Are Atheists Potentially Morally Superior to Theists?

[Danmark]

The proposition is that atheists have the potential of being morally superior to theists because to the extent the atheist does good works, he does them because he wants to, because she thinks it right. Whereas the theist acts out of religious necessity or compulsion; the threat of hell or deprivation of heaven.

[Danmark]

Tithing was done and made under the religious principals of charity. And also, self sacrifice.

It was done under a notion being spoken from the Apostles of God to give to others, that they are your brothers. Indeed the faithful people of christ are following his footsteps, as christ have clearly said "there is no greater love than giving your life for a brother". Christ was not speaking of "dying" for another, althogh it can be said that way, but it was also in refernce to "feeding" the church, or the kingdom of God, in turn, giving life to another, and sacrificing your own luxury of life.

Also, 10% was ordered by God because it resembeles excellence, or perfection, as in God. And from God was made society, you can simply look at our general grading system. 100 to 90 percent being A, or excellence, indeed it is a note of supremacy noting 10 percentism.

Charity along with self sacrifice was the given prinipal of Christs teachings, indeed the people of christianity will be placed highest in the level of heavens.

Remember Truth, tithing is an obligation, a command from God. It is a duty. A free will offering in addition to your tithe is charity. I hope you are not just doing the minimum.

I know you like numbers Truth, and imbue them with your special meanings, but where did you come up with '10' as the perfect number according to God? I was under the impression '7' was the number of perfection . . . along with '3'. I'm relatively sure God likes prime numbers.

I'm curious about how you came up with " the people of christianity will be placed highest in the level of heavens." I didn't realize heaven had levels. Also, your statement suggests that the people who are not "of christianity" may be allowed to hang around on some of the lower levels. That would be cool . . . or at least cooler than the alternative.

[Danmark]

This speaks directly to two points in atheism: arrogance and ignorance.

As is the usual case with your posts, I choose not to read past the first line, because you have telegraphed:
A. You write as if you did not understand that this was a proposition, not a conclusion.
B. You prefer insults to analysis.

I'd prefer you not immediately try to derail the thread with insults.

Why start a thread is you're not going to bother responding to posts directed at you, such as stubbornones?

I disagree that atheists are potentially superior to theists, when the facts say they give less to charity than theists, and even donate blood less often. See the book "Who Really Cares".

My preference is to not respond to insults . . . in part because it is against the rules here to respond in kind. One of my many failings is to enjoy returning insults, but I'm trying to do better. It isn't easy, but thanks for noticing.

To answer the relevant part of your response, let's put aside theist and non theist categories: Would you agree that good works that have no extrinsic motivation are more laudable than good acts that are coerced?

[Danmark]

One that put up the way of evolution goes strongly against the moral behaviors of religious establishments. Moral codes that we know now were done and said under christianity only after Moses. Before him, the moral codes were not so distinct, thus, God killing all in Sodom and Gommorah. If the rules were not set by Moses, then by all means, people can be left with an impression that Killing is right in sacrifice of bigger picture. As evident by the crusaders and what not, it was done in reality.

The religious prioncipals begins before the threory of evolution, so in short, you have no argument.

Actually Truth my friend, distinct laws existed long before Moses. The Code of Hammurabi is dated around 1780 BCE, or up to 1000 years before the Ten Commandments [although dating the Decalogue is problematic and could be as late as between the 16th and 13th centuries BCE]. The Hebrews' "eye for an eye" can be traced to Hammurabi.

Hammurabi's Code is probably the oldest written set of laws we know of and was very detailed. An example:

9. If any one lose an article, and find it in the possession of another: if the person in whose possession the thing is found say "A merchant sold it to me, I paid for it before witnesses," and if the owner of the thing say, "I will bring witnesses who know my property," then shall the purchaser bring the merchant who sold it to him, and the witnesses before whom he bought it, and the owner shall bring witnesses who can identify his property. The judge shall examine their testimony--both of the witnesses before whom the price was paid, and of the witnesses who identify the lost article on oath. The merchant is then proved to be a thief and shall be put to death. The owner of the lost article receives his property, and he who bought it receives the money he paid from the estate of the merchant.
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/hamcode.asp

More evidence that God's standards are written on our hearts, so that men are without excuse. His standards are most accurately revealed in the Bible.

