THE MORAL ATHIEST

Faith is widely seen as a necessity, and religion seen as a necessary tool for keeping the masses in line... as though without the fear of punshment, no one can do the right thing. Believers can't see how someone can act morally without a biblical moral compass. I contend that a child raised with empathy as his moral foundation will always understand how his actions hurt or benefit others. I think that a foundation of blind faith and rigid scriptural teaching tells a child to do no wrong because God (or Allah, or Santa Clause for that matter) demands it... and is watching... and is cruel in his disfavor. When faith is challenged, a person without the proper amount empathy-driven kindness and decency will breach ethical standards when they no longer feel "watched". As a father, I have an interest in leaving the world a better place for my son to raise his own family. I believe that each of us holds the line with the small stands we take each day... doing the right thing BECAUSE it's the right thing to do. These petty deviances from the sheepishness of the heard are what define us as human beings... and make some more human than others. My pride, love for family, and a well-developed sense of empathy are the things that guide my moral compass. F*ck Santa Clause... I'm better off without him.

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