how an atheist can anchor moral principles

[Nosuperstition]

NS, perhaps you should engage some of our atheist members here in explaining to you how they anchor their moral principles... You really seem to have no idea... Of if you want I can explain it to you...

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=17448&p=232121&hilit=anchor#p232121

Explain to me.

[manfred]

Just read around a bit...
http://www.atheists.org/activism/resources/ethics
https://humanism.org.uk/humanism/
http://www.humanismforschools.org.uk/pd ... ethics.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_universalism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_ethics

Or if you want the short version: Most would argue that there are some universal principles such as the golden rule, which we should apply to our lives in concrete situations, using reason.

While this works generally well, not all accept the Golden Rule, notably Muslims do not. This means it is not "universal". This is answered variously, usually using two different approaches: one tries to suggest Muslims do have it, but somehow is not expressed clearly. The other is that Muslims' ethics is flawed.

There is no system of ethics without problems, and this is no exception.

[Fernando]

Just read around a bit...
http://www.atheists.org/activism/resources/ethics
https://humanism.org.uk/humanism/
http://www.humanismforschools.org.uk/pd ... ethics.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_universalism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_ethics

Or if you want the short version: Most would argue that there are some universal principles such as the golden rule, which we should apply to our lives in concrete situations, using reason.

While this works generally well, not all accept the Golden Rule, notably Muslims do not. This means it is not "universal". This is answered variously, usually using two different approaches: one tries to suggest Muslims do have it, but somehow is not expressed clearly. The other is that Muslims' ethics is flawed.

There is no system of ethics without problems, and this is no exception.

One thing is certain: Muslim ethics are not universal. Thank goodness!

[skynightblaze]

Just read around a bit...
http://www.atheists.org/activism/resources/ethics
https://humanism.org.uk/humanism/
http://www.humanismforschools.org.uk/pd ... ethics.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_universalism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_ethics

Or if you want the short version: Most would argue that there are some universal principles such as the golden rule, which we should apply to our lives in concrete situations, using reason.

While this works generally well, not all accept the Golden Rule, notably Muslims do not. This means it is not "universal". This is answered variously, usually using two different approaches: one tries to suggest Muslims do have it, but somehow is not expressed clearly. The other is that Muslims' ethics is flawed.

There is no system of ethics without problems, and this is no exception.

I would go with the second option. Moral principles do not cease to exist just because some people do not believe in them. No one can claim their morals are universal including theists because of the same reason i.e. some muslims do not believe in the golden rule. Btw Happy new year to you Manfred and to all my old pals!

[stream26]

The best basis for morality is Socrates’ simple maxim: Care for that within you which prospers by doing good deeds and suffers by doing bad deeds.
I do not need anything above or beyond that to behave justly and humanely. I may not always live up to that, but when I do not I know that I have gone wrong, and, what is more important, in my cooler moments, I know that I have wronged myself before anyone else and more than anyone else.

[manfred]

My profound apologies for having missed your post. You no longer need to wait for a moderator.