Book Recommendation: The Moral Atheist

[Speck Tater]

Subtitled "Living Ethically Without God, Gods, or Demons."

Digs substantively into the question why should an atheist be moral. Perhaps atheists have better reasons to be moral than theists. After reading the book it seems to me that at least moral atheists seem to be moral for the right reasons, while some true believers might actually be moral for the wrong reasons.

Anyway, it's an interesting book.

View at Amazon

Blurb from jacket:

The Moral Atheist argues in non-technical terms that ‘being moral’ is compatible with ‘being an atheist’, but goes further to suggest that there is more harmony between these two notions than there is between ‘being moral’ and ‘being a theist’. Using reason, semantics and common sense, Tomlinson makes the case that, first, the non-existence of a god does not imply that there is no discoverable objective morality and that, second, without the belief in a god there are still excellent reasons for the atheist and everyone else to strive to be a good person. The book presents a practical and objective ethical system that reflects how language is used in everyday communication. Along the way the reader explores important philosophical insights while gaining an appreciation for the way that philosophy is actually done. Tomlinson has been an instructor of Philosophy at California State University, Northridge for thirty-three years.

[RattusRattus]

1. Thank goodness

I'm so tired of the general assessment that atheists are morally bankrupt, because one cannot arrive at morality through any means other than some cosmic boogey man. I actually had to sit there while my sister's small children told me that atheists were part of satan's army, and that I'm going to hell. I corrected them of course--in the bible it says the atheists will be cast out like wandering stars, for whom it is reserved, the blackness, the darkness, forever. Why Christians hate us I will never know, as we generally don't interfere with their affairs. Unfortunately, this book will probably be a case of preaching to the choir.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

3. Welcome to DU

I have had Christians think I must be a devil worshiper if I don't believe in God. Heck, if you don't believe in God you don't believe in the devil either.
I'm very moral and instinctively do the right thing without having to rely on someone to tell me right from wrong.

[Ian David]

2. I've been praying someone would write a book like that. Thank god! n/t

[Heidi]

4. Just a question: the difference between "moral" and "ethical"?

I consider myself ethical, but I've long considered morality to be a changing-when-it's-convenient arm of organized religion.

[Speck Tater]

5. Asis pointed out in the book,

religions try to hijack and redefine the word "moral" to suit their own purposes, but the word DOES have meaning outside of any religious context.

[Bill Tomlinson]

6. maybe the difference

The book doesn't make the distinction, both being systems to classify right or wrong acts. But 'morality' does seem more provincial. Maybe ethics is the study of systems classifying acts into right or wrong and a morality system is one which classifies acts into proper or improper, appropriate or inappropriate. I have seen other classifications, but none of them seemed clearly correct. Here's an interesting definition.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-ethics-and-morals.htm