Is God Necessary For Morality

[Paracelsus]

Here is the link to a podcast discussion which may be of interest it features Raimond Gaita and John Haldane in discussion.
Late Night Live - 26June2008 - Is God necessary for morality?

[OntheWindowStand]

Originally Posted by Paracelsus

Here is the link to a podcast discussion which may be of interest it features Raimond Gaita and John Haldane in discussion.
Late Night Live - 26June2008 - Is God necessary for morality?

I believe he is without a higher being what sets the standerd if there isnt a god ill sent what ever standerd i damn well please.

[Holiday20310401]

No God is not necessary for morality. Humanity is fully capable of establishing morals, understanding what is right and wrong, learning from our mistakes.

Unfortunately though I think a lot of people believe they need to believe in a morally superior figure to look up to. I mean its ok, so long as we are all striving for moral perfection. Just don't parallel it, thats insane, a moral perfection figure is either insane or not living, or not experiencing anything.

Is there a moral divinity separate from humanity (not fundamentally) that has influence on our moral judgement? NO!!

[Fido]

No! But, the primary morality to all people, the incest taboo, was to a people not advanced in biology, an evidence of the spiritual power that can be concieved of out of physical evidence. Just as they seemed to think that deer must talk because they are intelligent and warry, they also believed there was an actual curse attached to incest since it soon brought forth monsters. Look at the story of Oedipus who brought down a curse upon his home as tyrant/king for doing that which even cattle do not do.

[Theaetetus]

Many people are conditioned to think that God is necessary to be moral, but it doesn't work that way. Children could be raised just as easily to think the boogeyman will haunt and torture them for being immoral. God is convenient for the powers that be because it is easy to tag God with behavior he doesn't like and will send you to hell for.

Personally, guilt and shame tend to uphold my morality. I feel guilty for immoral behavior and if others catch me I feel shameful. Emotions do wonders when people are raised to understand what they are trying to teach.

[<daleader>]

In short NO! just to allow me to post a reply since NO was to short, NO WAY

[Fido]

Originally Posted by <daleader>

In short NO! just to allow me to post a reply since NO was to short, NO WAY

To short, or not too short, that is the question. Hand me my tape measure!

[Fido]

God does not make morality, but is made by morality.

[Holiday20310401]

I like the idea that emotion acts to control morality, perhaps it is an evolutionary adaptation to social progress.

[Mr. Fight the Power]

Originally Posted by Holiday20310401

I like the idea that emotion acts to control morality, perhaps it is an evolutionary adaptation to social progress.

It is certainly as you have described it, unfortunately it becomes material and necessary and thus fails to fall into the traditional and useful definition of morality.