Quote Originally Posted by Sasaki Kojiro View Post
Tuff said something about needing to believe in some kind of "transcendent purpose in life" to be a moral person, which I pretty much agree with.
Quote Originally Posted by Sasaki Kojiro View Post
I guess I don't get the antagonism.
Why does life need to have some specific or higher purpose? Why do people (you?) feel the need to justify their existences or claim some higher purpose? Do you honestly believe that after you die there is some form of afterlife?

The antagonism comes from being told that one is an immoral person because they don't believe in the other person's respective religions or belief structures, or refuse to accept legislated morality.

My take has always been to level the playing field, then people can live how they choose within the boundaries of the law. I think most all of us can agree murder is bad and counterproductive to civilization's progress, so that's clear cut. Drugs? I could care less what others do with or put in their bodies, it's their decision. Obviously things like drunk or stoned driving affect others, so that's out. Extramarital sex? Again, personal choice. It's not for someone else to dictate. Abortion? Easy. Don't like it, don't do it. But don't tell others what they can do with their own bodies. The concept of marriage? The term comes from an old latin root, and ironically the pre-christian Roman empire allowed for homosexual marriages. So it's been hijacked by christianity. Don't like homosexual marriage? Fine, don't do it. Don't associate with gay people. Don't like polygamy? Same thing really. Working out the family law around polygamy or polyandry would be damn hard, but if that's what people willingly want to do, then so be it. Right to self determination, such as the right to die? Your own body. If you want some assistance having a clean, painless death, pending validation of one's sanity and mental firmness, then why not? Don't like it? Easy, don't DO it. Clearly people cannot go around murdering, stealing, being abusive, or other plainly counterproductive or aggressive actions that civilizations near unanimously reject. But what people do in their own homes or with their own bodies provided it does not impact others negatively is up to them. "Impact others negatively" means health and safety, not offend. There are tons of things that go on which I find offensive, and learning to deal with them as a member of society is something I had to learn. Seems quite a few others around here never reached that point.