Fundies have long argued it is not possible to be a moral person without God (and, yes, they mean their God). Atheists have just as long countered that it is possible to construct a system of morality without God.
Rob Tisinai turns the idea inside out and asks the question does a belief in God result in an objective, non-arbitrary, moral system? He says the question results in a dilemma. His posting says it in three different ways. This is my take on it. If it doesn't make sense, go see what Rob says.
* If God determines right and wrong by divine declaration morality is turned into God's plaything. God cannot distinguish between right and wrong because those concepts are only what God says they are. His declarations of right and wrong are arbitrary (consider the various actions attributed to God in the Old Testament).
* If God is declared to be good it is therefore possible to determine goodness outside God's declarations. Thus it is possible to construct a system of morality apart from God.
Fundies declare that a system of morality apart from God is simply arbitrary. But when they say morality can only come from God they are the ones who cling to an arbitrary system of morality.
To compound the irony (and my irritation) Fundies have already decided that certain parts of the Bible don't apply to the modern world (not many of them keep Kosher). Walter Wink wrote a pamphlet on just the sexual practices that have changed (we now frown on polygamy). How did they decide what to keep and what no longer applies? That means Fundies themselves have come up with a system of morality independent of God.
Which brings me back to the method I use to sort through the keepers and the junk we should leave behind. Does it improve mental health? Does it build community? If so, keep it.
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