Sociopathic Atheists

[robotparker]

the idea that morality cannot be maintained without some kind of personal investment in a diety or other mythology is a notion so retarded that it still amazes me that people subscribe to it in 2007. why can't the thing bigger than himself be this great civilization we've made for ourselves? shame on you and Crittendom.

[ncfcyank19]

I've got a huge problem with a few sets of thinking...

1. Believing in a deity automatically makes you a better person than one who doesn't. That's nothing but pure bullshit. I've met all types of people and that includes the immoral religious nut and the immoral atheist...the trustworthy and hard-working religious nut and the trustworthy and hard-working atheist...and everything in between.
2. Believing that one cannot be moral without religion or some belief in a deity. This is absolutely absurd. Only the lazy and unintelligent would EVER believe something this ridiculous.
3. Believing in a deity should be enough to convince someone you're a moral person or should even be looked at as a reason for parole. Do you know how many people in military boot camp claim to be gay because they can't handle training or they get home sick? It's more than you'd think.

Now, some people do need religion in their lives to help them be a better person. We're all different. We learn differently. We have different abilities at different things and we all don't share the same knowledge or experiences so it makes total sense that some people would need some outside source to help guide them along the way. I don't think it means they're weak. I think it means they're human. Some need religion. Some don't. Both are OK.

It's when a Catholic tries to force their way of thinking onto an Atheist or vice versa that it becomes a huge problem. Only you know how you learn best or what you need. You can search for the answers if you don't have them yet but in the end only you can convert you. Whether that's towards religion or away from it. No one can force you either way and no one SHOULD.

I have a belief in God and I have found that active participation in my church does somehow make me treat people better. I'm a happier person for it and I feel like a more successful person. I have seen the opposite work when I am not active in my church.

Still, I'm not going to stand here and tell you that every person on the earth would get the same thing I did from it. That's just not the case because we're all so different and I think we should start respecting that fact. I believe the sooner we do, the sooner we can cross religious conflict off the list of why there is so much fighting and bloodshed in the world. Then we can move on to racial divides, land disputes, and family feuds.

[Lambboy]

Let me get this straight.

Sociopath = Believing in no God = Bad

Rehabilitated = Believing in a invisible man in the sky = Good

This is just another example of a bad Christian controlling the life of another human being. In fairness though they have been known to do that since the beginning of the religion so it's no big surprise.

I wonder if he was required to believe in Jesus Christ to be paroled or if any God would do Can you be a Buddhist and be paroled by this man?

Religion is a socially accepted mental disease.

If I think unicorns really exist than I would be laughed at and ridiculed. But yet if I kneel down and ask some man in the sky that no one can see to read my mind and grant my wishes it's not only completely fine to most people they would actually prefer it if I did it on a daily basis.

I have a dream. I don't know how much time would have to pass on Earth for it to become a reality. If humans are able to not ruin the Earth and are still here in a few hundred or even a few thousand years, I would hope that we as a people would finally grow up and let reason take over and no longer have the belief in God warping our societies and our politics.

Save the world kids!

Boycott Church!

[william]

The question isn’t if morality necessitates a deity, rather is the addition of a karmatic concept necessary to keep a sociopath in check?

A sociopath is a person with "disregard for social rules, norms, and cultural codes, as well as impulsive behavior, and indifference to the rights and feelings of others."

What would reign in a "rehabilitated" sociopath months or years later when a situation an opportunity to committing a crime presents itself? Most don't commit premeditated crimes thinking that they'll get caught.

Through inference, Crittendon agues that without a belief in someone greater than oneself (be it a god or karma or what-have-you) there is nothing other than the fear of earthly retribution that will keep these men in line: ""Without a belief in something larger than yourself, you backslide"

To wit,

• Is it an acceptance of a moral code enough (or even possible for a sociopath) to keep them from committing further crimes?

• Or is it the fear of being caught or a weariness of prison life that which keeps them in line?

• Is it a mixture of both things?

Is the fear of being caught sufficient for one who ultimately believes that this is the only existence we have? That come his death, he has nothing to worry about – that he will sleep sans dreams. That if he isn't caught, the only one he believes he is accountable to is himself?

We can't look into the heart of men; we can only infer how they will behave.

Stipulating that those who profess belief really do so, would they be troubled by the thought that unpunished crimes in their mortal life will reap punishment later? And through this belief system would they be less likely to commit a crime vs. a man who doesn't believe he will ever be caught, here or later?

"The inmate's going to benefit from being rehabilitated, but it's really about protecting the decent people out in our society who he'd victimize." - Crittendon

[MalcolmSmith]

It sounds like you're asking whether people believe that an adherence to religious dogma may be substituted as an effective alternative to the lack of a conscience that often characterizes sociopathic behavior, or antisocial personality disorder. If that is what you're asking, I would be inclined to say, maybe. Psychotherapy combined with drug treatment (administered to stabilize behavior, mood swings, anxiety, etc.) is probably the best approach. I suppose you could substitute religion for psychotherapy (marriage counselors do it all the time), but it would probably have to be highly structured and monitored through close supervision. Probably not the best idea overall. Seems like it would be an awfully crude measure for determination of parole, but I guess if that's all you've got to go on, it's better than nothing. Of course, I could also be full of @#$%.

[william]

Originally Posted by MalcolmSmith

It sounds like you're asking whether people believe that an adherence to religious dogma may be substituted as an effective alternative to the lack of a conscience that often characterizes sociopathic behavior, or antisocial personality disorder. If that is what you're asking, I would be inclined to say, maybe...

Seems like it would be an awfully crude measure for determination of parole, but I guess if that's all you've got to go on, it's better than nothing.

Pretty much. I like your summation. Succinct.

That's what gave me pause.

My first reaction was like many of you, but then I took a step back and gave thought to how in this circumstance theology might be a useful tool. Ugh.

[MalcolmSmith]

I'm starting to get a little bit concerned about crime in general lately. Our business has been broken into twice in the last month. Bad guys only made out with about $75 each time, but jeesh. On of our customers, a local restaurateur, had the bricks in the sidewalk in front of his establishment stolen in broad daylight, on a busy street. One of our employees owns a couple of bars. the other day, one of his "clients," cruised in on his new scooter, popped into the pub for a sec, and the scooter was no more. Review of the security video shows that just after he got off of the scooter, two guys picked it up and loaded it in the back of a van. Were having a petty cash, paving brick, scooter heist crime wave. I think it's due the local, rust-belt economy, the bar owner thinks it's due to crack.