Are non-believers right about this?

Question

You don't have to believe in God to be a moral person.

Morals come from proper education and knowledge.

Answer 1

I would say that is a true statement. It is possible to be a moral individual and express no belief in God whatsoever. Morality and religion need not go hand-in-hand (as evidenced by the fact that several religious people have few morals; Jim Baker, David Koresh...)

Answer 2

Yes - what you are saying is exactly true. There are also different ways to think of God - God doesn't have to be a person up there judging us or manipulating our lives as some would have us believe. God is the unknowable force that powers this existence - you can think of it however way you want or not at all and still be a good moral person.

Peace!

Answer 3

Non-believers have a conscience, just like believers. They love, care, feel and think. Morality does not require religion or a belief in God.

Non-believers or people who don't believe the way we do can do what is right just because it is right. The story of the good Samaritan might make good Bible reading for Theists who could use a review of this.

Answer 4

Of course you don't have to believe in God to be moral. Morality is a behavior that considers the impact of your actions and does the best to minimize harm and offer as much aid as is reasonable. God plays no role in those choices unless you're acting in this way to get on God's good side.

And by the way, which is more "moral": to do it simply because it is the right thing to do or to do it in order to win favor with a God you ultimately fear will hurt you if you misbehave?

Answer 5

That is correct, and this is the reason.

I don't have to answer to a God. I have to answer to myself, and I am a much harder judge of character than any God could ever be. When I go to bed at night, I lay down with all that I did that day. One's conscience can be a pretty demanding bedfellow, and can often keep one awake. When I shut my eyes, I don't wish to be haunted by my actions of that day. I wish to drift off in peace.

Edit: For Stayathomem0m....my morality comes from within. Not from a book.

Answer 6

I'm not a Christian, and I have very good morals, I don't hurt people, I don't steal, I watch out for others. God has no moral significance.

Answer 7

Well obviously. Think about it, Christianity doesn't demand good works, only unquestioning loyalty and utter submission (Josef Stalin and the Christian god have so much in common...). As for me, I would like to be remembered for my good works, and not only that, but it feels good to do good...

Here, this is my philosophy, it is an answer to Pascal's wager (called the atheist's wager):

"It is better to live your life as if there are no gods, and try to make the world a better place for your being in it. If there is no god, you have lost nothing and will be remembered fondly by those you left behind. If there is a benevolent god, he will judge you on your merits and not just on whether or not you believed in him." I didn't come up with it, but it's my philosophy...

Answer 8

Yes we are right. I am a moral person. I am honest, kind, and try to help those in need. I try my best to do no harm to any person or animal or to this planet that we live in. These are the basis of morality. Crime and punishment should be based on degree of harm. This is morality.

Answer 9

Of course. I'm an unbeliever, and I think I am a moral person, because I don't intentionally harm people (not usually, anyway). I have a sense of what's good and what's bad. Only that my scale of values is my own construction, I haven't inherited it from some religion. And of course my scale and that of some believers may be different. I don't think sex before marriage is wrong, for instance.

Answer 10

Depends on your morals, but I never do harm to another person.