Russ: What a-moral force keeps you from cheating on your wife or keeps your wife from cheating on you?
Bernie: How about the principle of 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you' (the saying from Jesus which Jesus copied from others before him).
Russ: Why? Why not kill and rob them if you think you can get away with it? If you are a-moral and nothing in and of itself is right or wrong, then “do unto others BEFORE they do it unto you” should be preferable.
Bernie: In the grand scheme (cosmic scale over eons of time) of things I do think life is meaningless, because I believe there is no god(s).
Russ: Then society could not trust you to (1) be a spouse, (2) be an honest banker, (3) be a Boy Scout leader, (4) guard something or (5) be a politician. You have no moral reason to be honest.
Bernie: However, since we find ourselves here, we can develop good rules for society (to enable thriving), and enjoy life."
Russ: Do you ever look at yourself in the mirror and ask “Who am I? Why am I here? Why am I different from animals? Why did I evolve to become self-aware?” If things go wrong and your lose your family, house and job, what is keeping you from suicide?
…………………………………
Russ: Theists began with a “moral God.” Simple to find morality.
Bernie: Not simple at all for the theist. Theists also argue over gay rights, abortion, slavery, women rights, euthanasia, racial issues, etc. Being a theist doesn't really seem to help. The only theists who think it is simple also think that other theists are wrong and misguided.
Russ: At least we can engage each other from a perspective of what is morally right and wrong. Amoral atheists merely throw up their hands and say “Who cares? It just happened that way.”
Bernie: On the surface, being a theist helps tremendously. With a little digging, I think we find it doesn't help at all. All answers are superficial."
Russ: Theists argue about what a moral God would do. Amoral atheists have no motivation to even care who wins or loses an argument over morality.
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