this post was submitted on 22 Oct 2023
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Atheism
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Not trying to defend the moral compass argument but legality doesnt equate morality either
Legality offers a closer shot to morality than religious doctrine by a country mile.
I would argue that's not necessarily the case - see slavery, caste systems, discrimination etc. In many countries currently and throughout history it's been perfectly legal to treat the "other" as less than oneself, even up to and including murder and torture.
Also, often laws are created to enforce religious doctrine, which while perhaps morally preferable to those of that religion may be abhorrent to those outside it. (Abortion, burkas/hijab, education restrictions, prison sentencing, drug/alcohol legality, etc)
Ask yourself which is more likely to have a special set of rules for the "out group" between state laws and religious denominations.
There's a lot of law protecting immorality/punishing moral actions as well. Look at how difficult it is for people to get justice through the legal system in so many cases. It can take years fighting corporations lawyers before they're paid damages.
That’s only if the people writing the law have a moral compass of one sort (religious or not).
If I become ruler and write the law so that helping the poor is criminal, the only solution to a person unable to pay their debt is death, and that only people of a certain demographic are allowed to use front doors to establishments I don’t think you’d say that the law is a closer shot to morality than religious doctrine.