Are Science and Religion Enemies of Morality?

Discussion in 'Human Science' started by coberst, Mar 12, 2009.

  1. jps Valued Senior Member

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    This thread's title caught my attention, and although I couldn't make sense of the original post, I wanted to respond to the title question.

    Its unusual to see someone question whether both science and religion are enemies of morality. For most people, its one or the other.

    I think the answer depends on what you mean by morality. If morality is obedience to God's will, then obviously religion is a friend of morality, and science potentially an enemy, if it reveals that what God demands in his holy book is at odds with healthy human behavior.

    I think the most interesting current hypothesis for morality is that proposed by Marc Hauser, that like language, we have an innate capacity to acquire morality from our culture, and that like language, there are some universal features of moral systems. If this is true, and this is all morality is, then religion is either irrelevant to morality, or harmful, depending on whether the religious tenets support or conflict with the acquired moral system. Science, having the potential to reveal the fundamental features of human morality, is helpful, as if these features are known, moral debate must rest on applying them consistently. Neither can be said to be "enemies" of morality, under this view, as its just a part of human nature.
     
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  3. pluto2 Banned Valued Senior Member

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    Dr. Grady McMurtry makes some strong arguments against evolutionary biology. He says that people who believe in evolution have no reason to be moral. Because evolution says there is no God (unless you believe in theistic evolution) and that we are completely alone, facing the dangers and challenges of life:

    "According to evolution humans are nothing but thinking animals and if we are nothing but thinking animals then that's the way we should behave. And therefore anything goes. Evolutionists believe there are no laws, no rules, no roles, no sincere conduct, no purpose in life. Creation says there are laws, rules, roles, sincere conduct and most assuredly purpose."

    "Evolution teaches that there is a superior and an inferior".

    You can see the full video here. Scroll down to Dr. Grady McMurtry April 18th, 2009

    http://www.theedgeam.com/
     
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  5. StrangerInAStrangeLand SubQuantum Mechanic Valued Senior Member

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    Totally fabricated old strawmen.
    Dr. Grady McMurtry makes ridiculous arguments against evolutionary biology.
    Evolution does not say humans are nothing but thinking animals, how they should behave or that anything goes.
    Evolutionists do not believe there are no laws, no rules, no roles, no sincere conduct, no purpose in life.
    Only an ignorant arrogant moron says that people who believe in evolution have no reason to be moral.
    Evolution does not say there is no God.
    Gods do not help with the dangers and challenges of life.
    Assuming creation doesn't mean there are laws, rules, roles, sincere conduct and most assuredly purpose.
     
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  7. Nasor Valued Senior Member

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    What do you mean by "reason" to be moral? The reason why people who believe in evolution are moral is social conditioning and inherent human psychology, the same as everyone else. We want people to like us, trust us, and help us when we need help, and we want to live in a certain kind of society (one where we don't have to worry about being randomly murdered, etc.) and we know there are certain behaviors that will interfere with that, so we avoid those behaviors and call them "immoral".

    Let me ask you something: If tomorrow you came across some amazingly convincing proof that there is no god and evolution is completely correct, would you immediately go out and start raping and murdering people? I doubt it. But why wouldn't you? Probably because you have reasons to act morally other than simply fearing some omnipresent god might be watching you and judging you.

    If fear that god would punish you is really the only thing keeping you from raping and murdering people, then you're probably a terrible person who I wouldn't want living next to me.
     
  8. Nasor Valued Senior Member

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    Apparently you are too stupid to realize that the very device you're using to criticize science is proof that science works. The fact that your computer works at all is proof that science doesn't always fail. It took very advanced principles of physics and chemistry to make you a working computer.
     
  9. -ND- Human Prototype Registered Senior Member

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    Lmao. You are talking about a computer and I'm talking about life. Good job.
     
  10. Drphail Banned Banned

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    pointing darwin as the founding father of evolution makes him out to be some sort of anti-christ. he was first to document his ideas and research further, it's a simple thought with scientific backing. although he was bright, he wasn't that smart a man. a prime example of work ethic trumps intelligence in terms of "success". success is the most loosely defined word in the english language, as it differs from person to person.
     
  11. pluto2 Banned Valued Senior Member

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    I've never been a creationist, but I belived in equality and fairness, when I was a teen... Boy with serious insecurities, unsuccessful in school and with friends, trying to make the world fairer... Creationism, the afterlife, racial supremacy, fairness, equality, soulmates... All things we believe without evidences, to make our life easier...

    Life is never gonna be fair or easy, we just have to get used to it.
     
    Last edited: May 22, 2009

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