Do you believe in morality?
In a sense, yes.
Individuals and societies have beliefs that certain circumstances/actions are right and wrong.
Then you’re not a nihilist, do you believe in God?
Possibly not, but I still consider myself one.
I do not believe in the Christian God, or any afterlife.
Why?
I desire proof.
I see the existence of similar, but different in other civilizations.
I see flaws in the written word.
Why doesn’t that desire apply to morality?
What do you mean?
When I say I believe in morality. . . It's a bit similar to my mind, of saying I believe in jump rope.
It's a concept.
Much like math existing, such as 1+1=2,
Certain concepts exist.
Elaborate please
The golden rule for example.
We humans possess empathy, and 'feel showing kindness (as we see it) is good, something to be encouraged.
On a cynical view, groups understand enforcing kindness is beneficial.
Underlying question is it a true concept or a false one?
Habits get repeated, and true or not, people believe them.
The habits become important to them.
The habits cluster, as a snowball.
Though based subjectively in a narrow context to accomplish an aim or play by a games rule, it can be considered true.
I do not consider murder or cruelty to be objectively wrong.
I do not consider helping or kindness to be objectively right.
When you say cluster you mean death?
No, I mean they'll give birth to similar ideas.
Certain conclusions and decisions leading to others of similar nature.
If that’s true then why did you say you believe in morality?
Because in the sense I believe in morality, a person could believe in God.
If I did not believe in the 'concept of God, I don't understand how we could discuss him.
I believe in the 'concept of monsters under the bed and other such fabrications.
If I tell my child that there is a monster under the bed, and this prevents him from getting out of bed and romping around, then it had an impact.
Morality, to me, is real in this sense.
By people believing in it, it has an impact.
But I 'still consider it arbitrary.
The number 1 does not exist.
But I believe that the number 1 exists.
Why does the impact of an inherently false answer matter so much to you?
Because I am human.
My nature and nurture has decreed such to matter to me.