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Because most of their parents were Christians, so they learned Christian values. Because they have friends and families too. Because they love too. Because they are human. Because they have been wronged by other people. Because they have eyes. Oh, can I stop now?

***WoW 5 Thumbs down, I feel like I said something great!***
psstt.... They are people, they do have emotions, grief, sorrow, happiness, etc. That is how they know the difference between right and wrong.

2006-10-11 14:43:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0 8

Right and Wrong were not based solely from the morals set by religion though much of it that were written could have been taken from the writings in the books of religions.
Early form of societies were able to use their human philosophies to make their own set of rules and standards that will make them understand what is wrong for them and what is right. A reason why you will still find in several areas that what is right with you may not be right for them.
So even Atheists are aware that even if they do not believe in God they believe in the rights every human to live. I am a believer like you but I do not consider the Atheist as immoral because I have friends who are non-believers and have respected my position the way I do to them.

2006-10-11 22:02:09 · answer #2 · answered by Rallie Florencio C 7 · 1 0

I believe that the Bible is just an historical document, not the word of God. It is an old document, and one of the first ones to write down moral values that were commonly understood by civilized men. These common moral values had evolved over time because humans (and primates in general) are social animals who evolved empathy and altruism because it increases surivability.

I am an atheist, but I have compassion, empathy, and I am altrustic. I am this way despite the fact that I know that my existence ends when I die and there is no afterlife where I will be punished or rewarded.

If you behave morally only because fear eternal punishment then you are not as moral as I am.

2006-10-11 21:54:59 · answer #3 · answered by Jim L 5 · 3 0

Ethics is one of the 5 branches of philosophy. Morality is a classification of ethics. Every code of conduct has a structure of morality and imorality. An atheist may use the term immoral to describe a certain act or behavior but would not use the word sin. A Buddhist would not use the word sin either because in Buddhist Pañcasīla (Pāli code of ethics), karma or action is the essence of the Cause-Effect Theory. A Pagan who believes in sexual energy has a code of conduct that does not define sex as either immoral or sinful.

In monotheistic religions such as the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, the code of conduct is determined by God (HaShem/Allah) and immorality is considered to be sin which may be forgiven by repentance.

In this religious context, an act that violates Gods moral code of conduct or the state of having committed such a violation is a sin and iniquity, perversity, depravity and guilt are gradations of sin.

Morality refers to the concept of human ethics which pertains to matters of good and evil —also referred to as "right or wrong", used within three contexts: individual conscience; systems of principles and judgments — sometimes called moral values —shared within a cultural, religious, secular, Humanist, or philosophical community; and codes of behavior or conduct.

Personal morality defines and distinguishes among right and wrong intentions, motivations or actions, as these have been learned, engendered, or otherwise developed within each individual.

2006-10-12 20:14:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Morality is a human invention...and it differs from race to race, individual to individual. Religions like christianity have been trying to force one view of morality onto EVERY human being for thousands of years...and they have all failed miserably and they will continue to fail miserably.

How long have those stupid 10 commandments been around for? Thousands of years right? And has murder stopped? How about stealing? Taking "god's" name in vain, has that stopped

Miserable failure!!!!! And who do you think are the people who are still committing so many "sins"? Is it just the atheists on this planet who are still killing and stealing and buying up billions of dollars in pornography? Or are most of these sins committed by the holier than thou crowd secretly sinning as often as possible and hoping they won't be caught?

Bunch of morality hypocrites...

2006-10-11 22:05:00 · answer #5 · answered by stephenjames001 2 · 2 0

Has it ever occurred to you that morality comes from what man knows is decent?. Do you not realize that religions have very similar ideas about what is right and wrong? It has nothing to do with what god of gods they pick to make up. Egyptians had the same basic code as the ten commandments. This is because humans know what is right and decent even without a god threatening them into it.

2006-10-11 21:47:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 5 0

I think that you need to do learn some understanding of the psychology of the human mind in order to rid this idea that those than do not believe in god have no morals. I do not believe in god but yet I have morals? How can that be given your statement? Love hate empathy understanding pity sympathy are all traits we humans have regardless of religious in-put so piss off with you high and mighty only god can teach you these things bullshit and go and learn basic human emotional development.

2006-10-11 21:51:24 · answer #7 · answered by A_Geologist 5 · 3 0

Atheists generally use Morality as their Moral Basis of right and wrong.

2006-10-11 21:49:31 · answer #8 · answered by W0LF 5 · 4 1

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.

2006-10-11 21:44:13 · answer #9 · answered by Skippy 6 · 5 1

Atheists don't believe in "sin." But they are human and have moral compasses.
Plus, there are laws in all societies.
Have you ever heard of a secular humanist?

2006-10-11 21:43:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 6 0

when was the last time that atheists started a war, killing millions...Christians are a murderous cult..i want no part in thier butchery...atheists have a right and wrong rooted in reality, not from a fear of some all powerful creator, master of the human ant farm

2006-10-11 21:54:44 · answer #11 · answered by jimmy V 3 · 2 0

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