Quote from: BitChick on May 29, 2013, 02:50:27 PM

Where does our sense of compassion come from?

Evolved social empathy.

Quote from: BitChick on May 29, 2013, 02:50:27 PM

Also, I use the Bible as my moral compass as well when my own selfish desires get in the way of what really is the right thing to do.

I don't want it to appear I'm picking on you. I'm just replying to what you post. However, you most certainly do NOT use the bible as a moral compass. It plainly tells you not to seek wealth, yet you've admitted to investing in bitcoin to make money. I hope you make a killing, but your god doesn't. I'm just curious why you say one thing and do another. It seems to be a common trait among the religious, who also claim their book of rules is "absolute". Curious, indeed.

Quote from: BitChick on May 29, 2013, 02:50:27 PM

The Bible says "There is a way that seems right to a man but it leads to death." That is why I need to read the Bible and make sure I am not just making up my own ideas of what right an wrong are.

The bible also says not to wear clothing of mixed fabrics such as wool and linen. The bible says it is OK to sell one's own children into slavery. The bible says women who are raped must marry the rapist. Are these also incorporated into your "moral compass"?

Quote from: BitChick on May 29, 2013, 02:50:27 PM

The more I listen to Him, the more compassionate I can become. The more loving I can be. The more I can care about others, regardless of their beliefs, be it atheist, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, etc. I don't have to agree with people that think differently than I do, but I need to love them and try to show them that God loves them too. The difficulty is that in "loving" them, I often feel a compelling sense of showing them that they are on a destructive path.

The problem of course is that religious people don't stop at simply "showing us we're on a destructive path." The next move is to legislate and the next to war over these values. Religion feigns love while seeking totalitarianism.

Quote from: BitChick on May 29, 2013, 02:50:27 PM

So it is a problem for sure. How to love without offending. How to care without coming across as pushy, arrogant? Should we just let others choose their own path without doing anything at all? It seems that is what most people want us to do. "Live and let live." But is that the "moral" thing? Is that the right thing?

It is incredibly annoying to have religious proselytizing however I have more respect for those who do. If one is going to claim to live by a book of rules then one should do so, and proselytizing is advised your particular rule book. But so is wearing a cover over one's head (females only of course) - do you follow this law or ignore your god's commands here as well?