To me, if a higher authority figure doesn't exist in peoples' minds, chaos would ensue. If everyone believes that anything goes, then nobody would have a moral compass to guide their behavior. How do atheists regulate their bad behavior?
2006-09-03 05:05:13 · 39 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I"m not talking about religion, or God, per se. I'm just asking how an atheist decides what is right and what is wrong. He certainly can't just say,"If it feels good, do it." Who or what does he look to for guidance?
2006-09-03 05:12:17 · update #1
a better question might be...if God does not exist, then whose moral code should we abide by? yours? **** YOU! We are going to abide by mine! Why? Well, no one is more moral than me! oh, by the way, I had to kill your mom last night.....why? well because she didn't comform to my world-the world is full of people, who refuse to believe in a higher power but regard themselves as the ultimate authority. sure they will state that they are going to follow the "good" path-but it is their perception of good that they follow! History is full of examples of people whoe believe that theirs is the right way!...yes including spiritual leaders as well. But just because a person believes in God, doesn't mean that they are following Gods ideas/plans. You HAVE to have an ulitimate authority to lists the differences between good and evil. without that, you lose consistancy, good and evil changes-take a good look at the world today-can you honestly tell me that people are good?-or that they even know the difference?
2006-09-03 05:23:34 · answer #1 · answered by Big D 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The idea that there's no higher authority does not automatically mean that anything goes. It just means that "sins" are punished differently. Your motivation to be good is probably, "If I do good things, I will be rewarded by God. If I sin a lot, I will go to Hell." (When you think about it, such a concept is a bit selfish. However, it does help to motivate some people toward goodness, so I guess it's a good idea.)
The idea of whether or not an action is moral comes down to one thing: if everyone did the same thing, would chaos ensue? For instance, let's say I want to drive through red lights. That's immoral because if everyone were to do it, all drivers would be in danger. (I accept the assumption that death is bad and that I don't want to die.) Let's take another example: stealing. If everyone were to steal, people would go to extreme lengths to protect their possessions, especially merchants, who'd be out of business. Therefore, stealing is bad too.
Generally, the logic is the same as what a Christian would use for a situation not accounted for in the Bible.
2006-09-03 06:11:39 · answer #2 · answered by x 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You should read the book, 'The Blank Slate', it talks about how religion actually doesn't create the moral code in people. People have actually used the Bible and the Torah to do cruel and evil things to people. Killing of the innocent, mentally ill called witches, the Crusades, child molestation, and hoards of other evils. No one will do any deed as passionately and assured as a deed envoked by an all powerful God. God demaned that little babies be killed. Atheist follow logic which will always find the best solution and lead to true love and understanding. Actually, religion has held back advancement in the sciences and humanities for centuries. People used religion to enslave others, to kill others. What is the cause of all these wars going on in our world today? Logic finds that if we all treat each other with the same we want for ourselves, we will be balanced and the world would be better place. Atheist don't follow strict and harsh dogma's like that in the bible. We follow common sense.
2006-09-03 08:29:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Morality is a derivative of public perspective. What one community agrees may vary from town to town. Laws and doctrines differ in position and is not under the control of either the believer or non-believer.
Police are there to reduce chaos. Rights and entitlements are here for every person and freedom to express your feelings are all well and good as long as it does not cause harm being the universally accepted "golden rule".
Whichever belief is right is entirely left to fate. The final verdict and who is the judge is the result that you lived through.
2006-09-03 05:22:49 · answer #4 · answered by The Global Community 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Each of us, atheists and theists alike, must take the time in our lives to analize our own personal code of ethics - which many of us learn from our parents and the personal relationships that we form with friends, teachers, fellow students (how to and not to treat people). The Golden rule bears no mention to any religion "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" and yet many people find right and wrong by asking themselves this question and live moral lives of integrity.
