Doe it really matter if God exists or not...?

[o_O.Q]

JWeinCom said:

o_O.Q said:

 

that's why people have made observations for ages about what behavior is most favourable for man (is this not objective?)

and they took that knowledge and encoded it into stories for digestion by everyone... stories that gave these values a significance that transcends the subjective view of man and that is where the concepts of gods cames from

it is the best method devised by man to communicate what values are most favourable to successive generations

 

well if you don't think there's such a thing as objectivity... all i can say is that you are in a lot of trouble

No... that isn't objective.  What is "most favorable" for man is an opinion.  That's why we have had, in secular or religious societies, thousands of different viewpoints on what is best for society.  Even "favorable" is a subjective matter.  Does favorable mean best for reproduction?  Happiness?  Best for only humans?  For the environment?  Animals?  Different cultures value these things in very different measures.

If you're going to claim that these stories are the best way man has to transmit values, you'll have to support that with some evidence, because it seems to be a rather shitty way.  There are, figuring very conservatively, well over a thousand different denominations of Christians who despite all using the same text as the basis of their values have reached wildly different conclusions.  To the extent where many of these groups have gone to war over which interpretation is valid.  It's hard to claim that this is a good way to transmit objective morality when the conclusions that are drawn are not at all consistent.

Considering out limited knowledge and predictive powers, I fail to see how you can have objective morality, with or without god or religion.  

 

"What is "most favorable" for man is an opinion. "

 

so hang on its not objectively better to be fit rather than overweight?

to be informed over being ignorant?

to be social rather than anitsocial? etc?

 

"Different cultures value these things in very different measures."

 

correct, but there are core values all cultures agree on

 

"If you're going to claim that these stories are the best way man has to transmit values, you'll have to support that with some evidence"

 

the evidence is history

"There are, figuring very conservatively, well over a thousand different denominations of Christians who despite all using the same text as the basis of their values have reached wildly different conclusions.  "

 

and that is an inherent flaw in all communication... nothing man creates is perfect, there are always flaws no matter what, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to do things

 

"Considering out limited knowledge and predictive powers"

 

despite this we still utilise the scientific method... we don't allow the fact that we are flawed and limited beings stop us from investigating things and reaching conclusions