[Vision2020] Religious Kids Are Jerks

[Kenneth Marcy]

On 11/8/2015 1:16 PM, Robert Dickow wrote:
>
> True, You don’t need to have a religion in order to live a moral life. 
> Atheists can follow the same moral principles that ‘govern’ God 
> him/her/it-self . (See Plato)
>

Yes, Plato and Aristotle and a large number of subsequent writers 
including, recently, Michael Sandel, author of Justice: What's the Right 
Thing To Do?  It's a pretty good read -- not nearly as dense as many 
philosophers -- and, published in 2009, not too out of date with its 
examples.

> But the study doesn’t look into how adults behave. Maybe religious 
> children are jerks, but maybe religious adults are more moral than 
> atheist adults. …but somehow I doubt that this be the case.
>

Both cases of adults you mention are equally moral in the same sense 
that they both breathe -- it's a natural function for both groups. What 
may differentiate them is the quality and the character of their 
considerations, if any, before they decide on the judgments they 
accept.  More important than their current positions on various matters 
is having a process for considering changes in those positions as the 
world changes, and for discussing any changes under consideration with 
others within their various communities.


Ken


> Bob Dickow, troublemaker
>
> (trying to revive the subjunctive)
>
> *From:*vision2020-bounces at moscow.com 
> [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com] *On Behalf Of *Debi Smith
> *Sent:* Saturday, November 07, 2015 4:04 PM
> *To:* vision2020 at moscow.com
> *Subject:* Re: [Vision2020] Religious Kids Are Jerks
>
> Well, now someone has "studied" what most of usknew! You do NOT need 
> religion to be a moral person, and religion might just be a detriment 
> to behaving decently to others. How's them sour apples, Mr. Wilson 
> (and other folks) who say religiosity is the only way people have joy, 
> compassion, beauty, and decency in their lives?
>
> What is more beautiful than sharing good fortune with others, with 
> assisting people who are in need, with giving back to and accepting 
> everyone regardless of their financial 
> standing/opinions/sex/race/sexuality?
>
> Religiosity breeds judgmental-ism,  negative behavior towards others 
> not like you, and a sense of "self-righteousness" that allows you to 
> do unto others what you do not think should be done to you, to 
> with-hold decency from others, and to offer joy and kindness only to 
> those who fit your description of "worthy".  And with religiosity, no 
> responsibility attaches to you because you are "saved" and/or elite. 
> Ta Da!!
>
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