Question for "life-long" atheists...?

Question

I've asked this before but at a different time of the day so I am expecting different posters...

I was in my early 30's when I walked into light of atheism, prior to that I was a lutheran.

As a father, I have taken a "laid-back" attitude toward religion to allow my children to come to their own conclusions. However, my moral base and my sense of right and wrong initially came from my early exposure to christian teachings.

I am curious what "life-long" atheists have used as the basis for their morals.

I'm sure that I'll have some christians will also answer this question. I would be curious about your positions as well, just don't be a wise guy and say something pithy like "Atheists have morals??"

so wf8189 believes in Pascal's Wager...

Wouldn't that mean you won't make it to heaven since your faith is not based on belief but on a bet??

One addendum, I don't think that the drive to do good is an inborn trait, There are a few people I know who are just plain evil...

I think it's the opposite, without a possible punishment, a person would choose to be "bad", hence the "in" with religion...

Answer 1

Parents, society, interacting with others and learning what is expected and what is not tolerated.

Answer 2

What does morality have to do with religion except for using religion as a way to scare the dummies into good behaviour. I don't disrespect the writings of religions. Consider that the old priests formed the basis of the social therapists and the legal judges for many religions( Judaism, Islam and Christianity for sure) so that the rules are very good suggestions for how to get along with others. If everybody could follow the Ten commandments much other law would be rendered moot. that is true. But Mosaic law, If you read the book had a large amount of writing concerned with what to do if people did not follow the rules and how to enforce the "morality". They regulated everything from what to do with debts to how to take a crap. The Golden rule is another example. This is taught almost like a religious order but it appears nowhere in the Bible and seems to be a pagan belief. I believe that most of us are born with a moral compass, it would seem to be a requirement for a social creature. I have wandered off topic and not really answered your question. Sorry. I guess my morality came from my parents and family. lttle kids are totaly amoral. they know nothing of right or wrong and some need to be taught how to get along with others. we teach our children how to play nice and not steal other kids stuff or fight without cause or to lie or cheat. those who fail to learn this we make into convicts or politicians.

Answer 3

I am not an atheist, nor do I follow any particular organized religion. I would think that an atheists morals comes from within. I believe as humans we have it within us to know the difference between right and wrong. Where this knowledge comes from could be debated by many.

Also I don't think we should judge or look down upon a person because of a religion they chose nor judge the ones who decided not to have a religion.

I am happy to know that you have taken a "laid - back" attitude toward religion so your childern can make their own discoverys. I think that it is very important for us to let others make a choice and not cram our own beliefs down their throat.

Myself, I like to be open minded and get different perspectives. I may not agree nor like what other people think but I can hold respect for them because they are sticking to what they believe and not letting others deter them from their own beliefs and morals.

Socrates once said "know they self."

Answer 4

Christians use a meta-ethical system that says ethics come handed down from a higher authority. Which is whim based after all. He who controls that authority controls the people. right and wrong are based on the stated highest value. In a meta-ethical system the supreme being is the highest value. And your life can be sacrificed to that value.
The other ethical system is the normative school of ethics, that says. the highest value is your life, right and wrong are real things that support your real life.
Meta-ethics is based on "nothing is real" normative is everything is real.
Plato vs Aristotle.

Answer 5

Technically I guess Im a catholic but only because I was baptised as a baby - other than that I am not religious in any way - I dont go to church - I dont say Ill pray for you - I say Im thinking of you etc.

I was brought up knowing right from wrong - I dont really see that you need to have a church tell you whats right and whats wrong.

Ill tell you a story about my husbands and my life and hope you will get a picture of how we live and believe in humans not religion.

When I was pregnant I was very sick - I was throwing up anwhere up to 50 times per day every day the whole pregnancy - I couldnt eat anything for over 4 months (not kidding no food went in my mouth - except when I was hospitalised as I kept getting severely dehydrated) I lived mainly on cordial and iceblocks - A Christian family up the road from us knew about our situation and every now and then they would bring bags of food over so my husband could at least eat (I couldnt work I was too sick so we didnt have much money) then about a year after I had my baby my husband got very sick - he was in hospital for over a month and then hospital in the home (so technically still an in patient with a nurse coming over daily) for another couple of months and I had to look after him for the most part for 6 months and our 1 year old daughter and I was still sick from the pregnancy (I had several operations made necessary by the pregnancy) so the Christian family organised their churches youth group to come over and do our gardening for us - they spent a couple of days doing it all up nicely.

Not once did anyone suggest we should go to church or anything like that - there was a lot of talk about God but that is who they were and how they did things and that was fine with us.. We dont care what religious beliefs anyone has whether it be Christianity or your a Bhuddist (you get the picture anyway)

We have now got our own business which is a mechanics workshop - we are about to visit this family up the road who did so much for us and ask them to find a family in need as we were at the time they helped us and we will service their car free - so we are paying back in kind - we are still not religious and probably never will be but thats not to say we dont have good hearts..

Our daughter is only 4 but she has such a kind heart she always gets concerned if she sees anyone is hurt or upset or not feeling well - she sits with them and strokes them and tells them it will be ok and she has such a sincere look on her face and she stays with that person until they say they are feeling better. This was not taught this just comes naturally to her - she knows nothing of God.

Im not sure if I got my point across - I know what Im trying to say but its hard to put into words. My philosophy is treat others as you would want to be treated - understand that people choose to believe in their Gods but hope that they understand your not believing in a God.

I dont disbelieve in God - I dont know - maybe there is a God?? I believe in life after death but only because of books I have read such as Life after Life which accounts for many peoples visions when they die and are brought back - I also have a friend who is blind and has been since birth - he died in an accident one day and he could see everything - he could even see relatives that had already died - my friend was brought back to life and was able to describe things he had never seen before....

Well I suppose thats about it for now - this is something that has been debated for such a long time and will continued to be debated for many years to come - for me its just treat others the way you want to be treated and when you can do a kind thing for someone - do it!

Answer 6

u have a choice whatever u want to be it's no right or wrong it's just is no strings attached if is christian or jew or muslim or buddist and we breath same air eat same food and supported by great unvisible force which vibrates unconditional love and visdom and forgivness if ur dog fish plant or human it's one life force only in our heads we expirrence diffrent shifts of our existence thru divide diifrent labels who we are and united we stand and divided we fall

Answer 7

We evolved to have empathy for others. It is part of our biological heritage, having evolved as a social species. We use reason to determine which actions cause unnecessary harm to others. Those actions we call immoral. Morals are a reification of the idea of unnecessary harm.

Answer 8

Check the wikipedia for 'deontology', 'utilitarianism', 'ethical egoism'.

And remember the wise words of Aristotle:
"I have gained this by philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law."

Answer 9

Selnyk pretty much covered everything I wanted to say. So there you go.

Answer 10

No Jesus No Hope, Know Jesus Know Hope!


John 3:16 dude John 3:16