Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: notes version 1.1usg 6/21/82; site ihlpf.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!eagle!hou5h!hou5a!hou5d!hogpc!houxm!ihnp4!ihlpf!tim
From: tim@ihlpf.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: "Re: A Belated Reply to Paul Dubuc [from - (nf)"
Message-ID: <198@ihlpf.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 26-Oct-83 22:58:26 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihlpf.198
Posted: Wed Oct 26 22:58:26 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 28-Oct-83 08:08:34 EDT
Organization: BTL Naperville, IL
Lines: 20

#R:unc:-599000:ihlpf:22600033:  0:1074
ihlpf!dap1    Oct 20 13:13:00 1983

I'd like to turn this question of "What reason does an atheist have to follow
any set of morals" around.  Are the Christians out there saying that if there
was no God they would have no compunctions about lying, cheating and
stealing?  Is God the ONLY reason that Christians don't go on some murderous
rampage?  Is the fear of God the ONLY thing that keeps Christians from
robbing their neighbors?  If so, then by all means, REMAIN CHRISTIAN!!

I don't believe this though.  I think its in human nature to have a set of
morals and ethics and its as simple as that.  You might as well ask "What
reason does a wolf have to observe the rather complex pecking order of a
wolf pack unless he believes in some 'higher authority'?".  Wolves would not
have died out long ago if this social structure was not observed, as would
humans if some morals and ethics were not observed.  It has evolved in our
nature.  White sharks are bloodthirsty while nurse sharks are docile.  Is
this because nurse sharks believe in God?

                                                 Darrell Plank