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From: padraig@utastro.UUCP (Padraig Houlahan)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: Where do morals come from
Message-ID: <899@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 10-Dec-84 12:28:37 EST
Article-I.D.: utastro.899
Posted: Mon Dec 10 12:28:37 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 13-Dec-84 02:22:05 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: UTexas Astronomy Dept., Austin, Texas
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>I have a question for the non-theists out there: where does the
>authority for your moral system come from?
>
>I'm particularly interested in whether you feel your system allows any
>judgement of the behavior of others.
>
>Charley Wingate  umcp-cs!mangoe

As a non-theist I will throw in my two cents worth. Personally I do not
need to be told not to harm or cause pain to others. The basis for this
attitude is remarkably simple; it makes society more stable, and
pleasent for most people to live in. The fact that most acts that are
called immoral also violate the above criterion suggests that this
is the real basis for morality, and not some divine being's arbitrary whim.
This approach towards morality of course does not recognize any
absolute standards of right or wrong, but it attains the goals
to which those based on theistic beliefs aspire. I have yet to come
across a situation where this criterion fails.

I feel quite comfortable criticizing behaviour that makes life unpleasent
for the majority.