Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site utastro.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!godot!harvard!seismo!ut-sally!utastro!padraig 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 Lines: 22 >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.