Everyone wakes up tomorrow with no concept of God, no religious beliefs of any kind…
Ignoring the obvious changes (People asking “Hey, what are all these churches for?” and “Why do you keep yelling that name during sex?”), would anyone notice?
That is, given that laws and social customs (regardless of their ultimate origin way back when) do a fair job of regulating social behavior, would our day-to-day interactions with others change appreciably?
Still thinking about the op, but if it’s based on John Lennon’s thoughts, I think he meant no “organized” religion.
— G. Raven
Don’t be silly. You might not notice, but obviously lots of people base their interaction with others and much of their lives on religion. I imagine, for example, that the Pope’s life would be quite different. So would my pastor’s. So would mine.
There are lots of nonreligious people, so no one claims that religion holds society in place, but those who are religious would find our lives quite different without it.
Malice
And think of the many good things that would come of this sudden loss of religion. Homosexuals no longer persecuted by the law: no religious text giving hatemongers an excuse to spread their popaganda. Legal prostitution: no religious fanatics forcing their views on everyone else through law. Legal gambling: (see prostitution)
I love it!!
Oh my GOD! What I wouldn’t give for this to happen…
I think the major flaw in your argument is that “morality”, however you choose to define that, is based on a belief in some “higher power” or “higher purpose” - without that underpinning our social customs and laws, what is to stop society falling into an orgy of self-gratification at the expense of everyone within striking distance? Sure, it might be fun for a while, but I think the effects would be disasterous in the middle to long-term…
Gp
Hence my John Lennon comment, I doubt HE was talking about abandoning spirituality, rather he must have meant organized religion which many established beliefs (ironically) speak out against. No one that has listened to his songs could believe he was against spirituality.
— G. Raven
Nonsense. Are you saying that an atheist cannot be moral?
Um… No.
I know plenty of people who are perfectly moral, yet don’t believe in any “higher power/purpose” of any kind. Being a moral person has nothing to do with that. Religion seems to be an overly simplified way of defining morality (“Why is that wrong? Because… Because it is!”).
I know it probably isn’t what you mean to be saying, but it comes across a lot as if you’re saying atheists could not be moral if not for the religions they do not believe in…
Oh, how about common sense, survival instinct, or just plain-old decency? Just because they’re no supernatural definition of morality doesn’t mean that it’s going to go out the window. People would still recognize that murder is wrong, since it clearly victimizes someone else (And is somewhat essential to holding a society together; Without religion, people will still be able to think logically – And perhapse even moreso, many would say 
). Laws would still be in place to prevent “self-gratification at the expense of everyone within striking distance”, just as they are now, and I don’t think you’ll find anyone in favor, religion or no religion, of getting rid of laws against murder and the like (Well, barring fellons who are in trouble for just that).
The basics of morality are pretty simple; Such as, victimizing someone else is wrong. I wouldn’t mind being rid of some of the religious “morality” that say certain things (homosexuality being one, having already been mentioned in this thread) are “wrong”. But the idea that all morality has to find its roots in religion is somewhat ludicrous. Religion seems, to me, to be a way to present reason for morality, not to present morality itself. Morality is not dependant on religion.
What Albert had to say about this:
“A man’s ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.”
-Albert Einstein, “Religion and Science,” New York Times Magazine, 9 November 1930.
Okay, so he used “man” instead of gender-neutral terms. Still, I like the sentiment.
I think I would like it very much for that to happen. Basic decency and the rule of law would rule. And social issues would be dealt with without any religious interpretations.
But I also have a rather disconcerting thought.
Most people I know do have this need to have some element of faith and spirituality in their lives. Assuming this need still exists, Would this lead to a reinvention of organized religion?
And to think I’m an atheist. shrugs.
TF.
This may seem like a very simple-minded take on it but if there are intelligent, spiritual, moral beings in existence, won’t there also exist the fundamental questions of life and creation? Consequently creating potential for new religions? Many people believe the mysteries of the universe are the source or at least the demand for a belief system that includes a higher power (this god, that god). With those mysteries still viable, a necessity for explanation will always exist. Therefore people will continue to organize communities that share belief systems, faith, philosophy, whatever.
Wiping out the history of organized religion may have an impact (I would think especially in regard to the Roman Catholic Church) but abolishing the concept of religion would be unrealizable.
