To athiests: What is moral in your eyes?

Question

If you believe that religions of all kinds are false, what do you believe is truth and why? Who or what determines what is right and what is wrong? What keeps you from bettering your life at the expense of others? What do you do with the guilt of doing wrong (as you define it)?

I see several answers pointed to their conscience. What is your conscience? Through evolution or any other world view other than religion, why do you have a cosncience?

I would also remind some that I am asking a sincere question of my own curiosity. Don't bash my beliefs because I am respecting yours, you don't know what they are. Also if you are to say that each person defines their own morals based on their beliefs, would someone be wrong if they believed that women were inferior to men, or they could have a sexual realationship with a child? If you think they are wrong, how do you know for sure?

Answer 1

A deep question, let me think on it.

I can only speak for myself about what is moral. I have rejected dogmatic moral systems, such as religious ones. My reason there is that if there is an entity who decides what Good and Evil are, and only that entity can judge or decide them, then morality does not exist. There is only obedience or disobedience. The Moral Judge (God to most people) could arbitrarily decide that ANY act is Good. He could in fact, rule that strangling puppies is the highest act of Goodness, and since he's the sole Moral Judge, no one could argue with him. So in order for Good and Evil to have any meaning as concepts, they must exist independantly of any Judge.

This leads to problem #2. When you try to derive any moral system based on Reason alone, you fall short. Sure you could use clever inventions like Kant's Categorical Imperitive, or some sort of Utilitarian philosophy. But these ideas lack the moral value that true judgments seem to have. They are rooted in practicality, and while they "work" as moral systems, its hard for me to really give them the weight a true moral system deserves.

So what's left? Not much. The universe is absurd. If we are rigorous in our thought, skepticism eliminates all belief systems. We can only operate on a few assumptions. Its best to assume only the things that would be almost impossible to disbelieve. Such as the constant evidence of the physical world constantly streaming in our five senses. We can also assume that other people exist, and are beings like us, for the same reason.

Now let's put it together. If no one can rationally decide who is right and who is wrong, then in a way, we are equal in that regard. In addition, since I can't tell you that you are wrong, and you can't tell me the same, neither of us has a Right to impose our will on the other. From this you can derive a Doctrine of Liberty, based on the absurdity of Life and our Equality in that existence.

So what is immoral? Denying other people liberty. And since we can assume we are equal, we can protect the libery of others as well as our own liberty in this. Liberty can also be readily extended to include physical well-being and property.

I prevent myself from harming others for my own gain because I know I have no Right to do so. Who determines what is Good and Evil? We all do, and all viewpoints are valid. That is why we cannot interfere with others.

If I do wrong, guilt can be hard to assuage. I do it by trying to help (enhance the liberty) of others as best I can and hope that the Good I do outweighs the Evil.

No beliefs are therefore wrong. It is only action that counts. I cannot say that a murderer for instance is wrong when he says its ok for him to kill. I CAN, however, say that he has no Right to kill and that I have a Right to prevent him from doing so.

Answer 2

Understanding what is naturally beneficial to all.
This takes reason and it takes encouragment by means of social acceptance. Understanding the natural causes of what is.

Playing with peoples emotions is like poking a stick at a bear. Its unwise. Sleeping with another mans wife, stealing your neighbors stuff, murdering their daughter etc is foolishness. A child learns with threats of punishment, but as an adult you should put away childish things and reason together. Christianity encourages perpetual childhood. Primitive religion, immature adults and modern technology is a dangerous recipe. Its the one we have at the moment. Do away with ridiculous imaginations and seek truth.
you can determine what is wrong and right yourself. Some will say the truth is outside of you, in the sky or in some church but dont believe them.The truth is within you.
I dont have alot of guilt. Guilt is connected to worry. Worry achieves nothing. Learning from errors is good thing. Realizing I have erred is a good thing. It teaches me. We are not perfect.
Who says you can better your life at the expense of others? Do you believe this is possible? If you need religion to stop you from doing harm then I would hope you keep your religion.
We are all gods

Answer 3

I'm afraid you're asking different things here, as though they were the same. It is not the same to ask what's moral, what's right and what's true.

Actually ALL I care for is what is legal (to judge MY actions and everybody else's) and what's in good taste (to judge my own actions). Anything else is rubbish.

I guess the previous concept pretty much accounts for what keeps me from bettering my life at the expense of others, doesn't it?

Oh, and as for the "guilt" of doing wrong, I deal with it by trying not to do it again, correcting whatever I may have upset, and apologising (if that applies) to whoever it may correspond. There isn't much more than that...

EDIT: I think anyone can hold any opinions and they should be absolutely free to do so. I mean, support Hitler if you want. What should be controlled is not what you think. It's what you do on that. You can think Hitler was saving the world. You can hate Jewish people. But the moment you as much as touch one of them, you've crossed the line. As I said, the only thing we're all bound to is the law. And the law clearly states you cannot do that (or treat women as inferior, or have sex with children, as in your examples). In short, think what you want, do as you're told by the law.

Answer 4

Religion is not the origin of all morals in the world. To the things I believe to be true, I trust the people that have shown evidence why they should be. Society and the boundaries that were drawn up for me through school and daily life shaped my determination of right and wrong. What keeps me from bettering my life at the expense of others? I'll admit that occasionally, nothing does. If you constantly put others before yourself, you are living your life for them only and never for yourself. This is very unhealthy. Trust me, I did it for four years. You need a proper balance of living for yourself AND helping others. Sometimes, you have to take time for yourself, even at the expense of not helping someone else or what have you. I suppose those are the things that I would feel guilty about doing even though I shouldn't. Why feel guilty to live your life as best you can?

