Atheism, Evolution and Environmental conservation
- Thread starter S.A.M.
- Start date
Yeah, but as atheists who believe in evolution, isn't environmental conservation redundant?
Evolution is not a moral code or guide for behavior, it's simply a theory about how different species came about. It doesn't say anything about whether or not a person should protect the environment.
Yeah, so why should you protect the environment? And what does "protection" mean?
The main reasons why atheists might want to protect the environment would probably be because they realize that damage to the environment can negatively impact humans today and future human generations, and/or because they like the natural world/wild animals/etc and dont want to see it damaged by human activity.
By "protect" the environment one generally means not dumping poisons or disruptive materials into it, destroying ecosystems, killing off so many animals or plants that ecosystems are badly altered, etc. What else would it mean?
And so what? Its all natural isn't it? We're all just doing what comes naturally to us. Should we prevent mutations?
You say that as if evolution implied that people shouldn't protect the environment. As was already pointed out, evolution does not have anything to do with how one should behave, any more than the theory of relativity tells you how to behave.
One can believe that different species arose because of gradual genetic variation from one generation to the next and still not like the idea of dumping poisons into the water/air/ground or wiping out species.
Most atheists are intelligent enough to realize that just because something is "natural" it doesn't mean that it's a good idea, has pleasant results, or is good for the long-term survival of the human race. Eye glasses, air conditioning, and automobiles are all "unnatural." So what?
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M*W: As an atheist, I believe in evolution, because there is evidence from the fossil record that is good enough for me. (For christians: Don't bother replying to this. I don't want to discuss this topic with you).
I also believe in environmental conservation. Why would any atheist feel differently. We won't be here, but our descendants will, and they are very important to me. If we don't take care of our environment, nobody, no thing, will.
Take care of the environment? For what?
Well doesn't that depend on whether the mutation is the direct cause of evolution, or caused by mans effect on his environment. The latter being the only reason to prevent mutation, as they may not be conducive to the health of the planet, or the life there in.
So any animal effect on the environment is not a part of evolution?
Yes.
Evolution is a fact. We may not fully understand the process but that's the fun part huh?
I support environmental conservation because I enjoy the environment and I want future generations of cyborg-humanoids to have the same pleasure as me
Because, as was already explained, most atheists are smart enough to realize that damaging the environement is bad for the long-term survival of the human race. Also, many atheists simply like the natural world for its own sake and don't want to see it destroyed. This has already all been explained to you. Why do you keep acting like there's no conceivable reason why an atheist would care about the environemnt when you have already had several lists for you?
Or are you going suggest that the only conceivable reason a person could want to protect the environment is because a magic being in the sky told them to?
What!, I think my statement was clear enough, I've no idea what yours means though.