I'm sorry, but I missed the 'evidence' part of your claim. Would you please articulate it?

[Tex]

This speaks directly to two points in atheism: arrogance and ignorance.

As is the usual case with your posts, I choose not to read past the first line, because you have telegraphed:
A. You write as if you did not understand that this was a proposition, not a conclusion.
B. You prefer insults to analysis.

I'd prefer you not immediately try to derail the thread with insults.

Why start a thread is you're not going to bother responding to posts directed at you, such as stubbornones?

I disagree that atheists are potentially superior to theists, when the facts say they give less to charity than theists, and even donate blood less often. See the book "Who Really Cares".

My preference is to not respond to insults . . . in part because it is against the rules here to respond in kind. One of my many failings is to enjoy returning insults, but I'm trying to do better. It isn't easy, but thanks for noticing.

To answer the relevant part of your response, let's put aside theist and non theist categories: Would you agree that good works that have no extrinsic motivation are more laudable than good acts that are coerced?

That's the good thing about doing good!! When you do it and never knew what it was, it wake you up to knowing what good is.

There are talented people who do great things. There are other who must practice to be as good as them. Sometimes talented people don't even realize the gift that has been given them, unless someone who as learned their talent tells them how great they really are.

Being good works both ways. But the people who really know what good is are the ones who wake up from being bad.

Life is not as easy as people make it out to be.

[Danmark]

However, now we have the opportunity to get rid of religion once and for all as more and more people are capable of using logic, reason and common sense instead of belief.

Wow....Very deep words. And of course this will better your life and countless of people....Knowing that ....This is all there is?

Because what the logic in being alive and learning.....If you're just going to die?

Many people are actually happy just being alive and learning. Having a finite time here on this wonderful planet makes life all the more precious. It is a shame to have all that knowledge just disappear, but then maybe on my deathbed I'll look on the bright side and be content about all the time I spent day dreaming instead of learning to conjugate verbs.

Very sad....I thank God everyday for making himself known to me. I know when I die, what I experienced will be used for my next lesson in life.

How someone can live believing that this is all there is....You really have to be brainwashing yourself.

Your conclusion is unwarranted. More importantly your attitude toward the natural cycle of life and death surprises me. How sad for you.

Attitude is everything.

Don't you agree that this can be a wonderful world and a world of wonder?
It's a joy just to be alive, to learn, to explore, to travel. The more nature is revealed, the more wondrous it seems. There's so much to do and yet it's great to just relax.

I'm blessed to live where I do, with easy access to rivers, forests and mountains. As much fun as it is to go camping with friends, sometimes I like to go out alone, to pitch a tent beside a clear mountain stream and enjoy a good book. Other times I find myself just sitting and drinking in the beauty, enjoying it without words.

It's as if the beauty of nature radiates palpable goodness, nourishing the mind as if by magic. And sometimes it is good to just lie down . . . to sleep, letting consciousness quietly slip away. Someday it will slip away and the comforting rest will be dreamless.

[Goat]

However, now we have the opportunity to get rid of religion once and for all as more and more people are capable of using logic, reason and common sense instead of belief.

Wow....Very deep words. And of course this will better your life and countless of people....Knowing that ....This is all there is?

Because what the logic in being alive and learning.....If you're just going to die?

Many people are actually happy just being alive and learning. Having a finite time here on this wonderful planet makes life all the more precious. It is a shame to have all that knowledge just disappear, but then maybe on my deathbed I'll look on the bright side and be content about all the time I spent day dreaming instead of learning to conjugate verbs.

Very sad....I thank God everyday for making himself known to me. I know when I die, what I experienced will be used for my next lesson in life.

How someone can live believing that this is all there is....You really have to be brainwashing yourself.

And how are you distinguishing 'knowing' and 'belief', and 'wishful thinking'?

