Ok,guys, you forced me into this. I have not posted in quite a while, and this is what, my second diary? But If people want to actually understand the "atheist" vs "believer" argument, I will be honest enough to tell you the real question. Someone said something on the lines of "Atheists are not fully human". or something like that. And of course, this being Daily Kos, there was a major push back on the lines of "I take care of my kids" etc. There were also recent diaries where they poster implied that he was unusually knowledgeable and would set us all straight. I will be honest, I think very few of these diaries, if any, had the nuts to ask the real question believers want to ask. I will ask it not to impugn anyone, but to be honest, not to vilify but to get to the point and hopefully end the countless diaries beating around the bush.
In no way am I defending any previous diary or diarist. I am only letting people know what the REAL QUESTION is for most believers, the thing they always wanted to ask atheists. By telling you the truth, I hope atheists and believers who appreciate clear and concise questions, will try to answer them. Or at least, people can see what the real issue is, whether they want to debate it or not.
So after all that lead up, here is the REAL question believer's want to ask those who choose not to believe in God. The question is this: If there is no God, if we are just carbon based life forms, different than, but not amazingly different than, say, cockroaches, why have morality at all?
If life for a human is no different than another species, then where does morality play a part? I stipulate that a lioness defends her kids and tries to raise them to be successful through instinct. I stipulate that a female croaker hopes her offspring do not become chum. But who thinks it immoral if a bear cub eats (murders) a salmon?
Now some may say my commentary is outlandish, but I would have a hard time understanding why that is so. If we are not made in God's image, if we are just animals, then why do we have a "special morality"? Why would a human death that ends in nothing be more horrible than a squirrel's death that ends on a highway?
I get that animals often have instincts to preserve their litter, but is that the totality of atheistic morals? Is it simply the idea that attacking each other would be self defeating to the species? If so, I can accept the argument for sure, it makes sense. But I wanted to be clear here and let people read, possibly answer, or ignore the actual question most believers wonder but few on both sides are willing to even discuss.
Again, I will recap my views. My views are that there is room enough for everyone, and if we treat each other fairly,and secondly, legally, to each his own. I don't care what you believe if you don't transgress on others. But, if people truly want to get at the argument, if they really want to understand the real question at hand, I have the chutzpah to claim I have it. The question is, if there is no God, if we are just entities doomed to the tomb, then what is morality to us, what is the point other than survival of the species. Then again, I might have just answered my own question there.
btw, stop fighting, discuss,think, and even learn, but the fighting enhances none of us.
:)
