>>Why wouldn't he be? You seem to think that if someone
>>doesn't "believe" in "God" (and again, I don't pretend to
>>know anyone's beliefs, even my own), then it makes no sense
>>for him to care about society. This is nonsense.
>
>Wrong. I KNOW we ALL care about society. I'm not accusing
>anyone of not caring, but recognizing the fact that we share
>a common bond here. But that fact has to be legitimized by
>God for it to be a fact.

WRONGGGGG!!! Can we all stop throwing that word around as if we really understood some shit? We're talking philosophy here, nobody is "wrong." Some of us make weak arguments, though; arguments which don't make any sense, and have no external justification outside of pure culture. Your statement that "that fact has to be legitimized by God for it to be a fact" is an interesting case in point.

You're arguing that humans have no common bond if not that supplied by a conscious creator? Did that statement come from anywhere other than your pastor?

The common bond among all humans is pretty clear from ordinary experience. If I see a dude on the sidewalk, walk up and crack him in the jaw, he'll crack me right back. It's better for all of us, including me, if I just smile and keep walking.

The "common bond" among all of humanity is that we're all stuck here together. We have to cooperate, or rather, in the long run, we want to cooperate.

>>With or without God, there is still beauty.
>
>I disagree.
>
>With or without
>>God, there is still pain.
>
>I agree.

Oooh! Dramatic!

>We are completely aware of these
>>things, we see them every day (which is more than I can say
>>for God). We also know that they never take a completely
>>local existence. If we assume there is no God, then IT'S UP
>>TO US to increase the beauty and reduce the pain.
>
>Why? I cannot see why it would matter if I blew up the world
>if there is no God.

Most atheists are not so childish.

>If there is no God, who is to say a
>Rwandan genocide is wrong? Aren't the murderers just as
>valid in their beliefs as I am?

Sure, if the only justification you ask for is supernatural. In reality, what goes around comes around. The murderers have made a lot of enemies. They'll get theirs someday, and even if they don't they'll still be targets of revenge for the rest of their lives. Even if they aren't judged by God, they've been judged by the rest of us.