I can understand why one might think the fear of god is what keeps people in line - but consider the fear of anarchy. What would our lives be like if everyone just did whatever the heck they wanted? Can you think of anyone you know today who could really survive in a world where no one worked, obeyed laws or had manners? It is in all of our own best interest to behave in a civilized manner for our own good and the good of society. You don't really need god for that, right? I mean, it is nice to have god in addition to civilization, right?
Peace!
2006-09-03 05:26:14 · answer #5 · answered by carole 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, you're precise. i'm an atheist, and because i've got not got faith there's a dude interior the sky observing my each and every flow and judging me for it, i'm gonna bypass rape some domestic dogs with a soldering iron and run over some previous human beings. and you may positively do the comparable in case you have been an immoral atheist like myself, precise? And on yet another word, your good judgment is optimal with genuinely no flaws or great, obvious holes in it. If this u . s . a . did not persist with the bible as heavily because it does, we would descend into complete and complete anarchy. I mean, in simple terms inspect Sweden, those human beings are insane! even with each and every thing, it fairly is been scientifically shown that human f*cking decency on my own isn't sufficient to make us act like good human beings. No, we want a 2000 365 days previous e book to let us know that killing somebody is largely a tad bit f*cked up. everybody is time-honored with of that!
2016-11-24 19:49:03 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"if a higher authority figure doesn't exist ... chaos would ensue"
Some people outgrow the need for parental figures telling them what to do and what to avoid.
Some people never outgrow the need.
At the moment, you are obviously feeling the need for parents to tell you what to believe. Whether you need real parents in human form, or need to transfer that authority from your real parents to an invisible, allegedly perfect 'parent' is a choice you make.
Many of us have outgrown that need, and we accept responsibility for what we do and what we believe.
My own belief is in the power of Love. Love determines my choices. Obviously, not everything goes when it comes to Love. I can't hate. I can't make war. I can't steal, rape, or murder...
Whatever principles an atheist accepts as the basis for a good life, they are compelled to abide by it (short of discovering a deeper truth which would compel berhaviour along the lines of the deeper truth).
I've noticed that the existence of a rule book does not make the religious perfect human beings. Indeed, many Christians confess to sin every day/week. So having an external 'moral compass' is no guarantee.
Just as with the religious, the atheist must choose their behaviour.
Hope that helps.
2006-09-03 05:18:15 · answer #7 · answered by bobkgin 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
If you genuinely believe that, then you better start nailing all your windows shut.
Atheists are about fifteen percent of the population -- if we made up our minds to go on a crime spree, do you think the cops would be able to keep up? Chaos would indeed ensue.
But since there is no such trend, hmm, that would mean that atheists must generally obey the laws. How about that.
2006-09-03 09:45:21 · answer #8 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can't speak for all atheists, but i can speak for myself and some others i know.
Causality... that is the basis for morality. Things you do have consequences... you must choose your actions wisely to affect the most positive outcome. There is no cut and dry "this is wrong, this is right" way... we don't live in that kind of a world. Morality must be judged on a case by case basis and with the good of all involved in mind.
2006-09-03 05:31:56 · answer #9 · answered by ChooseRealityPLEASE 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
All / most people follow a moral code.
Do not kill etc.
It seems to me all religious doctrines have the same thing in common which is quite correct.
Some of us however do not need to use a God.
Do whales go to church for instance?
Just because I do not believe in a God I am still a moral person . .
2006-09-03 05:22:02 · answer #10 · answered by dougie boy 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Pretty much the same code as the christians. We just don't add the rules that push ourselves on others. The codes of the bible are copied from many different peoples. They were not new when put into the bible. To me, if you need the threat of hell and promise of heaven to do whats right, you have more problems then I, who does what is right, becuase it is whats right. I don't need the carrot and the stick. Religous try to do whats right, because of orders, promise of heaven, fear of hell. I dont have rules from a mean old god, I don't have a heaven to look for, and I don't fear a hell. So who is better off morally? Me or the Theist?>
2006-09-03 06:28:53 · answer #11 · answered by Arcturus R 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