Without God, why be good?

Question

I would like a brief answer from true atheists that will rationalise the need to be a person who does not harm others and who does what conventional wisdom dictates to be 'good'.

No, I don't think there is a god. I have my own reasons for being a law abiding citizen, some of which are voiced herein. I wanted to find a way to say it that was simple and succinct, also to be reassured by my fellow agnostics.

So far, Depth of Perception I think, comes closest to helping me define my rationale.

Orpheus - I like that. Your answer I mean.

Answer 1

As an athiest, we as a whole do not want chaos. What would the purpose of that be? I don't have a boilogical urge to harm others. Therefore, I don't do it. If I get angry and feel the urge to do something wrong, my morals keep me in place. You don't need a belief in God to have morals, they are something learned. I know what things hurt me emotionally or physically, I would prefer that others don't feel that pain.

To sum it up: Fear of punishment (from God) does not keep me in line, but knowing the feeling of pain does.

Answer 2

1. Because I was raised to have a conscience.
2. Because it's the right thing to do.
3. Because when I do good, I feel good.
4. Because I think that what goes around comes around.
5. Because good deeds get multiplied. If I have a full grocery cart and the person behind me has six items, I invite them to go ahead of me. I've set an example that others who watched might follow...and that person feels good and may do something nice for someone else later in the day...it goes on and on.

I don't think most of us need the threat of hellfire or the fear of angering God in order to behave morally. After all, even the fear of prison doesn't deter some people from breaking the law. We are guided by what is within.

And yes, I am an atheist.

Answer 3

The needs of the culture, society, and family generally determine what is 'good'.

Why not be good? You'll have a lot more friends that way, are more likely to find a good mate, and are much less likely to have the PD at your door when something goes down in your neighborhood.

Ah, yes...the typical assumption by Chrsitians that atheists must somehow by amoral anarchists. Tell me, wasn't there something in your Bible about bearing false witness?

If being a Christian is the only thing that keeps you from running around and murdering and stealing, then please remain a Christian. Clearly from a moral perspective, I am better than you are since I don't need a baseball bat labeled "Hell" over my head to make me behave.

Answer 4

When a christian "does good", he doesn't do it because it's right, he does it to kiss the anal pucker of his "god" so he doesn't "burn in hell". The christian is motivated by selfishness and self-preservation, and NOT morality.

When an atheist "does good", he does it because he wants to live in a safe and civilized society. If you don't help to make it safe, it won't BE safe. The atheist is motivated by selfishness and self-preservation, but at least he's honest about his motive, unlike the christian.

We ALL do things for our own benefit, and we do "good" over "bad" because there are societal consequences.

Rationalize? Try applying that word to mass murderers like Shrub or the Freebie Benedict (that's "freebie' as in you get to molest one kid but not two).

.

Answer 5

Come on, you know good from bad without being threatened by hell. Morals are survival instincts. That's the conventional wisdom. Without a moral sense, we would all kill each other over differences of opinion. Where's the sense in that?

That said, if God didn't exist, it would be necessary to invent him. Some intellectually challenged dimwits would still need the threat of hell to keep them in line.

Answer 6

Earthly retribution. Pb_pony is right.

Plus why live my life ostracized by my community b/c I'm a selfish jerk?

That said, in a sense, it is silly for me to be good since my life is completely meaningless. When I die, my memories will be gone, poof. Soon all humans will be dead. So what does it matter if I'm a selfish *** if I can get away with it? Well, for me, it's too late, i was just raised to be a fairly decent person and can't bring myself to hurt others. But there's no real logical reason.

Answer 7

Don't you have your own sense of right and wrong? Do you have to have the threat of punishment or promise of reward to do the right thing? Are you the kind of person who would do something immoral if you thought you wouldn't get caught?
There's some cultural differences in what is considered "good", but I think most people agree on a lot of it.

Answer 8

There is a popular philosophical title, 'on being good,' but I cannot think of the author which speaks to this question. One chapter in the work is entitled 'natural ethics' and its subject describes the need to act ethically within primative society in order that one might not attract revenge and so people learned to act in a 'good' fashion towards other people. One question that may be worth your personal reflection is, do you act ethically merely in the fear of divine retribution?

Answer 9

Why is a conscience dependent on god? My moral philosophy comes from the first line of the Hypocratic oath, primum non nocere. Or the Wiccan Rede: an it harm none, do as ye will.

Answer 10

I assume you mean the xian version of good. Basic social development as seen in all animals. The desire is for the tribe to continue on. By killing members of your tribe you diminish your overall strength. By stealing you diminish internal trust. There is nothing "moral" about chimpanzee groups but they seem to function very well without god based on the exact same premise. It is all survival of the fittest and the members that lie, cheat and steal don't last very long.