Do atheists have any moral compass. How do they know right from wrong?

Question

where do atheists get their values from?

Answer 1

we mark a R on our right hand and a L on our left hand so we can keep it straight....


oh, I thought you asked how we tell right from left.

oops.

sorry about that.

Answer 2

Right and wrong don't really exist, but in time we all learn what is right and wrong according to our societies. Sometimes the so-called rights and wrongs are pretty clear and are basically felt the same for everyone. Sometimes it is quite vague what is right or wrong.

For instance if it is wrong to kill, why is there death penalty? Or war? And what is the part again that it is or can be justified?

Morals are very slow to change, basically because they are deeply connected with our feelings and belief systems, which both take time to develop and to be understood. Morals are not exclusively attributes of God fearing people.

When it comes to knowing right and wrong, that is quite an ambiguous question. Since right and wrong may shift over time, take for instance that most people now condemn slavery, but it was perfectly alright in the past. Not that back then the practice wasn't questioned. For the most part however morals are being felt, and we don't know what it is exactly that we feel. Whenever morals end up in the use of laws they become part of a rational system that tries to make our moral feelings somewhat more exact.

So all values come from feeling, and processing input from people around us. This works the same for believers and atheists.

Answer 3

This question would seem to indicate that non-atheists do have morals.

This is silly. There have been many devoutly religious people who have commited horrible, horrible crimes. I've know atheists who are among the most kind people I've ever met.

People have to decide what is right and wrong within themselves. If you only do the right thing because a book (such as the bible) tells you to, you have no moral compass. If you only do the right thing because it's the law, and not becuase you feel it's right, you have no moral compass.

Nothing and no one can instill morals into a person. They have to do that themselves.

Answer 4

I'm not an atheist I'm agnostic. But people get their values from logic and critical thinking. If you only believe in the values you were raised with, slavery would have gone on forever. Some religions raise their children to hate other people who are of different backgrounds - fortunately some people rise above the brainwashing and realize that hating other people just because they are a little different from you is NOT logical.

I can't believe you can even ask this question. People should NOT just believe everything they are taught growing up. Women would never have had the right to vote if they did.

Answer 5

Atheists probably get their values from many places - parents, societal influences, etc. But here's a pretty universal one that can easily be the center of any value system.

It's all about the Golden Rule - Do unto others as you would have done unto you.

Sure many Christians think they hold the patent on that idea but it works in so many different belief structures (i.e. Karma in Eastern Religions). More importantly, it doesn't hinge on the belief of a diety - there's no reward of heaven or fear of hell associated with either following the rule or failing to follow it. You just get more tangible and present rewards. Mean people are not liked as much and good natured people will probably attract more friends and partners.

It's oversimplified - but a good basis

Answer 6

yes they do, it is whatever works for them, whatever feels 'right' and doesn't hurt anyone else. It doesn't matter if it does hurt others, just as long as they believe that it doesn't or they cannot see how it hurts others it works for them. I know a few athiest who are for the most part very 'good' people -but situations will come where pride, vanity and the foolishness of believeing there is no God will provoke a decision that is their own good and nothing more. I mean , not trying to be sarcastic, but how can you believe that it matters what you do, or that there is good and evil if you believe that when you die, you die and there is nothing else. I mean self control and compassion wouldn't matter- it would be self preservation and get all I can while I can regardless of the consequences of anything else- according to evolution and athieistic beliefs - there is no place for the weak (though there is sometimes benefit to keeping the weak around for our own self preservation but only when it benefits us )- so what it all boils down to is the moral compass of an athiest is self.

Answer 7

It's not the morals of atheists you have to worry about. They are no different from everyone else. Most atheists believe in truth, brotherhood, and ethical behavior. It is the religious zealots who are often the most dangerous people. What do you say about the morals of people who think they have a monopoly on the truth and they are entitled to kill everyone who does not agree with them? It is religion that is causing most of the conflicts in the world, not atheism. Atheists are generally pretty tolerant people.

Answer 8

These questions are so retarded - I am an atheist, I got my morals from my parents.......... Here is a true story example: My mother in-law is very proud of her religious beliefs and is the type who ends every sentence with "Have a beautiful day in the name of the lord" YET she is on her 5th husband, is an alcoholic, has had 2 kids out of wedlock, and is the most racist person I have ever spoken to (hates me because I am Italian -- she doesn't know my religious beliefs) YET she will be saved and I am going to hell because I am educated and do not believe in fairy tales?

Answer 9

More than religeous people usually. No way to get rid of sins so atheists can only commit a few minor ones or they won't sleep. I'm an atheist mostly, I was ofered communion by a priest and took it. I'm glad I did. It really helped at the time.

Answer 10

Common sense, respect for others, love, decency. It's simple really, we treat others like we want to be treated and as much as you would like to give your savior credit for that moral you can't, it was around long before he was. Read Plato. While the Israelites were committing genocide at the request of their god, same one as you worship, Plato told people "Be good because it's good to be good". He didn't believe in his cultures gods either, but he figured out what it takes for a civil society to prosper.

If you follow something just because you think some Deity tells you it's right, what kind of person are you? Are you a bad person being good only for the reward?

What kind of person would you be if you found out god doesn't exist? Would you lie, steal, cheat, kill? Are you only being good because god is watching?

Says alot about you....

Answer 11

Golden Rule.

We're not a bunch of amoral barbarians, you know.

EDIT: Response to the poster below, the Golden Rule didn't originate with Christ. People have been following it for a very long time. Confucius is credited with putting it in writing sometime around 500 BC, and I'm sure other philosophers and leaders put it into writing in other cultures before that.