What part of "omniscient" do they not get?

Their God is omniscient, so he knew how they were going to turn out when he made them.

Nobody ever said that knowing everything would lead to all the right choices.

If you are only moral because you think you are going to get caught, you really haven't examined yourself very well and are the intellectual equal of a cockroach...

I don't discount the possibility of a deity, but if he does exist he is either much less powerful than Christians believe, or is a giant dickwad.

Don't worry. When the socialists get into power, there will be no more religion.

GaryPDX: Don't worry. When the socialists get into power, there will be no more religion.

Good.

Socialists... is there anything they can't accomplish ?

Mordant: Socialists... is there anything they can't accomplish ?

Free hat?

Optional Morality: Now With 50% More Holier-Than-Thou!

Mordant: Socialists... is there anything they can't accomplish ?

lol I'm pretty sure they'd have a tough time living up to Gary's expectations.

ArbitraryConstant: Mordant: Socialists... is there anything they can't accomplish ?

lol I'm pretty sure they'd have a tough time living up to Gary's expectations.

You forget where I live. This state is run by socialists in all three sides of the government in Salem and has for 20 years. We have a pretty state but our schools suck the big one and the state universal healthcare doesn't cover anything newer than ten years old and very little at that. They will cover your suicide meds though, no problem. We have no sales tax so only people with jobs and have property are taxed to the moon.

Trust me, they live up to my expectations very well.

LordZorch: If you are only moral because you think you are going to get caught, you really haven't examined yourself very well and are the intellectual equal of a cockroach...

I see my work here is done.

The article actually says that people are more altruistic if they perceive that they are being observed or if they are reminded that the invisible sky buddy is always watching. Either way, it just validates the principles that governments and religions have been using for centuries. People behave better if they believe that they are being watched. One factor that is missing is the lack of feedback. If a person believes that they are being watched but there are no consequences for behaving badly, they will revert back to bad behavior. Religions counter this by telling people that there will be an accounting in the afterlife.

From this, I postulate that a moral atheist is truly moral while a moral theist is just being selfish.

incendi: I don't discount the possibility of a deity, but if he does exist he is either much less powerful than Christians believe, or is a giant dickwad.

Maybe he's omniscient because he's stuck in an infinite time-loop and he can only help each one of us 1 day a time.

GaryPDX: Don't worry. When the socialists get into power, there will be no more religion.

The Socialist already IS in power, and he's plenty damn religious.
Or at least, he acts like it.

Laz Long: From this, I postulate that a moral atheist is truly moral while a moral theist is just being selfish.

It's also a lot harder to be a moral unbeliever - takes more focus. Of course, the harder you work, the more rewarding the outcome, so I'm cool with that.

whoops. hahhaa. The first line of my last post was supposed to be someone else's quote.

The rest of the post is mine. Sorry for the giant link that essentially goes nowhere.

no duh there ... If Jesus isn't watching it's not a sin. Every preacher that's into beating his kids, hookers and blow, or something else can tell you that.

GaryPDX: Don't worry. When the socialists get into power, there will be no more religion.

What are you talking about? The Republicans haven't gotten rid of religion.

SilentStrider: GaryPDX: Don't worry. When the socialists get into power, there will be no more religion.

The Socialist already IS in power, and he's plenty damn religious.
Or at least, he acts like it.

hahaha..sarcasm.

Funny enough, my parents raised me Southern Baptist, but my mother says to this day that I've started holding myself to a much higher moral standard since I became an atheist.

/Personal responsibility - apparently I has it
//I was a total asshole as a Southern Baptist

GaryPDX: You forget where I live. This state is run by socialists in all three sides of the government in Salem and has for 20 years. We have a pretty state but our schools suck the big one and the state universal healthcare doesn't cover anything newer than ten years old and very little at that. They will cover your suicide meds though, no problem. We have no sales tax so only people with jobs and have property are taxed to the moon.

I find this statement curiously unrelated to what you said about religion.

