...not we from religion.
~ Christopher Hitchens
"We are part of the natural order. We're not a specially created species, we have no unique privilege ... It's best to begin, I think, from that realistic understanding because, bleak though it may be — at least it's realistic — it doesn't mean we have to live without irony; doesn't mean we have to live without humor; doesn't mean we have to live without solidarity or any of the other things that make life bearable and possible. You may or may not have noticed that Rabbi Boteach has been contradicting himself directly all evening: He began by saying our good qualities, our heroic and noble and gentle and generous qualities, are innate in us. He's quite right in saying that. Yes, they are innate in us, or in most of us, those who are not psycho- or sociopathic..."
In past times, religions stemmed from this solidarity that made life bearable and possible.
Thoughts?
@fmf said"Morality is the herd instinct in humans"
...not we from religion.
~ Christopher Hitchens
"We are part of the natural order. We're not a specially created species, we have no unique privilege ... It's best to begin, I think, from that realistic understanding because, bleak though it may be — at least it's realistic — it doesn't mean we have to live without irony; doesn't mean we have to live without humor; doesn't ...[text shortened]... ast times, religions stemmed from this solidarity that made life bearable and possible.
Thoughts?
~~ Nietzsche
@fmf saidHowever you want to characterize it, it is one of the essential differences between humans and all other animals on the planet. If we had not evolved to care for each other, especially the sick and injured, the old and infirm, the handicapped and deformed, we would not have prevailed over big cats and other large predators. Without morality, we'd still be living hand-to-mouth in Olduvai Gorge, huddled in very small family groups around campfires in mortal terror of hyenas and things that growl in the night.
One might say...
"Morality is borne of the human survival instinct"
Or even leaner...
"Morality is borne of necessity".
@moonbus saidHow ridiculous.
However you want to characterize it, it is one of the essential differences between humans and all other animals on the planet. If we had not evolved to care for each other, especially the sick and injured, the old and infirm, the handicapped and deformed, we would not have prevailed over big cats and other large predators. Without morality, we'd still be living hand-to-mouth ...[text shortened]... small family groups around campfires in mortal terror of hyenas and things that growl in the night.
Clearly humans have more to fear from humans than beasts.
@josephw saidNot nowadays here in Java, where malaria has been eradicated. But the disease has killed millions of people in this country. But, do you really think they are the "beasts" that moonbus was referring to when he talked about "big cats, hyenas, and other large predators"?
Are you afraid of mosquitoes?
@of-ants-and-imps saidReligion: "The belief in and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a God or gods". Oxford Dictionary
Using the loaded and yet curiously vague term of religion. Since morality, let alone tradition, family heritage, etc. are likewise associated, but put common humanism in that list for sure.
Not "curiously vague" at all.
@of-ants-and-imps saidThe is nothing vague about religion; it’s a clearly documented and visibly practiced phenomena which has existed since the dawn of human civilisation and probably pre-history too.
Mother, please. Powers and gods are all vague
Your lazy conflation of “religion” itself with the “powers and gods” it deifies and worships doesn’t add much to the discourse about the origins of human morality.
@of-ants-and-imps saidUtter nonsense. It's neither "loaded" nor "curiously vague".
Using the loaded and yet curiously vague term of religion.