Answer 5

As with anyone,I can only answer for myself.I simply believe that if it hurts someone else,it's wrong.Yes,there are examples of having to hurt someone else because they would end up hurting you-an unstable person being institutionalized might hurt them in a way,but allowing someone to hurt others is definitely harming them in the long run.It's hard for me to be as clear as I would like,this late at night.

My point,I suppose,would be that I,too,follow my conscience.I can't explain what or why that is.I just know that I try to be good simply because that's how I should be,and not because I'm afraid of being punished in the hereafter.I think doing something because you're afraid to do otherwise is almost as wrong as not doing it in the first place,because you don't have the willpower to do it on your own.Some people(and I don't need to be specific)warp that whole thing and do terrible things because they think it is the will of God.I guess they don't have much faith in their God to think they have to murder on his behalf.

Also,I am used to life as I know it,and if I don't follow certain rules,along with everyone else,life as I know it will end because society will collapse.Not that I really need that to guide me,but if I did,it would be strong enough to compel me.Not consequence in the afterlife,but in this one.I still don't know exactly how to address the whole "morals" issue.I mean,I don't believe we should all run around naked,but it's not so much about morals as it is about respect.Just because I might not have a problem with it doesn't mean many others don't,which would in a sense be harming them by causing undue discomfort for whatever reason.I wouldn't use drugs because it warps the brain AND is illegal.I could go on and on-even more than I have-without fully answering,so I will just say one more thing.I think there are two types of people:Those that need religion just to make it through their lives and those that don't.Some of those that don't need it follow some kind of spiritual path that suits them,but they are not defined by it.They do not live for it,but make it live for them.Some of those that do need it fight it so much they do exactly what they fear and let it define them,thus preaching their non-religion to everyone,willing or not.Thus the Atheists that get mad at all religious people and bash them.They still have that need to convert.I'm a bit apethetic with my ignorance.I don't care what you believe as long as you co-exist with me in peace.Did anything I said make any sense?Are you still awake?

Answer 6

I believe that religion is false and falls more into the area of personal psychology and control. I do not believe that all religion is bad though...just zealots and fundaMENTALists. I also know that truth is subjective...different for each of us...so I will not attempt to speak for anyone else. My truth is that all ppl are inherantly good (not evil or sinful). That we make choices that affect not only ourselves, but everyone else. Let's say I stop recycling...that hurts me, my children, my community, the world. What is right for me?...that which affirms, loves, is kind, compassionate, giving and intelligent. That which will benefit all, not a select few. What is wrong to me?...that which separates, controls, is selfish, and ignorant. That which benefits a few at the expense of others. What do I do with guilt? Well, I rarely experience it these days, but I don't slough it off on some make believe bad guy, nor do I conveniently "wash" it away. Since you have asked a sincere, thought out question I'll share with you a little more than my usual pat answers. I am a recovering drug addict. I lost a son to that addiction. What do I do with that guilt? I keep it close. I look it in the face on a daily basis. I admit that it was me and me alone who did that. I will never allow myself to forget...not for one moment the results and repercussions of my actions. I now make better choices that do not result in my having to feel guilt. I do not lean on the crutch of religion to assuage my feelings and fear. I walk on...one day at a time. People who know me now, are shocked to find this out about me and yet I proclaim it. To keep myself humble, to keep from repeating the past and to help others with their addictions and fear. My choices hurt me and others, now they heal me and others. Will I be judged? I have been, harshly by myself. At the moment of my death I will be able to say that I have no regrets. Not a one.

Answer 7

Morality is based on causality. Being moral is taking the responsibility to tailor your actions in order to reduce consequences and affect the best outcome for the greater good. This does not only apply to the greater good of the self, but the good of all that are effected by your actions both in present and future. Morality must be judged on a case by case basis. There is no absolute "this is always wrong" or "this is always right." There are a number of factors at work for ethical action. Morality is being able to predict an outcome and decide weather or not the action is worth the consequence.

Answer 8

One mans morality will always be another mans opression, morality can only be a personal thing and it must be flexible or relative enough to be applied in an infinite variety of individual situations, the best decision in the particular circumstance, so one must be guided by ones intelligence and conscience...if it feels right do it, if it doesn't feel right don't do it.
A sense of empathy particularly helps me, putting myself in the other persons shoes and thinking about how I would feel were I in their place, it's the essence of "do unto others" etc or in other words the "golden rule" that was propounded long before Jesus's sermon on the mount.
There cannot be an absolute morality where one solution is appropriate to all scenarios.

Answer 9

There is a philosophical truth beyond the religious truths that are perpetuated by various religious doctrines. I can't define "right" or "wrong" for you, but it is, by most moral codes, wrong to better your life at the expense of others. Logically, if you do this, so will everyone else, and it's understandable that a society in which this transpired wouldn't be a desirable one.

Answer 10

as an atheist i just think religion has been played with and has been packed with man made laws......also theres so many how do you know what its real and what its not or if any are.....nothing determines what is right or wrong just the person and common sense......i dont know what you mean by bettering our life's at the expense of others but w.e.......some of the most religious people are the worst human beings and harm others they just hide behind religion to seem "good".......and guilt well i dont have guilt because honestly i dont do bad to others so i wouldn't know......i see religion as a game for people to make money just like any other business full of man made laws and brain washing people without self sense.....i dont need a religion to live my life unlike others......but to each its own...