Americans and Religion

[kandrathe]

...

Along the same lines, there are those who would say that by your reasoning, no one is moral, that all "morality" stems from either expected gratification or fear of retribution. But that may be a semantic issue on some level.

--me

For the sake of the argument I would offer up at least an enlightening link to clear up some of the sematic confusion as it relates to the philosophy of morality;

Fallacies of Egoism and Altruism and the Fundamental Principle of Morality

But I consider our relations with others as constituting the boundaries of morality....To ourselves, in strict language, we can owe no duties, obligation requiring also two parties. Self-love, therefore, is no part of morality. Indeed it is exactly its counterpart. It is the sole antagonist of virtue, leading us constantly by our propensities to self-gratification in violation of our moral duties to others. -- Thomas Jefferson