Godless morality

Because of the transcendental claims they make, debating human ethics with religious figures can be frustrating, but two things might help. First of all, we should refuse to be bullied by them and should remain firm in asserting the fact that though our ethic may differ from theirs, it is an ethic, not the lack of one. Secondly, we should recognize that religions evolve and adapt to new understandings of human nature, but they have to make the changes within the scope of their own self-understanding. Knowing that the best of them do this, we should, where possible, co-operate with them in negotiating the rapids of social and ethical change.