I totally agree with Nancy. One does not need the backing of some higher power to live in an ethical and "good" manner, nor does one need to use the threat of eternal damnation to instill ethical values in children. I, too, have had no problem explaining right and wrong to my kids, yet have done so without invoking religious ideas. Cheers, Lou ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------- Lou Manza, PhD Dep't. Chairperson & Associate Professor of Psychology Lebanon Valley College Annville, PA 17003 phone: (717) 867-6193, fax: (717) 867-6894, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> "A lot of people run a race to see who's the fastest. I run to see who has the most guts." --- Steve Prefontaine ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
________________________________ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Fri 4/6/2007 1:44 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: [tips] Re: It's what they believe In a message dated 4/6/2007 10:36:11 AM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: , I'm not talking about the ability to live up to a moral code; I'm asking about the source of that ethical and moral code in the first place if you--editorially--don't accept the existence of the Divine. Make it a good day. --Louis-- Why is it inconceivable that individuals could develop their own moral codes in the absence of a presumed divine presence? If we need god watching us, the promise of reward or the threat of punishment to make us good, I don't think we are being all that good, really. I was amazed by how many of my non-religious friends and family suddenly got religion when they had children. It was as if they lacked the confidence suddenly to know and teach right from wrong without the code and the stories about heaven and hell and the rest of it. I've never lied to my child (9 years old) about my doubts concerning any kind of god or afterlife. I told her she is free to examine and test out any religion (except the ones that involve human sacrifice or becoming the 150th wife of a cult leader ; ) ). I can't imagine needing someone else's rulebook to teach my child right from wrong. I think I am quite competent to do that. I could be wrong about that, but I don't think so. Nancy Melucci LBCC LB CA Nancy Melucci Long Beach City College Long Beach CA. ________________________________ See what's free at AOL.com <http://www.aol.com/?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503> . --- To make changes to your subscription go to: http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=engli sh
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