Not at all - but why would they (in this new world we are imagining)? What possible advantage would it give to someone to behave in a moral manner? Amoral behavior would result in the consolidation of power by those who posess it, and the oppression of those who have no power.Malice and others seem to feel that this new society would be some kind of utopia with everyone being decent and correct - I fear that it would decend into a chaotic bloodbath with the ruthless power-mongerers emerging on top.
Having said that - we can look at many areas of the world where (in spite of widely professed faiths) bloodshed and chaos reign. Who needs the OP to happen before my fears are realised?
I too would love to see less of the “religious” fervour that places one’s own beliefs ahead of love and respect for the humanity of one’s fellow human beings. You will notice that I didn’t refer to religion in my post, but belief in (and some kind of relationship with) the Creator of the Universe. It is this awareness that inspires one to be moral - seeing your fellow humans as created beings rather than the accidental result of molecular collisions must (should) cause you to respect and value them and work for the good of all.
Pheonix Dragon said:
Sooner or later, will not people will come to view the laws that you hold in such high esteem in the same way? (“Why is that wrong? Because… Because it’s against the law!”)? Pehaps I am a pessimist in this area (strange - I’m an optimist in so many others…
) but I do not feel that a world without the awareness of the existance of God (my words) would be a nice place to live…
Gp
So, you are saying that there is no reason to care for other people if there is no creator of the universe. If you realized God did not exist, you would kill your mother for her jewelery?
I value my fellow humans because they are sentient beings just like me. My consideration for other people is in no way dependent upon how they are created. Why should the means of creation of a person have any bearing on that person’s value?
Perhaps these threads might be of interest:
Morality, slavery, murder, etc.
Atheist Morality
Morality
Question to Atheists
If we chuck religion, how to stay moral?
Situation Ethics, God’s Law, and Pluralism
As for the OP, while it might be a good thing to “start over” without having the endorsement of slavery, lowered status of women, and hatred for homosexuality found in many religious texts, probably people would just find another way to justify their prejudices. And sometimes religion can help curb and train those who can’t understand why hurting other people is a Bad Thing. I’d prefer religion to go away simply because I think it is false and I don’t think it’s to our overall benefit to believe in illusions, but it has served certain purposes: assimilating new cultures, promoting feelings of community, providing an infrastructure for charity work, as a big spiritual carrot and stick for people with defincient empathy. On the other hand, it has also destroyed and oppressed those of “other” religions, engendered a “saved n. evil heathen” outlook, given a way for power-hungry people to claim to have a control over other’s very souls, and provided unyielding absolute moral justification for some of our less-wonderful actions–slavery, brutal wars, gaybashing.
Morrison’s Lament wrote:
Not so fast. The song “Imagine” appears to be an espousal of Communist ideology. (No possessions. Check. No countries. Check. No religion. Check.) Marx call religion “the opiate of the masses?” Sounds like Lennon shared his view. In that context, it looks like he was speaking out (or singing out, anyway) about religion in general, and not just “organized religion.”
As an atheist, I would be more afraid of someone who behaves “properly” only because he thinks there’s a god who will smite him if he doesn’t.
I behave in a moral and ethical manner with others not out of fear of divine retribution, but because it is the way I would like others to behave towards me as well – the Golden Rule, remember? And no, that’s not a religious idea, either.
As for the OP, if everyone were to suddenly wake up tomortrow with no concept of religion or God, all those folks fighting in the middle east would look very silly all of a sudden… 
I’d think war would be on its way out. Without promise of an afterlife, how many soldiers would be willing to charge the guns?
“You mean if I get shot, I just cease to exist? No heaven for war heroes? Forget it, I’m going home.”
A lot of the eastern religions (Taoism, Confucianism, Shintoism, forms of Buddhism) are not theistic. They seem moral enough without belief in a supernatural deity.
*sunday . . sunday . . sunday . . .
in the SD coliseum . . . -seum . . . -seum . . .
Gaudere takes on Grimpixie in a no-holds-barred cage match! Special appearance by Libertarian!
Be therrrrrrre!*
Just to amplify Lib’s and Gaudere’s comments, grim, if there are moral and ethical atheists now when religion is so pervasive, why do you think would that change without religion?
Lennon himself said he meant none of that, “My God is bigger than YOUR God,” etc etc. You could have religion, but not the competition and such.