Question for Atheists - Do you consider human life sacred?

Question

Do you consider human life sacred?
And if so, why?

To propose a (perhaps ridiculous) situation: If you had to choose between the life of your dog whom you've had for 20 years and love dearly, or a person whom you don't like, which would you choose and why? (Let's say they're both drowning and you only have time to save one.)

And I don't think all atheists are immoral idiots. I'm just trying to understand.

please keep answers short (~40 lines).
cheerio

Answer 1

no. human life is nothing special. there's 6 billion of us for God's sake. I'd save the dog. If I dislike the person, there's a reason. I'd be making the world a better place by saving the individual that adds something, my dog, unlike that loser.

Answer 2

I consider human life to be precious and unique so my answer is yes.

Why? Probably for the same reasons as you. Many points of philosophy and ethics - including the sanctity of human life - would be commonly held by most educated and civilised people. An atheist rejects the existence of gods and deities, not humanitarian values. In fact, considering the death and destruction done in the name of religion I would say that we atheists hold life more dear.

I wonder if they can get those stats from the next Census?

Who would I save? The person. Why? I would simply be following the Ethic of Reciprocity "Do onto others as you would wish them do onto you." I would like to think if I was the drownee someone would choose to save me instead of their dog.

If you are looking for more info on How Atheists Think check out the sources below...

Answer 3

Your hypothetical situation notwithstanding, there's a hint of reproach against atheists in your question. It's as if questioning the existence of the divine leads to stripping humanity off its dignity.
This is an ungrounded fear. It's we, the believers, the ones who have demonstrated throughout history that we don't give a dime for the sanctity of life. I'm not an atheist myself and I'm forever grateful to the secular and humanist tradition (mostly in Western Europe) that brought out to the surface the importance of human dignity. We owe atheism a great deal. At least, we should show some respect.

Answer 4

I probably don't consider human life sacred. I say that because I started thinking "Well, even someone who DOES hold it sacred might be torn in that situation." But then it occurred to me that they probably wouldn't. But I think I would be torn, which probably means that I don't hold it sacred.

Does that make sense?

On the other hand, I'd like to think - and I'm pretty sure this would be the case - that I'd go for the person. I might regret the dog, and I might even pause, but in the end I'd probably do the right thing.

So in that case, perhaps that makes me an even better person! Because I had to make a conscious choice, and overcome my natural instincts.

Hey, three cheers for me!

Answer 5

Sure, I don't need to believe in a god to think that my life and my daughter's life are very precious to me. I am still a good person, and have the utmost respect for life, and other's opinions of how it all began. I just do it without any help from a book or church.

And the dog scenario, has absolutely nothing to do with athiesm, the same question could be posed to people of all faiths and recieve a mixed review.

Answer 6

I am pretty easy going and I don't really get offended but this question is a little offensive. But here goes,
I am a nurse, every life is sacred and has value. I work on all people of all faiths. As an athiest I try hard to make their ails abate, because I don't see a reward for later. This is it. If my dog was drowning I would be sad, but nothing supercedes human life.
Now try to understand this, if it was a gay man or your dog who would you rescue?

Answer 7

A human is worth more than a dog. I might sacrifice one human for ALL the dogs in the world, but only because dogs save human lives every day.

Answer 8

(1) Not sacred, but important to an extent as the survival of the species is the survival of ourself. Basically, we have a vested interest in perpetuating the species.

(2) A man I did not like and my cat Geronimo were both in mortal danger ... and I can only save one. I would save my cat. He is not just a pet ... he is a friend and companion ... part of my family.

Answer 9

Human life is not sacred but it is more valuable than a dog.

There are billions of people on the planet and one person's life is of little consequence in the grand scheme of things.

Answer 10

I would save the dog. I don't consider most human life very valuable, not b/c I am an atheist, but b/c I am a misanthrope...