I've often encountered the argument from christians that if god isn't real or if evolution is true then how can there be morality? [Spirituality & Religion]

I mean really, at its core, morality is just an agreed-upon set of principles that, when adhered to, will promote harmonious living. Sometimes people get carried away with it and turn it into the opposite.

Honestly, I think anyone making such a claim is ridiculous. Even in a completely materialistic (in the philosophical sense, not the character flaw) worldview, it’s possible to observe human interaction, reason upon it, and devise a set of rules that promotes the behaviors and qualities one considers desirable. Different people will obviously come to different conclusions based on their individual experiences and priorities, but then that’s exactly what has already happened. Even among the various religions, few if any people are ever expected to achieve perfect knowledge.

In my faith tradition, we argue the other way around.

People have an innate spiritual or ethical compass. They can't be alienated from that essential goodness. It can be covered up, scrambled-- but not removed.

If it weren't for that there would be no natural impulse for altruism and compassion.

There certainly would be no motivation for spiritual discipline, for religious experience.

So from my perspective, the person who claims only God can provide morality... has already exercised this innate and inalienable spiritual/moral/ethical compass to find God. Or whatever higher power or principle they have faith in.

Whether that innate spiritual or ethical compass is an innate construct of humanity or something given by a divine entity is another question.

We are all individuals who know how we prefer to be treated. We don’t like to be slandered. We don’t like to be lied to. We like to be treated with kindness and thoughtfulness. We like to be respected. We don’t like to have our things stolen from us. We don’t like to be physically or mentally abused. We also prefer not to be murdered. Now, apply those and our many other preferences to how we want to be treated and assume that everyone else wants the same or similar. It doesn’t take fear of retribution from a god after we die to understand the basics of how to treat each other.

Well.. propaganda..

Religion is not a safe haven for morality.

Animals don't tend to wantonly kill each other in wars. And can you really say it is because they are worshiping God? Except red ants vs black ants. They are racists.

Morals are the result of God's commandments/religious instructions.

If a person doesn't believe in any creative force beyond physics, then morals would be based upon what is best for the individual and species...as reproduction and survival are the ultimate goals.

Thought provoking but we are a different species from animals so if we evolved then that could be the reason why....a different branch that developed different brain cells with thinking abilities and somewhere down the line, man thought what if I invent the guilt trip...thinking how that could affect future generations.🤔

Morality = a person or a groups, prejudice. Nothing more, nothing less.
Next question.

If religion and belief in God comforts others when in distress or in great need or likewise helps you live a better quality of life why would you judge? Just go about your ways as others do.