same deity seems logical, until you remember that Satanism is also a religion ._.

[nrvrine427]

I think people focus too narrowly on the problem. It's not just religion, it's the humans. Just think about all the stupid, trivial shit that people fight over that has nothing to do with religion. It's our tribal mentalities that cause us to be divisive, and quarrelsome, and fanatical. It's what empowers religion in the first place. Personally, I think we're too fucked up to attain any kind of stable, long-term global piece, or in fact ever have an objective, non-corrupt government.

[Keatelite]

Why pander to the religious...for someone who authored a book about the subject you dont seem to have any solid theories one way or the other about the subject. Check out Penn's Monologue about Tolerance here on bigthink. I agree with his analysis completely.

[Neosaigo]

Probably not immediately, but if the populations are more empathetic and all work on reason, we can cut down on many conflicts and wars all over the world.

So it will be slightly more moral, but it won't stop crimes and people with ill intentions. You just won't see a battles of invisible friend competitions.

I won't expect people to all become more logical for another few hundred years anyways. There is no need to rush, all we need to do is focus on surviving.

[bustacapinlutha]

Hard to say if world would be more moral without religion: some religious people can tolerate gays, equal rights for women, other races; and some atheists may not tolerate same things. As long as humans continue to "hide" proclivities for things not "mainstream" they will continue to be oppressed -- and women, of course, everywhere, are considered niggers of the world.

[shadowtygo]

@DystopianEmpire01 ... I know what 1984 is... i've read the book I know about oceania and all that.. the party and all that nonsense I've read it..

[stevemenard]

I would elaborate further and say that rather than having a tolerance for other religions or beliefs (which implies holding on to the thought that one's beliefs are more 'true' than others), I would encourage everyone to have more empathy for others, and perhaps educate ourselves better as to the cultural practices of others. We need to get away from an 'Us and Them' mentality, and we should focus on our common ideals for bettering the societies that we currently live in.

[QuinnTheSpacerocker]

..." im better for the society, the system, evolving, the world ectr. does not make you more moral others will feel insulted ... sorry for the all the words.