Morality without a god?

Question

Why is it that we need a god to justify morality. It would seem more noble that you follow morals for the greater good, not for a shot at heaven, so why are we accused for a lack of hig morals?

please, by this question I do not mean that Christian moral values are less, I worded this poorly, but I've seen a lot of morality without god issues and I felt the need to retort.

lady rebecca, I'm not anti-atheist or anything, read the above, it's a retort to theperson you think you're retorting to

Answer 1

The moral standards should be set by whom? will they change? will one day rape be turned into a good thing? Abortion was.
In order for a moral system to work it must be unflexable and permanent.
God is the only thing above us and he never changes.
What was sin is still sin and foerever will remain sin.
try playing a game where the rules change during the game. maybe that explains it better.

Answer 2

In my opinion one does not need a God to justify morality. One may justify his own morality and standards. All he has to do is list what he thinks is right and wrong and then live by it. However in regards to a conflict with another creature who will or how will such be resolved? Will it be by might, negotiation, or by an appointed mediator or judge?

It seems a God gets involved because one must have a standard or guide that is or seems to be superior to the standard or guide set forth by mankind or humankind alone. This guide concept also comes into play when other living creatures other than than mankind or humankind are concerned. Somehow, some way a standard must first be in place, remain in place, and be enforceable by one who has the ability to enforce it. Since mankind dies, gets weak, etc., who but a God [something or someone superior to mankind or humankind] can truly enforce a moral standard?

Answer 3

We don't need a God to justify our morals, constitution or code of ethics.

Regardless of what some think, if religion did not exist, we would all be perfectly fine with our conduct. (In fact, without structured religion, our morals would not be hampered by ridiculous prejudices and judgements about others)


Hey, I'm not retorting to anyone - this is merely my opinion on the matter that you raised - cheers

Answer 4

Concepts of ethics and morality predate Christianity and Judaism. As a matter of fact, many of the 10 Commandments were lifted directly from Hammurabi's law code (a set of written laws that existed about 700 years before the birth of Judaism).

Plato wrote "The Republic" (one of the greatest tracts on morality in history) without the benefit of even knowing about Judaism (it was written about 6 centuries before the birth of Christ).

So persevere. Christians just think that they have a lock on morality.

Answer 5

Like others have said above, the problem without God in a solid marked moral guideline is the question of who is to decide this guideline.

A pedophile thinks that it's moral to touch children, but others don't.

Answer 6

We don't need a god to justify morality.
Secular, humanist values predate religion - if they didn't there wouldn't be anyone left to create religion.
We are all basically in agreement that murdering, stealing, deceiving, hurting, lying, harming, destroying are bad things - I don't think we need any commandments to tell us so.
The 'atheists have no morals' is an argument used by people who haven't really thought much outside of their own beliefs.

Answer 7

It all boils down to fear of the unknown. Humans have not yet developed the psychological capabilities to cope with death for the simple fact that we don't knows what's going to happen to us after we die. Our minds have created this an imaginary world called an afterlife and religion has made up rules and moral standards to follow here on earth and based on how loyal of a follower you are to their guidelines you will get rewarded or punished after you die. Crazy stuff, huh

Answer 8

Some people require a moral system set up by religion because they don't have the internal structure to come up with their own. I'm not religious but i consider myself to be highly moral.

Answer 9

your not supposed to have morals as a christian to get into heaven, your supposed to have morals because you love God, and you want to do what he wants you to do. not to get something out of it. its' just called, doin the right thing!

Answer 10

You are getting closer every day, did you know that ?