This assumes there is some objective moral value to humans, which i have never heard properly justified by an atheist. The belief that humans have intrinsic morality is deduced from the premise that we were created with that value. Having said that, people devaluing others peoples moral value under the premise of "God" is an aberration or violation of the idea that people have moral value. Only under that premise can we say they are operating in opposition to their worldview.
Humans don't have objective moral value. But our goal as humans is to do what is best for us and our species and so our moral system logically assigns value to human life. If we assigned equal value to all life, we'd all have to kill ourselves because our body is killing the living things constantly.
I think people use Gods Name and Bible to get Power, Wealth and whatever else they want. I dont think God approves of this. According to His Book, He is about to drop the Hammer on this place. Lets wait and see.
You assert that our goal is to do what's best for us, but some people view humans as a cancer that should be eradicated, if humans don't have objective moral value then there is no weight to that assertion.
I looked up the crimes motivated by religion the other day. Jewish people take the brunt of it, by a landslide. Imagine killing somebody simply because they act in a manner not consistent with your beliefs… with your god. Gays are killed because they sleep with and love the “wrong people”. A couple raises a child, teaches him the word of the lord, and that child grows up and takes a baseball bat to someone’s head because god “doesn’t like fags”. How about honor killings? Imagine killing your daughter because she is dating someone that isn’t Muslim. Humans. Wow. And still there are those that insist we’re not animals because we’re different. We’re smarter. We’re better. Ha! We evolved alongside every other living creature on this planet. We were once sea worms. Some don’t believe in evolution. Yet denying evolution is analogous to denying gravity. The evidence we have discovered is indisputable. If religion didn’t exist, this world would be a better place.
I don't know about that. There are pros and cons, but the fact that they are almost ubiquitous lends something to be said for their proliferation. Also, the term better is subjective, so i suppose it depends on your definition. Some people think the West and its money and medicine and infrastructure is better than say a tribe community. Some people might prefer a basic existence of strong community and human relationships. Just curious on your thoughts.
There are many people that do good simply because their religion tells them that they should. That said, the Netherlands is the most atheistic region in the world, and they have lower crime rates than every one else. Some studies have shown that they are also the happiest and healthiest people in the world. If people spent less time worshipping fake gods, and focused on making the world a better place, that would help too. Again, I know there are amazing people that do SO MUCH GOOD, and they believe in god. They do good because they believe god approves of it. Because they feel god is looking after them. But he’s not. And there are many better reasons to do good. I do good just because it’s the right thing to do. The biggest problem I have with religion is the hate and division it brings. Conservative Christian nationalism has repeatedly throughout history taken away the rights of others. They have killed people simply for not believing. Religious fundamentalism has killed millions in the name of their faith. Every day, people are assaulted and even killed because they believe in a god not consistent with the attacker. Clergymen rape children on a daily basis, and get away with it. Churches unite communities, they feed the hungry. They do good. But the net result of all the good and evil is negative. And evil. That’s just the way I see it, but I’ve been wrong before so… Peace!!!