Riqtay said:
Moonlight Sonata, I think that you believe in morality (even though you cannot see it) yet conform to the view that morality should be derived from societies preferences rather that from a religion.
Well, it is complicated. My beliefs are in line with David Hume, in that 'morality' does not really exist. It is only the gut reactions and empathy of human beings that give actions some sort of "moral significance", but there is nothing actually factual or justified about this, and as such there are no moral truths.
Riqtay said:
I would first like to state that morals came about through religion. An absolute morality which is timeless and doesn't change is what religion promotes.
But there were moral values before religion. As I said
here in reply to an old post of yours:
MoonlightSonata said:
It was the codification of existing and developing applications of reason to ethics. The spiritual aspect was a combination of humankind's natural fear of the unknown combined with a method of making people conform to those ethical beliefs that seemed appropriate -- terrible consequences would ensue otherwise, such as being denied access to some sort of utopian after world and being sent to Hell.
[...]
Humans did have standards. They knew that the person would no longer be around, and that it caused physical pain. Therefore they did not considering death to be a good thing. This is a basic application of reason, but not applied properly because societies were unstable and believe it or not, most people need the threat of consequences to keep them in line. (Hence why particular religions are successful in imposing some seemingly silly rules.)
[...]
2. You assume the spiritual aspect was the element that "cleansed" human behaviour. In fact it was the developing code of laws (which religion played a part in forming) and consequences which allowed reason to operate properly in relatively stable societies. It really has nothing to do with the beliefs or religion or God. It is all just about power and order.
[...]
Modern day morals are determined by reason, they have nothing to do with religious beliefs.
Religion played an important part in allowing reason to operate, by creating systems of law and order. But the beliefs of the religions were developments of reason; any spiritual aspect to ethics is just residue that, as civilised rational humans in a fully developed and lawful society, we no longer need to keep us in line.
So again, moral values existed before religion. Religion just codified them, and gave people reasons to obey them.
Riqtay said:
Relative morality is very dangerous indeed as different groups of people would have different views concerning morals.
I agree that applying absolute cultural relativism is a dangerous thing. But there is a difference between saying "everyone believes different things so anything is okay", and saying "there is no such thing as objective morality, but if we apply reason to the goal of maximising humankind's wellbeing, then we can achieve peaceful, consistent and beneficial consequences."
Riqtay said:
For example, a group may think that killing the next person you see is completely wrong, while another may deem that appropriate.
No-one here is advocating that we adopt absolute moral relativism.
Riqtay said:
Society which chooses to change morals and their way of life is a society that will soon accept things that it finds totally unacceptable in the present.
That is true, but this is not a bad thing. It is because society advances. You could apply your argument to the 1800's in America; people would never have abolished slavery.
Riqtay said:
For example, homosexuality was frowned upon in the western world over 100 years ago, and now it is becoming more and more acceptable.
I don't quite follow. That is a good thing.
There is nothing wrong with homosexuality.
Riqtay said:
With this trend of what is deemed moral shifting, it is not out of the question that it may be legal for humans to marry animals and it being not frowned upon (eved though it takes away the nobility from a human in my belief).
No, that is absurd: humans are not physically attracted to animals.
Riqtay said:
It is even safe to assume that incest may be legalised and not frowned upon in the future. This is what is worrying about relative morality which is borne out by society.
No, there are logical reasons against incest. Incest has a far higher chance of producing abnormalities and defects in the child.