Rich,

The field seems littered with straw men!

I posted an example- an anecdote.

I have known this man since I can remember. He and my father did a lot of cases together through the 70s-90s.

Career and wealth were his reason d'etre. He will be remembered for a truly remarkable career. For somebody who dedicated himself to that for his entire adult life, what a win.

Then suddenly, in his 70s, he wishes he could be remembered more for morality than for the glittering career.

>>why is there an assumption that this is a "sudden" desire rather than a longstanding reflection on an entire lifetime?

If there is "assuming" going on, it isn't by me. It was sudden.

>>implying that morality, selflessness and decency are somehow not that important to people who don't believe.

No. Please see 4th and 5th paragraphs above. I did not cause him to do any of this. I just watched.

>>Why SHOULDN'T he want to be remembered for those traits? Aren't they worth being remembered for?

I think so. But I was a little boy when he made his career decisions. He did not consult me. Nor did he check with me about his recent change of mind.

>>I read your statement as people of faith want to be moral and non-believers might be moral but it isn't really an important issue for them.

I posted an example, An interesting anecdote that (I thought) showed something useful. A sort of contemporary "remember Phlebas". Unfortunately people seized on that anecdote and began implying all sorts of motives.

>>Your implication that there is a direct connection between faith and morality is one I'm not prepared to accept.

It is hardly a revelation that patrician atheists very commonly dedicate themselves to glittering careers and other material things. I thought it was interesting that such a one might suddenly change his mind as his life draws to its close.

Thanks for the debate, but I need to vanish for a few weeks- I need to dedicate myself to pursuit of material things!