Hey atheists how do u base right vs. wrong>?

Question

since u don't believe in a divine judge(God), then how do you seperate wrong and right?> I assume you must live according to your own rules, correct>

Answer 1

The reality is that moral values are taught by parents. When we as children do things that are not acceptable in society we are corrected by our parents. Therefore by the time a child is eight, they know it is not acceptable to piss in their pants, take a dump on the floor in a restaurant, steal, spit at people they don’t like etc. As children are raised they learn these social skills and understand what kind of behavior is acceptable and what is not.

In the absence of God, children are still raised with these societal guidelines and thus know right from wrong.

Religious people will also teach children some additional ‘values’ such as abstinence, rules about pre-marital sex, guilt, sin etc. This does not make a person any more moral it simply gives them additional values as dictated by the particular religious sect that has overseen their upbringing.

Once a person is an adult (perhaps before) that person will decide which of these societal standards they intend to conform to. Some people conform out of habit, some out of social class, and some out of a belief that a divine Father is watching them constantly 24/7 and will hand out appalling punishment for misdeeds.

Atheists do not simply do as they please. They operate within accepted societal standards just as believers do. The only difference is they do so out of character and a personal morality, rather than fear of divine retribution and fear of what people from their church will think of them.

Answer 2

Atheists have ethics; religion has morals. The qualitative difference is that atheists can eat pork.

It's not like being atheist means you're left with absolutely no clue as to what's right and wrong. You still know about honor, discipline, valor, courage, loyalty, and all of the other virtues that have been touted throughout history. You still feel bad about it if you lie, cheat, steal, and so on.

These values have been formatively instilled into the moral part of your brain by your parents, eventually called the conscience.

(Interestingly enough, the conscience physically overlaps with what they're calling the "God" part of the brain, which is why we equate deity and morality so often. I mean, think about it for a minute -- one doesn't necessarily translate to the other. Why should the being who created the universe be offended if you say an impolite word when you stub your toe?)

Get enough parents together, and you'll have a society, which writes laws; and so, there's a whole rule-set to follow whether or not there are any religions to follow. Societies which have decided that murder and pillage are the order of the day... generally don't create very many generations of parents.

So, believe it or not, atheists are just as virtuous (or unethical) as anyone else. It depends on our society, our parents, and how many ethical/moral issues we bump headfirst into. (The issues change with each generation, of course.)

This all sounds very piecemeal, but the fact is, it's a *relief* to be an atheist, take reality as it comes - in a realistic fashion -- and allow the rest of the world to argue over unimportant things like the moral way to eat an egg.

Answer 3

Warren Buffett

Born: 30-Aug-1930
Birthplace: Omaha, NE


Gender: Male
Religion: Atheist
Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Business

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Billionaire in Omaha

http://www.nndb.com/people/445/000022379/

"In June 2006, he made the commitment to give away 85% of his fortune, most of which would be going to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.[3] This is the largest act ever of charitable giving in United States history.[4]"

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Buffett


Bill Gates has been called an "agnostic," but he is most likely an atheist.

Those damned atheists just don't have any morals, do they?

Answer 4

I think this demonstrates that most atheist have no clue about God. Most are atheist out of sheer laziness. They have never bothered to read the book which they say is false. They don't know what the good news is. They don't even believe that there was ever any bad news.

I know of a few that have read the bible and can actually quote scripture. They practice rote memorization without getting the meaning. They have knowledge but no wisdom.

Answer 5

Why is there a presumption that without god one cannot recognize the difference between right and wrong?

Morality is not divinely inspired, it arose naturally so as to make it easier for people to live together in groups. In short, do not do to someone what you would not want them to do to you. God need not enter the equation.

Answer 6

One thing that seperates (most) human beings from most of the lesser life forms is a sense of conscience, empathy, of humanity. I do not need to believe in a god to know and feel when I have hurt others, and that I myself do not like to be hurt. The golden rule - do unto others - is a natural desire for self-preservation and to love and be loved. Nobody had to tell me that, and I did not read it in a book.

Answer 7

Basic human nature dictates that people feel empathy and guilt to keep them from committing heinous actions. I am intelligent enough and have enough common sense to realize that certain acts (such as murder) cause pain and harm to other people, and my conscience and sense of morality could never allow me to do such a thing.

The way Christians speak about morality makes it seem as though they don't commit violent crimes only because they fear punishment and long for an eternal reward. This thought certainly makes me feel like a more moral person, because I do good every chance I get simply because I enjoy helping others.

Answer 8

Atheists believe that there is no such thing as a morally right or wrong actions, just a social contract that man makes to promote utilitarianism. Unfortunately the holocause is perfectly permissible in this system.

Answer 9

It is very naive to think that one can rely on the laws of the country they live in to determine what is wrong and what is right. A good conscience has to be properly formed based on natural law and sound moral principles or it can't be relied upon either. And natural law and good moral principles originate from God.

Answer 10

I think regardless of what religion you do or don't believe in, people KNOW the difference between wrong & right. My conscience decides that for me, not "god". & i am a much better & stronger person for it too. i am not weakened by the NEED to rely on the fact that there MUST be something else, becasue there is not. I sleep soundly at night.