Alnobia

Yankeedomland wrote:

America itself was founded on the idea of freedom and liberty. Edmund Burke, James Madison, and John Adams all knew that liberty cannot be maintained without virtue.

“Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks, no form of government can render us secure. “ -James Madison

“What is liberty without virtue? It is madness, without restraint!"-Edmund Burke

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral, virtuous, and religious people”. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” - John Adams

Here's a question: how do you know your version of morality is the correct one though? Everyone has beliefs about what is right and wrong; it's just that they differ.

Hfhbsd wrote:

Here's a question: how do you know your version of morality is the correct one though? Everyone has beliefs about what is right and wrong; it's just that they differ.

Every society has shared base moralities that corespond with each other. Virtue, as we know it, is a uniquely western concept, and our governments and institutions should work to cultivate virtue.

By the way, you may not think so, but you and I share the same moralities. In fact, nearly everyone in the west shares the same moralities. That is, the western moral system. Saying you don’t believe in God may make you a non-christian but it won’t take out the embedded morality in your psychology.

Think about it. What is the one rule we have all learned? The golden rule. Do you know where the golden rule comes from? The Bible!

What about other moral values we hold, like freedom, liberty, and collective responsibility? Those come from western thought, both pre-christian and post-christian.

The american atheist and the american christian both share the same western morality. However, they don’t think they do because of one small thing they disagree on. This is the roadblock in the way of cooperation between american groups. If atheists, Jews, and Christians could come together and realized how much morality we all share, we could work together and compromise to build a better world for everyone.

Hfhbsd wrote:

Here's a question: how do you know your version of morality is the correct one though? Everyone has beliefs about what is right and wrong; it's just that they differ.

The key tl;dr is: It isn’t MY version, it’s OUR version. All of us, wether atheist, Jewish, or Christian, share a common secular western morality that is embedded into our society. For the sake of our society and ourselves, it is best that we cultivate virtue and other western moral values.

Northern Astra wrote:

I agree, although I would add that it would be best to incorporate as many moral values as possible, regardless of origin.
I've already stated that my morality as an atheist comes largely from Western and Christian morality (and been told that it was hypocritical, but that's so unimportant as to be irrelevant).You don't. I acknowledge that my views on morality are beliefs, but that doesn't mean I don't believe them. I believe killing, torturing, enslaving, etc humans (and animals as well) is wrong. This is just my view, and my morality, but I find a breach of it repugnant despite the subjectivity I acknowledge.

The largest problem with assuming relative morality is that it unweaves the fabric of society and makes common societal values impossible. Relative morality (postmodernism) is why so many nations have become so partisan, why it always seems like people have such different morality and are so mad at each other.

Common morality is the only way a society is held together. Race, ethnicity, or profession cannot hold a society together. Only virtues and values can.

Northern Astra wrote:

Yes?

I forget now...