We already knew this was true, but it’s nice to have some numbers behind it.
An article in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences suggests, among other things, that morality and religion are not linked up as the Christian Right would have you believe.
Citing several studies in moral psychology, the authors highlight the finding that despite differences in, or even an absence of, religious backgrounds, individuals show no difference in moral judgments for unfamiliar moral dilemmas. The research suggests that intuitive judgments of right and wrong seem to operate independently of explicit religious commitments.
You can indeed be good without a god.
But we already knew that.
How are fundamentalists going to spin this one…?
(via Believe It or Not)
…
Incidentally, the new study prompted a Fox affiliate in Texas to do a brief story on how atheists cannot hold public office in the state. They quote the founder of SECULAR Center USA, Noelle George:
America’s President is black, Houston’s Mayor is gay and Texas’ Attorney General gets around in a wheelchair.
Each is shielded by law from government bigotry.
But there is no such protection for atheists. On the contrary, here’s the tortured logic of the Texas Constitution, Article 1, Section 4:
“…nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being.”
“It’s sometimes a real challenge to know that that kind of discrimination still exists,” said Noelle George, who doesn’t believe God exists.
…
“They always say atheists don’t believe in anything, but that’s not true,” said Noelle George. “We believe in people and we believe that people are good and we try to be good.”
In fact, George and a group of her fellow atheists and free-thinkers spent Tuesday night raising money and showing support for an Iowa woman seeking treatment in Houston for a brain tumor.
(Thanks to Bart for the link!)
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