Sadly all too common.
I donāt believe that only people of faith act well - because, as you point out, the reverse is often apparent. BUT the reason you can accuse anyone of hypocrisy is that their faith teaches something different to what they do.
@JohnH, I donāt doubt youāre a good person.
But how do you decide what is the right thing to do?
I donāt need to look it up in a book, thatās for sure.
So what is your way of deciding what to do?
Basically, consider if my action will do any harm.
Most religious guides, such as the commandments, are basically the codification of the basic rules to maintain a harmonious society rather than any great insight. An early form of societal control if you like.
Though Iām not really sure where the mixed fibres thing fits in.
My original post was citing both historical and ongoing egs of religious intolerance didnāt mention atheists, but in response to @Porridge itās unfair not to forget the likes of Polpot and the current Chinese and Burmese governments.
One could argue, perhaps a little tongue in cheek, that thereās no such thing as a true atheist, but some see God as outside them, while the others are their own god.
We have now become very OT.
I donāt think I could handle the responsibility for making the analysis and judgment all on my own, without any guidance.
I think the mixed fibres was an analogy. If you mix Godās revelation with the standards you find around you, youāll be pulled in two different directions.
Bollox
I donāt see god (small or capital āGā) anywhere.
I am therefore the ultimate authority on any moral question.
QED!
Ah, well ā¦ no.
I might be the ultimate authority on my view of any moral question. On a good day at any rate - on a bad day I might have six different opinions before breakfast.
But in no way am I ātheā ultimate authority on any moral question.
Thatās true in a philosophical sense, but in practical terms presumably you do what you feel is right. Sometimes that may mean that you follow a legal requirement, likely aligning with the law, but in situations where there is none you get to decide. In fact you may even decide The Law is an ass, and make your own choices anyway.
Isaac Asimovās Three Laws of Robotics.
Ultimately, of course, that is true whether you are religious or not.
However I suggest that before we debate the existence or otherwise of god(s), we need to define what we mean āby āgodā.
That should keep the after dinner conversation animated for a week or three.
Understatement of 2023 I reckon.
I think the problem lies in religious folk laying exclusive claim to morality, whereas there are many philosophers (East and West) over the past two or more thousand years who have argued for what is āgoodā without needing to mention some deity.
In the case of catholicism it wouldnt matter as you can do exactly what you want then say a hail Mary and you are forgiven, better case of utter bollox?
Well, yes, but youāll feel guilty while youāre doing it.
Now seems the appropriate time to join in to wish everyone a Happy Saturnaliaā¦
And the same to you, Maximus Decimus Meridius.