ArbitraryConstant: GaryPDX: You forget where I live. This state is run by socialists in all three sides of the government in Salem and has for 20 years. We have a pretty state but our schools suck the big one and the state universal healthcare doesn't cover anything newer than ten years old and very little at that. They will cover your suicide meds though, no problem. We have no sales tax so only people with jobs and have property are taxed to the moon.

I find this statement curiously unrelated to what you said about religion.

That's because it was about your comment on socialists living up to my expectations. A direct response to be precise.

I don't care why really, as long as they are nicer.

Has anyone called reason "right wing" yet? I love when people do that...

TITS or GTFO

What ever happened to just doing something because it is right and good? And by right I do not mean anything religious or political. I just mean because it is a good thing to do.

Is there a difference between an atheist and agnostic in terms of morality?

Barakku: Has anyone called reason "right wing" yet? I love when people do that...

I remember a while back there was a thread at Fark where people called Reason both socialist AND right-wing.

Transubstantive: Is there a difference between an atheist and agnostic in terms of morality?

There's no connection between your views on god and your views on morals.

GaryPDX: Don't worry. When the socialists get into power, there will be no more religion.

Why would rich young white girls who have a penchant for parties and Manhattans abolish religion?

I'm an atheist and sometimes religious people ask me, if I don't believe in heaven and hell then why don't I just do whatever I want to whoever I want, whenever I want?

It's a very disturbing question. Like they'd go on a rampage if they didn't think they'd get punished for it.

Transubstantive: Is there a difference between an atheist and agnostic in terms of morality?

No more than there's a difference between a white man and a black man or a man and a woman or a Christian and a Jew.

Religious people are NEVER nicer.

GaryPDX: Don't worry. When the socialists get into power, there will be oneno more religion; the state.

FTFY

Who knew that the definition of morality was fear of reprisal?

+1 use of obvious tag, subby.

But if god is omniscient and is all-good, then why does he allow his "children" that he loves to suffer?

If god is all-powerful, why does he need radical fundamentalists to hate gays and control people for him? Why do they have to go door-to-door trying to sell something the almighty could do easily?

It's because they're not selling god, they are selling memberships to their religious groups.

Agrees.


//Who is this "God" guy?

This is why religious people say atheists are immoral. They see others as they know themselves.

In other words they would be immoral if they had no god.

susansto-helit: //I was a total asshole as a Southern Baptist

Remember, always take two Baptists fishing with you.

JewZeppy: They see others as they know themselves.

Now that's some nice Biblical phrasing.

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

-Epicurus

SilentStrider: The Socialist already IS in power, and he's plenty damn religious.
Or at least, he acts like it.

You're confused. GW is a fascist.

Fascism = corporations control the government
Socialism = government controls the corporations

JewZeppy: In other words they would be immoral if they had no god.

Imagine what Ted Haggard would do if the God of Old Testament smiting wasn't looking over his shoulder all the time.

DamnYankees: JewZeppy: They see others as they know themselves.

Now that's some nice Biblical phrasing.

HA! *golf clap*

susansto-helit: GaryPDX: Don't worry. When the socialists get into power, there will be no more religion.

What are you talking about? The Republicans haven't gotten rid of religion.

No shiate sherlock! The republidorks are the BIGGEST socialists to have ever governed this country. $700+ billion bail-out what?
Maybe the give away was forced by the watchful eye of the mighty sky-wizard, or Landru.

/ Prefers Landru.

Transubstantive: Is there a difference between an atheist and agnostic in terms of morality?

So much fail in this question.

Atheism and agnosticism have nothing to do with morality. They are terms used to describe people who don't worship an invisible sky fairy.

I was starting to type more but it's Saturday night and I have better things to do (since I'm sleeping in tomorrow, being atheist and not having that whole church shiat to worry about).

LordZorch: If you are only moral because you think you are going to get caught, you really haven't examined yourself very well and are the intellectual equal of a cockroach...

Those Christians are only doing that clothing drive because they think it'll get them into heaven. They need to do some serious self-examination.

I may not do crap for my community, but at least I do it for the right reasons.