[_ Old Earth _] An evolutionary biologist perspective on morality

[Jayls5]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elEYKpo7kFk&eurl

Cliffnotes: Christians often claim atheists lack a moral code. Richard Dawkins explains that morality is evolutionarily useful. Christians use moral codes that existed before Christianity and endlessly disagree amongst each other as well. Thus, good morality does not hinge on Christianity. As a whole, Christianity may facilitate agreement on good morals. However, evolutionarily "good" morals are not contingent on Christianity.

 

[Robert Cragg]

First off it sounds like he wants to say just because he is an evolutionest that does not mean he is a bad person. According to the worlds standards that might be true. The problem is by God's word no one is without sin. Romans 3:9-10. The world standards keep changing so the standards of defining good keeps eroding. Next off this man has no real purpose in life his ancestors were not born they evolved. Compared to Hitler most all men could be called good. The thing is this man does not understand is when his time comes I don't know where he believes he'll end up, but no matter what he thinks there is only two places he'll end up either in Heaven or Hell. Right now he is headed down the wrong path how can he get salvation. When he told God he is not his creator.
One thing I don't understand is what is it that all these people are affraid of by not wanting to believe in God. Can you imagine the pure terror he will have when his time is up.

 

[Slevin]

One thing I don't understand is what is it that all these people are affraid of by not wanting to believe in God. Can you imagine the pure terror he will have when his time is up.

I'm sure his imagined terror is as real as your imagined heaven and hell.

 

[spiralingout23]

One thing I don't understand is what is it that all these people are affraid of by not wanting to believe in God. Can you imagine the pure terror he will have when his time is up.

That was an awesome statement. Let me make my debut on this forum by pointing out the hilarity in this.
You said : What are atheists afraid of by not wanting to believe in god?
Then you say the exact thing that makes you fearful about not believing in god: "the pure terror when your time is up".

Answer: Atheists are not afraid, they simply follow the evidence and their own rationality and reason.
You've stated why you're afraid.

 

[Blazin Bones]

Okay, before I get to the Evolutionary Morality thing...

Spiral, you shot on Cragg would work if he said he was afraid like your misqoute shows..but he didn't so enough said there.

Robert only alluded to his personal speculation that when an atheist or any lost person for that matter is proven wrong, and God is proven Sovereign, they will be terrified. As a Christian myself, I know I do not fear Death, for I will rise with Christ.I think it's safe for me to assume that Robert has the same lack of terror as I do.

Now, as for the topic.

So, how would evolution account for morals if they are not based on Christianity?

 

[Orion]

It makes you wonder how MANY Christians ARE Christians out of "fear of being sent to Hell". :-?

OOPS! Thanks for catching that. (See next post.)

 

[Blazin Bones]

I hope you mean how *many Christians are Christians out of a fear of being sent to hell. Either way, that is a topic for another thread. It's not so much a topic of Science as much as it is a topic of philosphies, logic and reason. Perhaps a thread for apologetics?

 

[Dunzo]

So, how would evolution account for morals if they are not based on Christianity?

Must you constantly write in red?

Your question is answered in the video.
A sense of morality is mutually beneficial for all involved. Cooperation between animals is more likely to result in survival.

 

[Blazin Bones]

Does a darker red help? I've written in shades of red since I started posting here. I write in shades of red on every message list that allows the color of the text to be changed. Why you might ask? The red reminds me that even my words must be covered in the redeming blood of Christ.

As for the topic. I watched the youtube video, and he did suggest that animal survival related to morals, so I guess he some notion as to where they came from. However, if we evolved from proteins that spontanously began to duplicate and generate into lifeforms, when did cells begin to have cognitive minds that would be able to determine and respond to basic realities of existence? Afterall without the ability to reason, instincts could not further evolve into moral, could they?

 

[Arj]

Im a born again christian but im very worried that im too luke warm for christ to accept me.My heart no longer burns when reading about Jesus as it did when i first believed.I feel im in a constant stae of backsliding.

 

[Orion]

Im a born again christian but im very worried that im too luke warm for christ to accept me.My heart no longer burns when reading about Jesus as it did when i first believed.I feel im in a constant stae of backsliding.

You can't be "a born again Christian" if Christ "hasn't accepted you". But, having said that, the truth is, not everyone is going to have all the "warm fuzzies". I don't. I never feel the presence of God either. Sometimes when I am playing worship music (I'm a bass player for my church), I get as close to feeling God as I will any other way, including reading the Bible, or even praying. But not everyone is set up to have strong emotions. Now, if you ARE a person who gets emotionally excited at other venues, such as ball games or whatever (I don't, personally), then you may have to seek why you aren't experiencing the same level of excitement with the things of God.

Just a thought.