All morality is derived from the oneness of God

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[–]knotsy 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

No because most people are too stupid to understand the rational reasons for morality, so only religion works.

I rather agree that this is likely the case for most people. I am suggesting that for some people it is possible to have a philosophical basis of morality that does not involve deities

[–]fschmidt 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

Someone with the intelligence to have a philosophical basis of morality should also have the intelligence to recognize that it is preferable to attribute this morality to deities as Machiavelli explained so clearly. In my case I was atheist and studied history, anthropology, primate behavior, and evolutionary psychology in order to determine the ideal morality. Then I found this morality in the Old Testament, and I recognized the benefit to attributing morality to the god of the Old Testament. Atheists who want to know how to do this can read this.

[–]Vulptex 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Evilution and nature are the last place you want to look for morality. It's designed by Satan and only in the Old Testament thanks to the scribes. Jesus is the ultimate role model.

[–]knotsy 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

should also have the intelligence to recognize that it is preferable to attribute this morality to deities as Machiavelli explained so clearly.

I will take a look at Machiavelli's "Discourses on Livy", and your essay and respond to them, but I have some reservations about this as follows:

If you accept the God of the Old Testament, I do not see any ontological reason to prefer this God to Zeus or Marduk, or any other creation deity. You reference the 'morality' of the Old Testament, so I assume you choose this religion on the basis of already agreeing with the morality - i.e. the morality was the in fact the thing you chose the deity based off of, and had philosophical justification for, rather than belief in the deity

It seems backwards to me, like a post-hoc attribution, but again, I will take a look at your references and consider them and get back to you.

[–]fschmidt 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

If you accept the God of the Old Testament, I do not see any ontological reason to prefer this God to Zeus or Marduk, or any other creation deity.

My ontology rejects Plato's concept of absolute truth (as does the Old Testament). I choose to believe those ideas that work most reliably. I choose the god of the Old Testament because this god has produced successful cultures and, unlike Zeus or Marduk, remains a functional idea in my time. Christianity and Islam believe in essentially the same god, so I can attend church or mosque and share a religious foundation with the people there.

You reference the 'morality' of the Old Testament, so I assume you choose this religion on the basis of already agreeing with the morality - i.e. the morality was the in fact the thing you chose the deity based off of, and had philosophical justification for.

Yes