Moral Compass - Part 1

I came across an old snip from a "Larry King Live" recording from CNN (in approximately 2009, so not that old)  the other day.

On it some well-known African-American personality (so well-known that unfortunately I have forgotten his surname, for which I apologise - first name Steve) made a comment that he would not have any daughter of his date an atheist as they have "no moral compass"!

Interesting the way that people of a religious bent toss out this word "moral" as if it has some significant ultra meaning that other words cannot provide (and try coming up with an objective definition of what entails "morality"!).

It misses the point with atheism anyway. Atheism is essentially an intellectual argument. It is not a belief system, it is not a set of rules (except for scientific ones), it is not about guidance or telling people how to behave - it is simply a statement that there is no evidence of any external controlling force behind the universe judging our lives, and no after-life. These are facts, take it from there, and no need to be judgemental!

Move on.

Back in the 1970s I caused a stir (and no little resentment) in my teaching days in England as a result of my opinions. For those living outside the UK, you might be interested to know that religious education is compulsory is schools there. As is the requirement (not always observed) for schools to hold a "religious" service every day before school.  

This anachronism dates back to the introduction of the public education service in the UK in the middle of the 19th century. Prior to that education was in the hands of the religious institutions. That in 1974 this was still taking place struck me as ridiculous and appeared to me, as an atheist, nothing more than irrational indoctrination.

Teachers and pupils in schools in the UK have a "conscience" clause where they can opt out of the religious requirement. It was often used in the 1950s by children from Catholic families whose parents saw it as reinforcement of Protestant values, for example. In this instance I too opted out, which did not make me too popular!

The resentment was though caused not by my lack of religious faith. It was more seen as me skipping out on disciplinary/supervisory duties! A lot of kids at these assemblies tend to misbehave, and need occasional admonition. An odious chore at the best of times.

This was slightly unfair. I was a strong believer in the school having rules that needed to be obeyed. I was a strong believer in the rigid, consistent enforcement of the rules - in the most severe cases with the application of corporal punishment where necessary (drat, there goes my "liberal" reputation again!).  Most kids liked order, they liked having a good atmosphere in which to learn and work hard, they disliked the small clique of regular troublemakers, and they definitely hated bullies (well a good 80% of them did at least!). I was all for those kids having the sort of environment where those who worked hard and co-operated could have a good atmosphere in which to learn, and the misfits knew that they would be in trouble (maybe serious trouble) if they stepped out of line.

Moral compass, or just pragmatism?

This also sounds like the sort of society in which I would choose to live! We have laws in place. Civil laws which enable us in theory to have an ordered society. It is a shame (actually it is an outright scandal!!!!) that we cannot create a society in which people who want to work hard and use their talents cannot find jobs (either in keeping with their abilities, or at all!)! Is it moral for an employer to fire loyal, hard-working employees because they are "too old" or "too expensive" for example? Ah, but the boss is a practising Christian so he must have a moral compass unlike those dratted atheists!

Sounds like the sort of "morality" that I can do without. Maybe I just need to go on trying to be the best person that I can be, working for a society that is ordered and reasonable to live in, and looking for that unachievable goal called an adequately paid job in line with my talents.

More on morality in the next item - I might even have found a clear-cut meaningful definition by then!