honest question?

Question

If a person has no faith or no basis on which to derive morality, then where do their values come from? and what makes them acceptable, or even moral?

Answer 1

Well, technically if you have no basis on which to derive morality, then you must be living alone and have had no contact with anyone, ever.

If you have had contact with anyone else, then you have a way to derive morality, even if it's only evident from those around you and the way they interact with you and others.

The main answer to your question probably has more to do with those who hold no specific faith/religion and how they can consider themselves moral beings if they have no basis for morality within religion or organized faith.

The easy answer is parents/family. As you grow up, you learn from your parents belief systems on what is right and what is wrong, what is accepted and what is not, what will bring you praise and what will bring you scorn/punishment.

Obviously if you have a poor upbringing, at least morally, you will carry that with you until you have reason not to.

The next level of impact when it comes to morals and values is the one that you get from going to school or interacting with others outside of the household.

Typically this can easily compete with what you have been taught at home, especially if you really enjoy being around those you are with at school or if it's close but has only minor changes. It also depends a lot on how much your family impresses upon you their values.

The last way, other than a job or the like, is being just plain spiritual or educated.

Without believing in a higher power, you can still be a spiritual person, one who believes in a belief system and a code of ethics. Many Buddhists and Taoists and the like have belief systems that don't require deities and they can be some of the most moral upright people you will ever meet.

Being educated, learning about various cultures and ways of life can also be a way to learn how others act and how to act around them. This can also give you a good idea on what people consider to be good or upright behaviour and what they consider to be taboo.

Society as a whole also has their own morality and this morality is constantly changing as the society itself changes. You could have grown up on another planet entirely, but as soon as you entered the United Stated and wanted to be a citizen, you would quickly find out what is ok and what isn't.

I hope that this helps.

Buddhadan

Answer 2

Basic morality was here before the religion was used strategically for that purpose. People with no religion actually work harder to settle morality issues. On the other hand people with religious faith usually take laws of morality for granted. I am a religious person but that what I have realized after observation. Atheist people just don't become criminals or outcast as a default. We should let everyone decide on that without feeling prejudice.

Answer 3

Values are learned...be it from church, school, home, or whatever. I had great values to learn from growing up, just not from a church. Our parents gave us many excellent life-lessons, pretty much based on similar ideas that you find in the 10 Commandments. No, you don't steal. No, you don't need to be jealous of what someone else has. etc, etc....just not learned directly from the Bible or in a church setting. I have many morals and beliefs that are my own which are good morals. I have made mistakes and learned from them. I have done things I'm not so proud of, as everyone has. But it doesn't make me a bad person! I'm just who I am, and I do believe in God. I just don't go to church. There are too many politics in churches for me. I have an excellent relationship with God. HOWEVER, I do not and will not condemn someone else for having different beliefs or no beliefs. That isn't my place. Nor will I impose my beliefs on anyone else. There again...not my place. Have a wonderful day, and I hope you find the answer to your question buried somewhere in here.

Answer 4

Values generally come from family first. If the family brings with it faith and a belief in GOD then more values come from there. Also sometmes a mentor or a close adult can teach one morals. I personally believe ones soul and therefore conscience guides our path. But on the other hand and this may be due to a lack of being taught right from wrong, I also feel there are those among with no soul and who are lost to Satan, (but even those CAN become moral and just in GODS eyes if they so wish to be and seek him.)

Answer 5

Their values come from society -- they can see acceptable / unacceptable behavior by watching their friends, TV, parents, etc. By doing this, they can be acceptable to society. Very often, deriving values in this way results in valuing what this world values instead of what God wants us to value. Derving values in this way (from society) can result in a moral person.

It is important to realize that niceness, morality, etc., is all well and good, but it is not the main thing God asks of us. That is faith, seeking forgiveness from God, and following his instructions.

Answer 6

Morality is a part of the human mind in most individuals. Some people need a good reward (or bad punishment) to make them do good things (many Christians/many other religion's followers). Some people don't (many atheists/some religions' followers). Others couldn't care less, and do whatever they want anyway (this normally being the criminals)

Answer 7

God has created each of His children with His natural law written in their hearts. He has given each a conscience that will alert us to right and wrong action. This is the basis of morality for those that do not have belief or faith in anything greater than themselves.

Answer 8

Don't get me wrong, I am a Christian, but i do not think that morality and religion are the same thing. In fact, the "moral code" of some religions are so unlike what would normally be called morals that I think they should be abolished.

Answer 9

Right or wrong are inherent values. BUT remember there are people who are naturally evil, they have no conscience. They feel no right or wrong about any particular action or situation, therefore whatever they do is right to them, this was very well portrayed in the movie Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal Lector was just an evil, vile human being. For these people we pray EXTRA hard and carry a big stick!

Answer 10

Society. Parents. Expectations. Morality and religion do not always go hand in hand.

If society deemed it moral to kill children, not many would take to it now, but after a few years, it would become morally acceptable.