Am I so bad?

Question

I don't usually venture into this section, But I have come across the statement in another answer that "atheists dont have morals"
Is this a widely held view amongest you religious types out there?
I'm not at all religious and do not belive in any god, in any shape or form.
BUT I do think some of your ten commandments are a pretty good set of guidelines to try and live my life by.
Is this really so bad?

Answer 1

If you live your life well, treating other people as you would wish to be treated, in the case of atheists expecting no reward ie. eternal life in heaven, that can not be a bad thing.

Answer 2

Good question... I think all generalizations are bad so some degree and this one is no different... but to be honest I always wonder about that... Do Atheists have moral guidelines to follow? Do they have any fear of consequences beyond getting caught? How would they have any morals other than what society dictates since they don't believe in religion or God?

Society is saying do what feels right and anything goes and nothing is wrong unless you get caught so what's to stop an Atheist from doing anything they want including theft, murder, etc? there is nothing in place to prick the conscience... Do Atheists even believe in the human conscience???

Most people believe that if you are good and live a decent life you go to heaven. Atheists don't believe in that so there is no reason for them to fear eternal consequences... I may be off but that's the way I understand it anyway...

Answer 3

The only Christians who will bash you for being an atheist are Evangelical Christians. The best thing is to just not talk about religion with them at all, unless you totally agree. EC's are taught to try to convert anyone who is not Christian, and from their branch of Christianity.

America is a very religious place, and we have freedom of speech here, but the easiest way to not get harassed for being an Atheist is to keep it on the down low. Unfortunately people in the religious minority and those not religious simply have no voice in some matters.

I'm religious, but I don't look down on Atheists. I used to be an Atheist myself, and I had plenty of morals. There are plenty ways to learn morals besides religion. You don't have to be religious to be a good person.

To answer your question, I don't think atheists are looked down upon by most in the religious (including all religions) community. I don't think you are bad for following the ten commandments without believing in G-d. I think commandments like "thou shall not kill" is a good idea no matter what you believe.

Answer 4

No, I don't think it's bad at all, and if you want another set of morals to consider, take a gander at the Wiccan Rede:

Bide within the Law you must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.

Live you must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.

Cast the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.

To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.

Light of eye and soft of touch, speak you little, listen much.

Honor the Old Ones in deed and name,

let love and light be our guides again.

Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.

Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,

and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.

When the Lady's moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.

When the moon rides at Her peak then your heart's desire seek.

Heed the North winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.

When the Wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.

When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss you on the mouth.

When the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will find peace and rest.

Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow. ("fast" meaning "quick" - "quick" meaning "green or living")

Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows.

Oak in the forest towers with might, in the fire it brings the God's
insight.

Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.

Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.

Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.

Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.

White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.

Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.

Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.

Elder is the Lady's tree burn it not or cursed you'll be.

Four times the Major Sabbats mark in the light and in the dark.

As the old year starts to wane the new begins, it's now Samhain.

When the time for Imbolc shows watch for flowers through the snows.

When the wheel begins to turn soon the Beltane fires will burn.

As the wheel turns to Lamas night power is brought to magick rite.

Four times the Minor Sabbats fall use the Sun to mark them all.

When the wheel has turned to Yule light the log the Horned One rules.

In the spring, when night equals day time for Ostara to come our way.

When the Sun has reached it's height time for Oak and Holly to fight.

Harvesting comes to one and all when the Autumn Equinox does fall.

Heed the flower, bush, and tree by the Lady blessed you'll be.

Where the rippling waters go cast a stone, the truth you'll know.

When you have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.

With a fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.

Merry Meet and Merry Part bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Three-fold Laws you should three times bad and three times good.

When misfortune is enow wear the star upon your brow.

Be true in love this you must do unless your love is false to you.

These Eight words the Rede fulfill:

"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will"

Answer 5

First of all, lets separate a couple of terms that need separating: Morals or moral behavior is that which holds to a set of beliefs or standards; secondly, religion, ones beliefs regarding the presence or lack of a diety and the way in which one spiritualy relates to the world. The two are not directly connected. If moral behavior and religious practice were directly connected, we wouldn't have the Catholic Priest scandals, we wouldn't see the likes of Jim Baker and Jimmy Swaggert with their little trists and we wouldn't see Pat Robertson calling for the assination of foreign leaders.

More attrocities have been performed by people in the name of God than there is space to list. So, don't let anyone tell you that atheists don't have morals. God has very little direct decision making power on moral choices.

Answer 6

Saying that atheists have no morals is like saying Christians have no morals. Some Christians have morals and some don't, and I'm sure the same is true for atheists as well. Black-and-white statements are almost always false anyway. I am a Christian, and you don't have to prove to me that you are moral or good or bad or anything. If I met you, I would just like to get to know you and maybe become friends. Some people let their religion get the best of them instead of letting themselves get the best of their religion. Not very grammatically correct, but I think you know what I mean.

Answer 7

No I don't think this is bad,
We live in a time were we are taught to question things and religion has no real foundation in the science we live and rear children under. If like Mosses, we told people we spoke to a burning bush. They will ask what have you been taking, had you been drinking.
The bible is full of strange but true?? stories
written in a history book, written by man and re written for modern times The best and devout in religion's suffer and others create war for there religious beliefs. as people we need rules to maintain social order and keep us centred otherwise kayos rules.
May I suggest Buddhism as It is not actually a religion as a way of Living life with few, but positive rules that lead us to enlightenment, from inner peace and good will.

Answer 8

I believe the existance of a base moral code is proof of a being who created that code, so it does not surprise me that non believers have morals. I had my own set of morals before I knew Jesus that I have now seen were subject to things like my mood, hormones and how people were treating me at the time. One rule for me and one for others. Now I follow Jesus and I appreciate the guidelines set down in the Bible. We all need boundaries like children, and it's only the One who knows us best who is qualified to show us those boundaries. We can choose to live outside them but then we can't complain when chaos and pain ensue from our actions. The best book I read to explain all this was Mere Christianity by CS Lewis.

Answer 9

I wonder how to approach your question. You're asking me to judge you as being bad or good, which assumes that it's OK for me to apply some standard of "goodness" and "badness" to you. What standard should I use? If I choose a religious standard, you'd find that to be unacceptable, and rightly so if you don't believe in the standards of that religion. I could choose a society's morals as depicted on, for example, American television. Or I could choose simply the laws of the land.

I'm not trying to avoid answering the question, but it is very probably true that you are both good and evil. You are evil according to some standards: if you aren't Muslim, then you are evil to some very extremist Muslims, for example; and if you support abortion rights you are evil to very conservative Christians, while if you are outspoken in your support against abortion you are evil to many who are equally outspoken on the other side. You could demonstrate in the same way that you are good in the eyes of various groups.

You are a coin, which has two sides. One is good and the other is evil. You cannot escape having both sides.

Answer 10

If the worlds religious people entered a vow of silence, the problems of the world would be less noisy. My church is wherever I am, I can pray in any ones temple, I never ask others what religion they follow. If everyone was like that, wars would end. I've noticed on Q&A that the most violent responces come from religious people. Christians are always saying that they hope you burn in Hell, well, not very Christian of them, is it? My chest still hurts.

Answer 11

I think that everyone has morals. Some have more than others. But what I want to know, and just out of curiousity, why would you follow our rules but not believe? People say that God's not real but the 10 Commandments came from God. You say that God doesn't exist yet you follow His rules? Why?