D
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Where do you get your ethical views?
I'm sure most of you think that stealing is wrong. But why is it wrong?
In Plato's Republic Thrasymachus states that an unjust life perfectly lived is ultimately a better life than the so-called "just" life. In other words, a man who cheats, lies, and steals (without getting caught, obviously) will have more material wealth than the sap who lives a normal, civilized life.
If you want to see the "blight" of religion gone from this earth, then you probably:
a) Should not believe in Karma or any sort of Divine Retribution - Heaven and Hell are not concepts that should concern you. Because of this, you are then:
b) Free to exploit others. Since you aren't religious, you obviously don't need to worry about any repercussions affecting you in the afterlife.
Therefore:
c) You should befriend the religious, prey upon the gullible, and exploit the foolish. Ironically, it is the religious who are obliged to forgive. Steal the collection box in church one Sunday. If caught, plead desperate and receive forgiveness. Rinse and repeat. [nb]: When you are on your death bed, feel free to repent. If the parishioners of a church can forgive, then their God can too. It's the Atheist's Wager!
So. I ask all who apply: why be "good" when there's so many naive, forgiving suckers? Aside from laws that attempt to protect society (which are easily avoided), what's stopping you from living the perfectly lived "unjust" life?
There's a point to this thread, which I'll elaborate on when I get some responses.
To my fellow DH veterans: be honest!
I'm sure most of you think that stealing is wrong. But why is it wrong?
In Plato's Republic Thrasymachus states that an unjust life perfectly lived is ultimately a better life than the so-called "just" life. In other words, a man who cheats, lies, and steals (without getting caught, obviously) will have more material wealth than the sap who lives a normal, civilized life.
If you want to see the "blight" of religion gone from this earth, then you probably:
a) Should not believe in Karma or any sort of Divine Retribution - Heaven and Hell are not concepts that should concern you. Because of this, you are then:
b) Free to exploit others. Since you aren't religious, you obviously don't need to worry about any repercussions affecting you in the afterlife.
Therefore:
c) You should befriend the religious, prey upon the gullible, and exploit the foolish. Ironically, it is the religious who are obliged to forgive. Steal the collection box in church one Sunday. If caught, plead desperate and receive forgiveness. Rinse and repeat. [nb]: When you are on your death bed, feel free to repent. If the parishioners of a church can forgive, then their God can too. It's the Atheist's Wager!
So. I ask all who apply: why be "good" when there's so many naive, forgiving suckers? Aside from laws that attempt to protect society (which are easily avoided), what's stopping you from living the perfectly lived "unjust" life?
There's a point to this thread, which I'll elaborate on when I get some responses.
To my fellow DH veterans: be honest!