As an atheist, my morals are often called into question. "How", some religious ask me, "can you be moral if you believe in nothing?" I would normally answer this with a list of things I do believe in. Hope, humanity, love, compassion, empathy. I would answer that, it is because of my atheism, that I don't believe in miracles that I need to seek out and help those in need.
Of late, however, I find myself pushed. I get insulted when I mention I'm an atheist. I get laughed at and ridiculed when I mention science or evolution. And my morals are not just judged, but condemned. "Look at Stalin", the cry goes out.
I now ask, what of the morals of God? Where does the morals of hell come into frame? Of eternal punishment and suffering for a finite crime, which could be no worse than disbelief. What of the plagues, of the mass death and destruction that the God in the bible has brought upon it's people. What of the commanding for obedience like a disgruntled parent, and the corporal punishments for such crimes as wearing a certain cloth.
I find it compelling, hypocritical, and flat out disgusting that a person who brings food to the starving in one hand, and a new god in the other, can question my morals.
Author notes
Might be a bit long, and I'm not sure if it's 100% on topic as to what you want. The problem was as I started writing I was getting angrier and angrier. So stopped whilst I could still jump off the soapbox.
A contest entry
- Morals, ethics and, the Bible by plainoljoe.
800 points, ended August 16, 2008, 18 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
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why does it make you angry?????are you very willing to tell of your own beliefs and then not listen to others??not criticizing merely curious!!
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I have no beliefs. The only 'belief' I have is in things that can be proven. Even then, I don't 'believe' in the unquestionable sense, but weigh up on merit. I question science as much as I question the bible. The difference being when you question science, the reply is often "well we know this because X Y Z is observed/tested/know".
There seems to exist this attitude that 'science' is some weird religion that makes speculations of it's own. I don't know how this lie came to be, but it is that, a lie. All science, to be labelled as such, must exist in the form of testable data. You can argue from a 'philosophical' sense that this is all a dream or some such thing, but I like to keep my reality as what reality, until such evidence points otherwise.
What makes me angry is the hypocrisy that some people exhibit. They (some of the theists I've argued with) question my morals and say things like 'how can you love without God?". They seem to think that atheists don't consider humans of 'worth' and 'why bother'.
Why should I answer for having 'faith' or 'belief' in things which are testable, provable, observable, which have no motivation, no bias, no bigotry. I judge others, their belief, and their religion, by the actions taken. They judge me based on a belief.
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I think this is great what you believe is what you believe and no one has the right to say anything about your what you belief or do not belief thanks for sharing much love
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I for one, find no reason to ridicule you. Your point is well made. The simple fact that you do believe in the humanities demonstrates that you have a good heart----something a lot of people need. Spread your message in your special way. I'm sure it will do good
Joe
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