[Tex]

Your conclusion is unwarranted. More importantly your attitude toward the natural cycle of life and death surprises me. How sad for you.

Attitude is everything.

Don't you agree that this can be a wonderful world and a world of wonder?
It's a joy just to be alive, to learn, to explore, to travel. The more nature is revealed, the more wondrous it seems. There's so much to do and yet it's great to just relax.

If you close your mind to the suffering that exist.....Everything can be great.
And that because you have it good.

I'm blessed to live where I do, with easy access to rivers, forests and mountains. As much fun as it is to go camping with friends, sometimes I like to go out alone, to pitch a tent beside a clear mountain stream and enjoy a good book. Other times I find myself just sitting and drinking in the beauty, enjoying it without words.

This goes to " Drink, enjoy, be merry because this is all there is"

It's as if the beauty of nature radiates palpable goodness, nourishing the mind as if by magic. And sometimes it is good to just lie down . . . to sleep, letting consciousness quietly slip away. Someday it will slip away and the comforting rest will be dreamless.

Yet...again...You live in a dream world where everything is roses then you die.
If a person can't be outside enjoying the lilies of the fields like you....Well tough, better luck next time! Wait there is no next time so the the homeless must just enjoy his limbs being frozen. While you grasp in your lottery.

[Tex]

However, now we have the opportunity to get rid of religion once and for all as more and more people are capable of using logic, reason and common sense instead of belief.

Wow....Very deep words. And of course this will better your life and countless of people....Knowing that ....This is all there is?

Because what the logic in being alive and learning.....If you're just going to die?

Many people are actually happy just being alive and learning. Having a finite time here on this wonderful planet makes life all the more precious. It is a shame to have all that knowledge just disappear, but then maybe on my deathbed I'll look on the bright side and be content about all the time I spent day dreaming instead of learning to conjugate verbs.

Very sad....I thank God everyday for making himself known to me. I know when I die, what I experienced will be used for my next lesson in life.

How someone can live believing that this is all there is....You really have to be brainwashing yourself.

And how are you distinguishing 'knowing' and 'belief', and 'wishful thinking'?

God given talent.

[Goat]

However, now we have the opportunity to get rid of religion once and for all as more and more people are capable of using logic, reason and common sense instead of belief.

Wow....Very deep words. And of course this will better your life and countless of people....Knowing that ....This is all there is?

Because what the logic in being alive and learning.....If you're just going to die?

Many people are actually happy just being alive and learning. Having a finite time here on this wonderful planet makes life all the more precious. It is a shame to have all that knowledge just disappear, but then maybe on my deathbed I'll look on the bright side and be content about all the time I spent day dreaming instead of learning to conjugate verbs.

Very sad....I thank God everyday for making himself known to me. I know when I die, what I experienced will be used for my next lesson in life.

How someone can live believing that this is all there is....You really have to be brainwashing yourself.

And how are you distinguishing 'knowing' and 'belief', and 'wishful thinking'?

God given talent.

That seems like circular reasoning to me! Also, a bit of ego.

[Tex]

However, now we have the opportunity to get rid of religion once and for all as more and more people are capable of using logic, reason and common sense instead of belief.

Wow....Very deep words. And of course this will better your life and countless of people....Knowing that ....This is all there is?

Because what the logic in being alive and learning.....If you're just going to die?

Many people are actually happy just being alive and learning. Having a finite time here on this wonderful planet makes life all the more precious. It is a shame to have all that knowledge just disappear, but then maybe on my deathbed I'll look on the bright side and be content about all the time I spent day dreaming instead of learning to conjugate verbs.

Very sad....I thank God everyday for making himself known to me. I know when I die, what I experienced will be used for my next lesson in life.

How someone can live believing that this is all there is....You really have to be brainwashing yourself.

And how are you distinguishing 'knowing' and 'belief', and 'wishful thinking'?

God given talent.

That seems like circular reasoning to me! Also, a bit of ego.

I thought you would of went with "delusional" I can't always be right....Unless you were thinking it but are just trying to be nice.