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RE: Schools don't teach moral relativism.
Nice post. I think I'm mostly with you. To be much more simplistic, the biggest problem I have with religious morals is that the people who promote them tend to dismiss two key things: they could be wrong, and others who don't believe in their religion see them as somewhat crazy (i.e., not much different than believing in fairies and unicorns). If they intend to push such black and white concepts, they ought to reconsider the ideals upon with nations like the USA are founded and realize that "God said so" can't be the force behind a law, or even a school lesson.
I personally don't care how people decide not to murder, etc. I think it's obviously wrong. I do care when people force their how on me.
(Side note: Not sure if you're new, or an anon veteran, but anon posts can't score higher than 2. I'd recommend registering if you plan to submit more thoughtful content as it makes it more visible to other when you get higher scores.)
RE: Schools don't teach moral relativism.
morality exists outside the context of theism
We've discussed this issue before on the site, but I still have yet to hear a good explanation of how this is possible. The problem is that without something "bigger" than the individual, there is no way for one's morality to apply to anyone but themselves. Some try to use law as what defines morality, but they must admit there are "immoral laws." If that's the case, there must be some other, greater reference by which a law can be compared to determine if it is moral or not.
It's obvious how theism provides such a reference. Of course, you have also identified a big con of such a system (or the abuse of it, at least) in that people seek to justify all sorts of horrible things by claiming divine command - but this doesn't change my previous reasoning.
RE: Schools don't teach moral relativism.
Some people go to school, just to learn how to teach
Some people go to school, just to learn how to preach
Well if you cant teach, without goin to school
You aint no teacher uze an educated fool, and thats all.. and thats all.
You better change your way of livin before the good lord says thats all.
I dont know who wrote that but I heard a recording of that by that late great, Canadian, first nation , guitar genius Lenny Breau.
I would have to agree that theism has bred some badness throughout the education system. As a matter of fact, some of them are just down right scary people. Cant you just see it now? AN American civil war of the religious fanatics fighting for thier beliefs in what they feel thier country should stand for vs. the Free thinking Lets Figure Out How To Build A Better Boat Crowd? Its time that mediocrity took a back seat......AND THERE'S A LOT OF MEDIOCRITY OUT THERE....most of them hold government positions , (I love it, my friends Dad says that lawyers make the worst politicians, I think there's some truth to that.)
I think really what is needed are better teachers , the ones who inspire you through their love of whatever it is that they love, art, music, history, whatever but also at the same time know how to show kids what is right and what is wrong without using the religious compass. I dont think religion should be taught in schools period.
I used to work on an island for Catholic Brothers.......gee, I wonder why one of them made a move on me? Wouldnt you if you were a heterosexual male who wasnt allowed to make out with a girl to keep the faith? Religion is not bad, it's the humans that get a hold of it and twisted it into some wierd boys club. Just like Scouts....same thing, which when I was in it had a religious "feel" to it. The meetings were held in a Church (gee, what a strange coincidence)
I guess really all you can do is stand up for what you truly believe is right and moral. But of course, what is moral anyways?
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Schools don't teach moral relativism.
That's a lie propagated by religious groups, and it's based on their standard "if you're not with us, you're against us" mindset.
The fact is, schools teach very little of any kind of morality. And this is as it must be in today's world. If the religious among us can't recognize that morality exists outside the context of theism, then the only form of moral teaching they'll recognize as being anything other than "moral relativism" is theism.
On the other hand, anyone with a half a lick of sense can see that theistic "morality" doesn't really represent morality. "Thou shalt not kill" is easy to get to in almost any moral system. But "remember the sabbath day and keep it holy" is religious bullshit and is ethically meaningless in anything but a theistic system.
Furthermore, there's ample evidence that religious "ethics" is no such thing. People are routinely slaughtered in the name of various theisms - and they're often considered "ethical" acts by their fellow theists.
There are various attempts at formulating a non-religious ethical system. Personally, I think ethical hedonism is the right model - if you can avoid oversimplifying things, which almost everyone does if they haven't gotten the idea on their own. However, every theist I've ever met immediately dismisses the idea as meaning "do whatever you want".
How do we get back on track? First, let's overthrow the stranglehold that theism holds on discussions of ethics.
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