Atheism

What non-mutual original doctrines that have contributed to the well being of anything have come directly from atheism, and atheism only. Now remember, this can't include buddhism, because if you know your history buddha was from a royal line. I know damn well his family had religion just like every other culture. So, from a sociological point of view; his ethics were influenced by the ethics of others who were ultimatley influenced by religion at one point or another.

Now, I know the popular counter arguement in this case would be, "Look at how much destruction has come out of religion." WRONG. Look at how much destruction has come out of corruption. The ten commandmants are not corrupt in anyway, and as for other polytheistic and "pagan" religions I can't speak much. But, all of our "good" non-mutual ethics are ultimatley influenced by religion.

Yay, nay? Why?

Ethical behavior isn't an exclusive of religion.

I always think about the Holy Roller and the Biker, two guys I work with. The Jezoid will do a good deed because he thinks God is watching him. (and he makes sure everyone else is watching him do it too). The crusty old biker will do a good deed just because it's the right thing to do. I'll take the latter as the quality ethic every time.

Yea I mean this really emphasizes the fact that religion was really brought about as mind and behavioral control of the masses. It offers a reward for those whom are good citizens and obey brotherly laws. It is a good thing in that I scares the non-thought provocting inside the box people into good behavior and practices. The problem most people have with atheism, and probably the reason 50% of the world or more isn't atheist is that it doesn't offer these 'perks' the other religions offer, like heaven, nirvana whatever it may be. At this point most of them see the evidence mounting against and simply cling to there religion as a 'safety net' which is deffinately the worse position to be in. Your neither a Christian or an Atheist or anything else and your wasting your time in church etc.

That was just my little blurb, as to your question I don't think that religion is the only reason for mutual and non-mutaul positive human interaction and if it is your only motivation to be kind to your fellow man that is sad.

"The ten commandments are not corrupt in anyway"

What exactly do you mean by this? Can you define "corrupt" as you've used it here?

I would argue that ethics do not derive from religion. I would argue that ethics are ingrained somewhere deeper and more primal within man's mind and therefore influence religion. You will be hard pressed to find a religion anywhere that takes itself seriously and pushes messages such as "harm everyone you can" or "do as you please, the hell with any consequences" exclusively. Native American socieities operate on roughly the same fundamentals (don't kill people just for the hell of it, that's bad...help your family...that's good) and yet their religions are rather sparse and quite diverse. They definitely did not have a thing to do with the ten commandments.

I know this example violates your rule of not wanting a response charged with examples from -other religions-, but then again I'm not sure what the focus of your arugment is. "What good have atheists ever done us?" I'm not sure what you're asking; I suppose that that is the impression I get. If so, I would say that if atheists have done anything for society in terms of ethics, it's simply that by existing and by not becoming hideous degenerate murderers, they generally quell the misconception that no religion means no ethics. It may not be a mind-blowing revelation, but it's something.

Abraham Lincoln (maybe not an athiest but...)
"The Bible is not my book nor Christianity my profession. I could never give assent to the long, complicated statements of Christian dogma."

Einstein

Issac Asimov

Charles Darwin

Ben Franklin

I'm not sure if this answers your question, but there have been many great men in history who were athiests. But mainly as others have said, good deads should come from a person having morals, not because god told them too. I help people in need because... well hell it's our nature to help our brother. Why do people need to be scared into doing good. It's sad.

This book, published 1941, completely deconstructs the Ten Commandments, and offers many explanations as to the real meaning of these rules in the context of the time, and culture, that they were written - as well as the implications of applying them to the modern day and age. It should be read by believer and nonbeliever alike. It's was a daunting task to research and write, but Joseph Lewis did a fine job. The entire book is online.
http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/...wten0c.htm#000

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: A BOOK BY JOSEPH LEWIS

An Investigation into the Origin and Meaning of
The Decalogue and an Analysis of its Ethical and
Moral Value as a Code of Conduct in Modern Society

To the Memory of
Luther Burbank
and
Thomas Alva Edison
Who Were Members of the Organization of
Which I Have The Honor to Be President,
And Whose Encouragement Was a Continual
Source of Inspiration

"It has often been said that anything may be proved from the Bible; but before anything can be admitted as proved by the Bible, the Bible itself must be proved to be true; for if the Bible be not true, or the truth of it be doubtful, it ceases to have authority, and cannot be admitted as proof of anything."
Thomas Paine

[©1946]
Freethought Press Association
New York 1, N. Y.

"Some of the old laws of Israel are clearly savage taboos of a familiar type thinly disguised as commands of the deity." -- Sir James G. Frazer

http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/...wten0c.htm#000

hhmm, going through what I can remember of the ten commandments in my head. All seems pretty simple and straightforeward stuff. Any excerpts from Joseph Lewis's book that would make it a compeling read? I can't think of any commandments that would need much interpretation...except maybe 'Thou shall not kill'.

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I'm not sure if this answers your question, but there have been many great men in history who were athiests

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Einsten said he believed in Spinoza's God. lol...just playing the devil's advocate.

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Originally Posted by idontgivenames

The ten commandmants are not corrupt in anyway,

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"But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns."

"You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

So slavery is not corrupt?

"You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me,"

So it's not corrupt to punish people for the wrongdoings of their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents? That's a lot of dead people's actions I'm responsible for!

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Originally Posted by JaggedEdge

Abraham Lincoln (maybe not an athiest but...)
"The Bible is not my book nor Christianity my profession. I could never give assent to the long, complicated statements of Christian dogma."

Einstein

Issac Asimov

Charles Darwin

Ben Franklin

I'm not sure if this answers your question, but there have been many great men in history who were athiests. But mainly as others have said, good deads should come from a person having morals, not because god told them too. I help people in need because... well hell it's our nature to help our brother. Why do people need to be scared into doing good. It's sad.

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I'm pretty positive he was actually a christian.
I still completely agree with your point, though! :o