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The '''Moral Zeitgeist''' is a term used by [[atheists]] to describe the evolution of morality.  Proponents of a moral ''Zeitgeist'' believe that morality evolved to help what they believe to be our ape-like ancestors survive in large groups as social animals.  This theory suggests that moral acceptability is chosen by the masses.  As people's view of what is morally right and wrong changes, the moral ''Zeitgeist'' is said to "shift." This position is rejected by Creationists and most Christians.  

The '''Moral Zeitgeist''' is a term used by [[atheists]] to describe the evolution of morality.  Proponents of a moral ''Zeitgeist'' believe that morality evolved to help what they believe to be our ape-like ancestors survive in large groups as social animals.  This theory suggests that moral acceptability is chosen by the masses.  As people's view of what is morally right and wrong changes, the moral ''Zeitgeist'' is said to "shift." This position is rejected by Creationists and most Christians.  

''To Atheists'', there appears to be an ethical consensus as to what makes something morally acceptable.  Richard Dawkins illustrates this with respect to racism in chapter 7 of his book ''The God Delusion'':

''To Atheists'', there appears to be an ethical consensus as to what makes something morally acceptable.  [[Richard Dawkins]] illustrates this with respect to racism in chapter 7 of his book ''[[The God Delusion]]'':

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Slavery, which was taken for granted in the Bible and throughout most of history, was abolished in civilized countries in the nineteenth century. All civilized nations now accept what was widely denied up to the 1920s, that a woman's vote, in an election or on a jury, is the equal of a man's. In today's enlightened societies (a category that manifestly does not include, for example, Saudi Arabia), women are no longer regarded as property, as they clearly were in biblical times. Any modern legal system would have prosecuted Abraham for child abuse. <ref>Dawkins, Richard, "The God Delusion", Houghton Mifflin, 2006, pp. 265-266</ref>

Slavery, which was taken for granted in the Bible and throughout most of history, was abolished in civilized countries in the nineteenth century. All civilized nations now accept what was widely denied up to the 1920s, that a woman's vote, in an election or on a jury, is the equal of a man's. In today's enlightened societies (a category that manifestly does not include, for example, Saudi Arabia), women are no longer regarded as property, as they clearly were in biblical times. Any modern legal system would have prosecuted Abraham for child abuse. <ref>[[Dawkins, Richard]], "[[The God Delusion]]", Houghton Mifflin, 2006, pp. 265-266</ref>

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==Quotes==

==Quotes==

"There seems to be a steadily shifting standard of what is morally acceptable... Something... has shifted in all of us, and the shift has no connection with religion.  If anything, it happens in spite of religion, not because of it."

"There seems to be a steadily shifting standard of what is morally acceptable... Something... has shifted in all of us, and the shift has no connection with religion.  If anything, it happens in spite of religion, not because of it."

--- Richard Dawkins, The ''God Delusion''

--- [[Richard Dawkins]], ''[[The God Delusion]]''

==See Also==

==See Also==