Where does an Atheists morality come from?

Question

I asked if I should fear Atheists and my resonses were

"Atheists are moral individuals because it is in the nature of people to be moral individuals."
"good men will do good, and evil men will do evil, but for good men to do evil, that takes religion"

"morality is human centered"

"If an Atheist is a good person it's because they figured out that's the right thing to do and do it because it is in their heart and mind."

So the fundamental moral difference between Christianity and atheism is that Christians say man has a sin nature and atheists say man has a good nature.
Do you agree?

Which nature is more evident to you in this world?

feel free to get 2 more points by aswering my earlier atheist info question!
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AoSjkPMvCuqksB_Yu4Bq4jjsy6IX?qid=20060721094319AA8EK8l

Answer 1

No, I don't necessarily agree. I think Christians believe that man is capable of very good things because man is created in the image of God. However, since man sinned he now has a sin nature. Now the good and the evil wage a war inside a man.

As far as morality goes, if it's not instilled in someone through an act of creation then the only other explanation is that it evolved. Atheists have to believe that morality evolved in a "what will best benifit the species is what's moral" kind of way.

Answer 2

I have been both christian first and then athiest and find that I am still the same person with morals because that is the type of individual I am. I see plenty of people who believe in their religion do things that I would not consider doing but I understand what it's all about. Spirits are slaves to their body and what the programming in the body was designed to do, once the spirit matures it will take more control of the body instead of being controlled by it. Also once the spirit is ready it will realize that religion is a form of programming used to manipulate and control sheeple. For the christian to get an idea of who does the controlling check out the video below, it may open your eyes a bit more.

Answer 3

Morality comes from society and a desire to become part of the group. Without religions it comes from a need for survival. In society if you do something that the whole of the people will not like or tolerate then you are compromising your own survival. An Atheist will tell you that they are good because it is right. That is circular thinking, what makes it right? What makes it right for them is that it allows them to coexist with others. There have been societies that have had morals that we would not agree with anymore, if morals were inherent then they would always be the same.

If you believe that morals are inherent then how does one also believe in Evolution? That would mean that all lifeforms follow the same morals (that is obviously not the case) or that morals evolved as well. If morals evolved then they would have to evolve out of a way to allow peaceful cohabitation which would originally come out of an egoistic view of doing what is best for oneself. Therefore morals can not be inherent since they would depend on others.

Answer 4

My morality comes from common sense. Never intentionally hurt another person, unless you have to. This is my only commandment. I didn't need a supreme being or a book to tell me that.

Your question about the nature of man is simple. If all of the laws whether from "God" or written by man, conflict with what men would naturally do, then of course the perception will be that man has a sinful nature. However, if your outlook is that the only sin is intentionally doing harm to others, the volume of sin is much less because more often than not man will avoid doing this.

Answer 5

Third time around, and two more points. Where do brown eyed people get their values from, and what to brown eyed people believe about the nature of man? Gee, we can't say, because not all brown eyed people believe the same thing. Atheism is a rejection of theistic tyranny, NOT A CULT (such as Christianity). I'm sorry for touting the same line but people keep asking the same question. As for which nature...

Neither. Man has an imperfect nature which is neither good nor bad.

Answer 6

Basic biology suggests that what some consider a moral code is actually a probable outcome of evolution. Cooperation aids survival; better chance of survival means better chance of sending your genes on; the more of your genes that move on the greater chance of evolution, etc. All complex life consists of cooperative groups of cells, body cells. Of course, cells aren't conscious of what they are doing, but their functions are specific, and they correlated so that when two or more cells operate in a coordinated way they all benefit. This correlation of functions to provide benefit is the fundamental basis of cooperation. In evolution, if their benefit is more genetic reproduction, then they will be more likely to evolve. This has been shown with game theory and represented in multiple simulations. This common cooperative situation arises in all life. Animals don't often randomly kill. Animals respect their neighbors territory, life partnerships (species dependent), and care for their young. Many animals survive because they move in cooperative herds. Observations of animal behavior demonstrates what looks like kindness, compasion as well as fear in non-human animals.

Humans have the same biological equipment that predisposes them to behave in a way that some consider "moral" behavior. "Morals" are simply those preset genetically encoded behavior choices that some humans had observed and claimed those observations to be some divine thing (because they didn't have the science to explain how and why it made life better). That's why "moral codes" have such appeal, everyone can relate to the idea, and it helps clarify why we do it.

Athiests have no reason to behave well since they fear no threat of eternal damnation. By those with a religious perspective, athiests should be going crazy, but the reality is that they behave no differently to their neighbors, coworkers or friends as someone in a religion. How often do you get surprised by someone who is an athiest, but you thought was a Christian or a member of another religion? Just as those in a religion, athiest behavior can range from the ultra-good to psychotics. It depends on the environment within which they make their decisions. I'm willing to bet that moral codes aren't constantly thought of when decisions are being made, only when the area get murky and gray.

Answer 7

This is an alternative form of the nature vs. nurture question I believe. I think those people that are raised to recognize good from evil will strive to do good. Those who are not will not. I'm a nurture believer. I don't think it has anything to do with how we are born. My morality comes from learning and growing. When I would do something wrong as a child there were consequences. There are laws. There are very direct signs of right from wrong in this world and it has nothing to do with religion pointing them out.

Answer 8

Atheist Creed and just as any Christian Creed, most do not adhere to all or any of them!

An Atheist loves himself and his fellow man instead of a god. An Atheist knows that heaven is something for which we should work now - here on earth - for all men together to enjoy. An Atheist thinks that he can get no help through prayer but that he must find in himself the inner conviction and strength to meet life, to grapple with it, to subdue, and enjoy it. An Atheist thinks that only in a knowledge of himself and a knowledge of his fellow man can he find the understanding that will help to a life of fulfillment. Therefore, he seeks to know himself and his fellow man rather than to know a god. An Atheist knows that a hospital should be built instead of a church. An Atheist knows that a deed must be done instead of a prayer said. An Atheist strives for involvement in life and not escape into death. He wants disease conquered, poverty vanquished, war eliminated. He wants man to understand and love man. He wants an ethical way of life. He knows that we cannot rely on a god nor channel action into prayer nor hope for an end to troubles in the hereafter. He knows that we are our brother's keeper and keepers of our lives; that we are responsible persons, that the job is here and the time is now." ~ Preamble to Murray v. Curlett, 27 April 1961

Answer 9

Man knows in his heart what is good. There are men and women who have never read the Bible who live a more moral life than those who do.

I think a just God would reward them accordingly. But once one is told about God, then one has the responsibility to choose to believe or not.

Answer 10

An atheist's morality comes from the intellect. You have to reject the idea that there is a moral arbiter "up there" and take responsibility for your own actions. This is harder than handing over the responsibility to some god. An atheist develops his own code out of his integrity.