- Capitalism and Alternatives -

I have a moral code and a sense of duty

Posted by: septimus ( Aus. ) on October 13, 1999 at 12:43:54:

In Reply to: Interesting take posted by Frenchy on October 12, 1999 at 12:34:14:

: : Given all of this, I must conclude that Catholicism, at least under Pope John (who rpesided over the Second Vatican Council) has been much mroe than merely a 'progressive force'; it's been one of the most significant forces from progress and social justice in the world. Of course, for the atheists out there, this is merely the tip of teh iceberg. I haven't even got around to liberation theology (in Brazil, Nicaragua, and elsewhere), neo-Hinduism (most notably Gandhi, but others as well), Buddhism (Ambedkar, U Nu, the Dalai Lama), the Quakers, the Massachusetts Bay Puritans (yes, they were progressive in their day, at least on economics), John Brown, etcetera.

: Interesting take on Catholicism.
(What exactly do you mean by that anyway?)

But in reply to the original post:
As an Atheist I would have to say that I have never disputed the ability of religious people to be humanitarians. What I would say is that I can see no reason why a humanitarian needs to be religious. I have a moral code and a sense of duty to the care of others whilst avoiding the need for a set of religious beliefs. I don't believe that morality is dependent on a God or gods in any way.
I think that one of the good things which socialist thought has brought to the world is the legitimising of care for others without the religious baggage.




Follow Ups:

The Debating Room Post a Followup