[Superman]

I knew my remarks were going to ruffle some feathers. But I see nothing substantive, beyond the emotional reaction.

I'm not going to suggest that anybody is perfect. All humans sin. Even if God exists. Or if he does not. Humans are selfish.

My point is rather simple. We engage in any particular behavior for only one reason....selfishness. That's why we eat, go to work, volunteer for charity. To make us feel good.

So, the negative consequences of unethical behavior are potentially just two: God's punishment, or man's punishment. If God's punishment were truly taken out of the formula, then we're just left with man's punishment. If an atheist had a chance to cheat someone and gain a six-week Tahitian vacation, why would he not cheat, and take the vacation? If all he's worried about is retribution from the cheated person, well, that's probably not going to happen.

And if an atheist tries to argue that there is something besides human retribution and God's retribution, well then you'll see an amused smirk grow on my face and I'll have a series of questions that will be difficult to answer.

Where does this tendency toward ethical behavior come from, if you can reject your fellow man as a source? This is a trap that I suggest atheists not step into.