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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Morality	Sasha	Friday, June 15, 2007
Question: It seems many theists are certain that because they claim their own morality comes from their faith alone, then those without faith must inevitably be immoral. The facts, however, show faith is not required for humans to lead moral lives, and sometimes hinder it entirely. If you examine Americans for the "fruit" of their morality, what you see is striking. As an example, Christians make up about 75 percent of the overall U.S. population and, as expected, about 75 percent of the prison population. Atheists make up between 5 - 12 percent of the population, but only 0.2 percent of the prison population. If the measure of morality is based on so-called "traditional family values," the facts are equally damning to those trying to promulgate the falsehood that atheism necessarily equals immorality. For instance, 25 percent of Americans have been divorced, but for "born again Christians" it is 27 percent, making it higher than the overall U.S. population. Atheists and agnostics have the lowest divorce rate of all groups at 21 percent. The answer to the question, "Where do atheists get their moral code?" is the same place believers get their own: From our own innate consciences. We increase our own fitness, and thereby our offspring's, by creating stable relationships and civil societies. These things are a product of empathy, not faith. How else can one explain the commonality of moral values across almost all societies regardless of religion?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Sasha: I do not think your statistics are accurate, but that does not matter. The source of good does not come from man in any capacity, faith or not. The source of all good comes from God. God has written the basic knowledge of good and evil on the hearts of all human beings. So, yes, moral action can and does come from innate conscience at least in a rudimentary form. As a result of this the Catholic Church recognizes and applauds truth and goodness no matter where it is found. Where atheists are good and moral the Catholic Church recognizes it. If a Satanist acts in a good and moral way, the Catholic Church recognizes it. Goodness and moral action is always recognized by the Church regardless of who is the actor of that good and moral action. The Catholic Church, however, also teaches that we must inform our conscience with the Truths of God. The fullness and most complete source of those truths on this planet is found in the Catholic Church. But, wherever goodness and moral action is found the Church accepts. In fact, the Church believes that even those who are not Christian can be saved and brought into heaven when those persons, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ or His Church, but nevertheless seek God as best they can with sincerity of heart. Thus, theoretically even an atheist can find himself in heaven in spite of himself. Bottomline as to the commonality of moral actions throughout cultures is that all goodness and moral action has its source in God and God has implanted that basic information on the souls of every human being. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Morality

Sasha

Friday, June 15, 2007

Question:

It seems many theists are certain that because they claim their own morality comes from their faith alone, then those without faith must inevitably be immoral.

The facts, however, show faith is not required for humans to lead moral lives, and sometimes hinder it entirely.

If you examine Americans for the "fruit" of their morality, what you see is striking. As an example, Christians make up about 75 percent of the overall U.S. population and, as expected, about 75 percent of the prison population. Atheists make up between 5 - 12 percent of the population, but only 0.2 percent of the prison population.

If the measure of morality is based on so-called "traditional family values," the facts are equally damning to those trying to promulgate the falsehood that atheism necessarily equals immorality.

For instance, 25 percent of Americans have been divorced, but for "born again Christians" it is 27 percent, making it higher than the overall U.S. population. Atheists and agnostics have the lowest divorce rate of all groups at 21 percent.

The answer to the question, "Where do atheists get their moral code?" is the same place believers get their own: From our own innate consciences. We increase our own fitness, and thereby our offspring's, by creating stable relationships and civil societies.

These things are a product of empathy, not faith. How else can one explain the commonality of moral values across almost all societies regardless of religion?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Sasha:

I do not think your statistics are accurate, but that does not matter.

The source of good does not come from man in any capacity, faith or not. The source of all good comes from God. God has written the basic knowledge of good and evil on the hearts of all human beings. So, yes, moral action can and does come from innate conscience at least in a rudimentary form.

As a result of this the Catholic Church recognizes and applauds truth and goodness no matter where it is found. Where atheists are good and moral the Catholic Church recognizes it. If a Satanist acts in a good and moral way, the Catholic Church recognizes it.

Goodness and moral action is always recognized by the Church regardless of who is the actor of that good and moral action.

The Catholic Church, however, also teaches that we must inform our conscience with the Truths of God. The fullness and most complete source of those truths on this planet is found in the Catholic Church.

But, wherever goodness and moral action is found the Church accepts. In fact, the Church believes that even those who are not Christian can be saved and brought into heaven when those persons, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ or His Church, but nevertheless seek God as best they can with sincerity of heart.

Thus, theoretically even an atheist can find himself in heaven in spite of himself.

Bottomline as to the commonality of moral actions throughout cultures is that all goodness and moral action has its source in God and God has implanted that basic information on the souls of every human being.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum