Question for all atheists

[outcast]

Do you belive in a conscience?

[Sir-Think-A-Lot]

Whats this thread doing here?

[Stabbytheclown]

Is that a creature from Morrowind?

[{Tim}]

Relax, guys, I'm moving it to Apologetics. Have pity on the n00b.

[Sir-Think-A-Lot]

Sorry I didnt know he was a noob.

I assumed he was involved in one of the other games over at tweb-world.

Oh and welcome to tweb. And even though I'm not an athiest, I believe in a conscience. His name is Jiminey Cricket.

[Tassman]

Do you belive in a conscience?

We refer to "a conscience" as a convenience of language, but what we are REALLY referring to is social conditioning.

As babies and children we are trained, in much the same way a dog is trained, by reward and punishment to conform to the mores of society and, unless we are psychopaths, we feel guilty if we break society's mores.

So yes, as an atheist, I believe in a conscience. wink! I suppose you think a conscience is god-given? Nope!

[outcast]

thank you for your reply Amnouy, next question "Do you consider yourself to be a good person?

[Carpedm9587]

Do you belive in a conscience?

A conscience is merely an experience of cognitive dissonance. When we act out of sync with our moral code, it sets up a dissonance - an inconsistency. The human mind seems to have difficulty with inconsistencies. We call that sensation "conscience" when it relates to moral issues.

Michel

[Carpedm9587]

thank you for your reply Amnouy, next question "Do you consider yourself to be a good person?

Dunno if this is an open question, but if it is, my answer is "yes."

Michel

[Tassman]

thank you for your reply Amnouy, next question "Do you consider yourself to be a good person?

I consider myself a good person by the standards of current society. But "good" and "bad" are relative concepts, NOT absolute.

My behaviour may well be considered "bad" by the standards of a future society in just the same way the standards of "good" people 200 years ago are now considered bad in many cases. For example, 200 hundred years ago slavery was not considered to be bad. It even had the backing of the bible:

"As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from the nations that are round about you. You may also buy from among the strangers who sojourn with you and their families that are with you, who have been born in your land; and they may be your property." Leviticus 25:44

But because civilisation has advanced we now recognise that slavery is very bad and that many injunctions in the bible are wrong.

[outcast]

good job on anwsering the question. So you beleive you are a good person and that you do have a consience. thank you, next question

1. Have you ever told a lie (white lie), fibs or a half truth, be honest?

[sandlewood]

Do you belive in a conscience?

Yes.

thank you for your reply Amnouy, next question "Do you consider yourself to be a good person?

Yes.

good job on anwsering the question. So you beleive you are a good person and that you do have a consience. thank you, next question

1. Have you ever told a lie (white lie), fibs or a half truth, be honest?

Yes.

Although, I think the answers to these questions will have little meaning without first establishing definitions. What is a "good person"?

[Tassman]

good job on anwsering the question. So you beleive you are a good person and that you do have a consience. thank you, next question

1. Have you ever told a lie (white lie), fibs or a half truth, be honest?

I am uncomfortable with absolute terms because they are not valid when it comes to ethical issues. I prefer to state these things in relative terms. Thus I have a “conscience” in that I have been socially conditioned by the standards of western society. And I believe that I am “good” by the current standards of western society.

Current social expectations are that it is impolite to offend others so one tells lies of commission or omission so as not to hurt people. But I don’t believe I have lied for personal gain or to avoid due punishment since I have been an adult.

The whole basis of morality (i.e. being good, having a conscience and not lying) is to enable the effective functioning of society, which is essential for our survival. That’s why we make laws.

[EvoUK]

Ah look, a n00b apologist, attempting to get us to admit we're bad people without his brand of god. How original- we've never seen these questions before.

[Carpedm9587]

good job on anwsering the question. So you beleive you are a good person and that you do have a consience. thank you, next question

1. Have you ever told a lie (white lie), fibs or a half truth, be honest?

Yes