Can we act as moral beings without believing in an ultimate moral arbiter (i.e. God)?

Answer 1

I believe so, yes. Indeed, in a way I'm more impressed by people who act morally without belief in God - it seems more altruistic, in a way. Let me explain this theory. If one believes in God, then one usually believes in either reward or punishment for one's behavior - a highly motivating factor to behave in a way one has been taught is "Right".

To act morally when there is no clear reward for it, or punishment for doing otherwise - somehow that seems more sincere to me.

I do my best, every day, to act kindly towards others, to do the right thing in so far as I am able to determine what that is - to apologize for my faults/errors and to make ammends [wherever possible] for mistakes I make, especially if they've harmed another. To act consciously and with intent is something we are all capable of - whether one believes in God or not.

Answer 2

No. Not without _any_ moral arbiter, which can be a principle or observed fact or axiom. Of course, there is no god, so all people are in fact moral beings independent of a fiat issued by some supreme being. As an example, the "ultimate moral arbiter" of a utilitarian is "that which results in the greatest good is the moral act."

Answer 3

If one has no belief in a path that leads to a different, better future, then one must make the best of each day that they are alive. In other words, when I die, I believe that I am dead and have no soul that will go somewhere else to be with somebody else, etc., etc.

Therefore, here and now, and for what is left of my life, my heart is open and loving, my tongue speaks truth, my hands do work that contribute to the well being of others, my mind is open to old and new cultural exchanges, books, music, art, science and discussions. My body is treated with respect by others and taken care of by me so that I can be healthy and enjoy my time here and now.

Is that acting as a moral being? I hope so. I hope that being a moral person means being open and loving and experiencing all that is new and interesting without hurting or injuring another.

Answer 4

Certainly, though the terms you propose are slippery: the absence of belief in an ultimate moral arbiter tends to make the unbeliever the ultimate moral arbiter in his or her own right. Then it becomes a process of empiricism, for the most part: acting and refining one's ethics based on the consequences of those actions, inwardly and outwardly.

Answer 5

Of course! It's just a question of knowing the difference between right and wrong. You have to believe in yourself and literally treat others the way you would like to be treated. That saying has nothing to do with God...it's just logical: I'm not ging to punch you in the nose because I don't want to be punched in the nose. That's a very simle example, I know, but if people would live by that philosophy a little more - there would be a lot less problems.

Answer 6

No.

By nature, people are not moral. If you have nothing to base your morality on, then you can modify your morals whenever you want.

What if I decided that today, it is moral for me to steal ? Just because you feel that it is immoral does not affect me, as I do not believe in any moral arbitrator, including but not limited to God, the Police, the Judiciary.

We need some form of moral arbitrator.

Answer 7

Yes, certainly, and many people have done so.
The usual Christian (and probably other religions)
outlook that there has to be a god or everyone
would be immoral is nonsense. It comes of
believing that human beings are such weak, stupid
characters that they can't see of themselves what
makes for a good life, so they have to be either
bribed or frightened into being good.

Check out the life of Robert G. Ingersoll, one of
the most famous men in North America in the 19th
century, now almost forgotten because he was an
agnostic. The life he led, judging by all I have read
about him, would have done credit to a pious
Christian.

Answer 8

Yes, it is rational to behave in a social way. You will have to read some boedhist books they explain that more in detail.

Moral behaviour is very rational - many people come to moral - or what people would recognise as behaviour that is proclaimed by their local religion simply by using their brain and behaving rationally.

By behaving rationally - I mean they do what is obviously good for themselves - both in the short run and the long run.

One needs to debvelop this kind of intelligence - I always call it common sense - if one does not life becomes impossible.

Answer 9

Many religions follow that path. I don't know of any legitimate religion that doesn't follow some form of the golden rule, whether or not they believe in God. Some instead believe in trying to follow a path which leads to moral perfection, like Buddhism.

Answer 10

Of course! There's many atheist out there and I think there are a whole lot of good ones. Morals should be installed in everyone of us......regardless of our beliefs later in life.
Good Morals = decent individual........not necessarily christian, Muslim, catholic, etc.