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About this quote

What does it mean?
Allen argues morality is more important without God since humans must enforce justice themselves.
In plain terms
If God doesn't exist, humans must be even more moral.
What can you take from it?
Without divine justice, human morality becomes urgent.

Where it applies

  • philosophical debate
  • ethical reasoning

Putting it to work

  • prioritize ethics
  • act without oversight

Questions to consider

  • Does God make us moral?
  • What drives ethics?

Another view

Believers argue God motivates morality too.

More from Steve Allen

  1. If there is a God, the phrase that must disgust him is- holy war.

    Permalink to quote #19
  2. If you pray for rain long enough, it eventually does fall. If you pray for floodwaters to abate, they eventually do. The same happens in the absence of prayers.

    Permalink to quote #21
  3. If the Old Testament were a reliable guide in the matter of capital punishment, half the people in the United States would have to be killed tomorrow

    Permalink to quote #18

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