AOF Activities & Events

Morality and the Problem of Religion: A Philosophers' Table discussion!

Here's a question. Religious leaders have argued that without a god, people would lack a moral compass, would commit heinous crimes -- because of no threat of hell. "If God does not exist, everything is permitted," old Dostoevsky reportedly wrote. But what of all the "holy wars" packed with atrocities? What about the Inquisition, the Magdalene Sisters, clergy child abuse, the witch executions, poor Michael Servetus roasting at the stake? Pick any one horrific example of religious atrocity, then trace though the perpetrators' rationale. How do they justify their acts? Do they appeal to logic, or to religion? Does this suggest something, or are we being a bit unfair?

Join AOF friends and members for another Philosophers' Table discussion. Just be open to questions, and listen as much as you speak.