If God doesn't exist, is everything allowed and permitted?

Question

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most human ethics have come from religious instruction. Viz 10 commandments being the root of our laws.

Answer 1

No, it is still against the law.

Answer 2

There would be no standard to judge between right and wrong. Only subjective opinion.Who is to say who's opinion is the right opinion. Who is to say one person's common sense is any more valid than another. Note I am not suggesting that unbelievers do not follow morals only they are not following their claim beliefs to it's logical conclusion. After world war 2 German's were put on trial for war crimes against the Jews. They argued they should not even be on trial as they operated from a different set of beliefs from within their own community. This argument was rightly rejected and the proof of their own disbelief in this theory was that they invaded other countries imposing their standards on countries that held and operated on a different set of beliefs. Without God what you have at best is what you are personally uncomfortable with but no real basis to say any action is truly right or wrong. Some suggest the law doesn't pernit actions which again is challenged by the fact that laws are overturned and some countries have a different law. An example is in some countries child porn is allowed (the Netherlands I believe). Does that mean it's morally acceptable because it is legally acceptable in that country. I would argue that it isn't. So the law alone is o basis for simply saying someting is wrong or right.

Answer 3

The law exists for all , irrespective of belief or otherwise . the absence of the law would be anarchy . Whether or not God exists is irrelevant to a moral code in society . Fear of punishment or giving offence to ones god may be sufficient reason for believers to have a code to live by , for those of a secular persuasion an ethical response to life is to follow the highest of ideals found in humanity . Different approaches but hopefully the same result . ( but not always !)

Answer 4

What you have to understand is that this is a meaningless question, so there is no answer. It can only be answered if you are more specific about what you are asking. For example, you could ask if abortion is allowed according to the law in Oregon, and that would be a valid question with a Yes/No answer. You could ask if Fred Bloggs allows his children to stay out after 8pm, and again that would have a Yes/No answer.

Perhaps what you're really asking is: "Can morality be objective?". The answer, of course, is "No.", as proven many years ago by Hume. Hence what is 'allowed and permitted' is a matter of subjective (or intersubjective) judgment.

Answer 5

It depends who you expect to allow it. If you mean would god disallow something if he didn't exist then obviously no, and thus it would be allowed. We have laws and rules as part of a civilised society, and it is those laws and rules which stop things being "allowed and permitted".

Basically, if you had a lawless society and you didn't believe in god, you would be free to do anything without repercussions, but that is a very caveman point of view.

Answer 6

The structure of your questions implies that a god does exist.

Therefore the foundation of your question is weak.

Everything can never be allowed or permitted it has nothing to do with a god or not.

What is allowed or permitted is governed by the human mind and its intellect.

How well it governs is a seperate matter.

Answer 7

No. There is morality and consideration for other humans. This has nothing to do with any god or any religion. This is one of the things I don't get about religion; if it says in the little black book, then it must be right. I always thought it was right already, I never needed various translators and editors to tell me so. Good question.

Answer 8

impossible to answer as God does exist and from him we get our sense of right and wrong. I never understood before I met Jesus that everything we do has repercussions for eternity, it doesn't just affect our lives on earth, if that was the case I could do what I liked and it really wouldn't matter. I have a good friend who thinks that she has a responsibility to do good to her fellow man so that her memory and legacy to her kids is a good one, but once the memory of her is gone, who is left to know? Even her children will pass away and eventually her line will end.....I'm glad my actions will be counted for something in heaven.
The best book I read on this was ' mere christianity' by C.S Lewis

Answer 9

As someone who believes in God and a judgment day I of course have a rule book that I know is going to someday be strictly enforced. I live accordingly and I actually wish I could do something worthy and noble to kind of impress God.

Without God as an all knowing enforcer, or a belief in something like Karma, a person would be stupid not to use whatever advantage in the game of life ignoring unenforceable rules gives you. As long as the law of man, or disease or misadventure doesn't catch up with you and ruin your one life, anything goes.

If it is in your heart to murder someone and take a hefty sum for your effort as long as you can get away with it, you would be stupid or a coward not to. I have no idea why all the world's atheists aren't out on rampages.

Answer 10

Do what ever you want!!! Just be prepared for the consequences! As you said, there is no god, so you will not be judged in the next life, because there isn't one, but, you will be judged in this life, and as it's the only one you get, do want to spend it in prison?
The law of the land is there to protect it's citizens well being, not to protect their souls!
Most of our laws and justice system stem from christianity as you said, but most of them are pretty much common sense.

Answer 11

Everyone has values of some description which they adhere to regardless of their belief in God, but I think these values can quietly become eroded without people realising if they don't have a relationship with a God who is set on their personal development amongst other things.