Why do atheists refrain from cheating, even when they know they won't get caught?

Question

I'm trying to find out why atheists are moral. So far I've just gotten the answer that atheists are moral because they want to benefit society.

But why would an atheist refrain from being immoral even when being moral would harm them, individually? I know that many atheists do refrain from unethical, immoral acts, even when such immoral acts would benefit them personally. But my question is: why?

So far, most atheists I have talked to have responded by saying things like "and why shouldn't I be moral???!!" And while such defensive responses are understandable, they don't bring me any closer to understanding where atheists are coming from.

If you are an atheist, please let me know why you do the right thing, even when it doesn't benefit you personally. I know this is a personal question, but please help me understand where you are coming from. You represent a significant percentage of the population and I really want to understand your worldview better. Email me!

"I'm an atheist and this question tells me you really know nothing about what an atheist is."

"Seriously though - why WOULDN'T an atheist be moral and ethical?! You're going about this all the wrong way."

Please understand that I am sincere when I say I am interested in finding an answer to my question. You may think of me as being ignorant and naiive, but how can I or anyone else come to understand why atheists believe what they do unless atheists themselves tell me?

Ash, jambo, and Elisha: thank you for your comments. It would seem that you choose to be moral because you feel empathy for others.

The AussieBlonde and y_r_all_men_insane: You seem to be saying that you follow an ethical because it brings the greatest benefit to yourself and others in the long run. In other words, morality is ultimately the best way to pursue one's self-interest.

These answers are intruiging to me and I thank you for being patient with me despite the fact that this way of thinking is not very familiar to me. If you would like to write me and let me know more about your beliefs, please do.

Answer 1

I am not an atheist but I know that you don't have to be threatened by hell in order to do a good deed. Unfortunately Christians don't think so.

Answer 2

I am an an atheist and yes, I too am moral. I am not sure what you mean by doing the right thing even when it doesn't benefit me. I believe doing the right thing does benefit me. I care about how my actions effect others. I am a very empathetic person. If I cheat on my partner I know this would hurt, I would hate for someone I care so deeply about to be less than happy. If I steal I am hurting whom ever possessed the item before me. If I slander or abuse anyone by any means I know this causes harm. If you mean cheat as in tests, I do not do this because I have a sense of pride and self worth. I know That I can do what is needed without resorting to cheating. I would like to think other people, regardless of their religion, would have the same decency.
Is this the kind of moral you were speaking of? If not can you please refine what it is you mean. I don't think you are ignorant or naive. I think it is a good thing that you are trying to understand an others point of view.

Answer 3

Just because someone has a different believe, it does not mean that they are genuinely good people. When someone refused to do something, it is because they believe it to be wrong. Sure, they may not get caught all the time, but they still have to live with that shame. Though they may not believe that the will be punished in the afterlife, everyone knows that life is beetter when you follow the rules.
For myself, I don't know why people find this to be so confusing. I want to be treated in a nice manner just like everyone else, therefore I treat people with respect. It's a matter of keeping order and a clean conscience.
It is the same for "god fearing people". Why are they alcoholics, hardly go to church or talk about people behind their backs? People are people no matter what they believe. You'll have some that will follow the rules because they need that piece of mind and what order, then you have some that just dont care and what to have all the fun they can find.
I hope that helps.

Answer 4

ok i am an athiest and being moral DOES benefit me the same way it benefits anyone else. just because i dont believe there is a god or a satan does not mean i cant be a good decent person! my beliefs are my beliefs and my actions are my actions. my morals have absolutely nothing to do with the fact that i am a very nice well- liked person with a lot of friends! by the way, noone has any right to suggest atheists are immoral! have a little respect, people are people.

Answer 5

i have no idea what you're on about. Facts are if you want to do well in life you obtain an education, get a good job, pay your bills, own all the luxury's you see fit to own, take the holidays you want, raise your kids to respect others, take care of your environment and leave behind a legacy for your children to benefit from. We remain ethical, work hard, study hard, earn money and live life so that we can have the best that we are capable of and so we can also give that to our children while we are here and when we are gone. We study science so as to better understand how the universe and our planet evolved, so that we can learn from the past and be of assistance in the future to ensure there is a planet for the future - as we know there is no creator, so if the earth is to go on we need to be educated and know how to protect it.

A book of myth doesn't make a good person (look at the news and read some history) A good person is some one who wants the best out of their life and the best for their family without inflicting any grief or pain or war on others.

Answer 6

Well that really is the problem with atheism. It provides no objective foundation for morality whatsoever. Any atheist Ive ever talked to on this subject at length eventually admits that he believes that morality is subjective because the bottom line is they are forced to say that morality comes from humans and not a transcendent being. If morality comes from humans then there is nothing objective about it!

If I tell you that an apple is red, grows on trees, is a type of fruit, and grown in Washington, Ive told you a set of objective statements about an apple. These have nothing to do with how I personally feel about apples nor did I have a hand in determining these facts. Now if I tell you I dont like eating apples but my brother does, I didnt really tell you anything about apples, only about me and my brother.

So invariably any answer you get from atheists is going to be just that, SUBJECTIVE. They will say "well I believe doing this is good for this reason" and "well I dont believe in that so much." A subjective moral point of view tells you so much about the person but it doesnt tell you squat about morality itself nor clearly objectively defines what is RIGHT or WRONG. Therefore what Hitler did wasnt WRONG, you just happen to disagree with it!

Answer 7

Because being an atheist doesn't make you immoral. It simply means that you don't believe in a supreme being. Many still live by the golden rule, you know, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. And this is a great rule to live by. Atheism doesn't mean you are nasty or a bad person. My daughter is one, she's a great person and treats people very well and values her relationships. There is nothing wrong with not believing in God. Freedom of religion also means freedom FROM religion.

A bit rambling, I realize. But your question proves that most people equate atheism with evil and it is simply not true.

Answer 8

I can't speak for others as I'm only one atheist out of many. About the only thing atheists have in common is a lack of belief in God or any other deity, so what else other atheists believe is up to them. I can tell you my thoughts on the matter.

I act ethically and "morally" because to not do so is to harm another, be it spreading a rumor(emotional harm) or stealing their wallet(financial harm) or punching them(physical harm). The way I see it, it's better to be nice to others, because then that person is happy. If I hurt them, they're not happy, simple as that.

If people are happy, then they're more apt to be nice to others. If everyone were happy, the world would be a nicer place to live in. But if everyone is nasty and mean, then we're all miserable and then the world isn't so great to be in. I'd rather make the world a better place by being nice than spread misery and hate.

So I do the right things, even if I get screwed in the process. If I screw up, I admit it, fix it, try not to do it again, and move on, rather than let the hurt build up into an even bigger, nastier fight. If I hurt someone, I try to apologize. I'm not perfect, nobody is, but better to try than to shrug and say "oh well, not my problem".

Even if I didn't get caught by the law, even if, being an atheist, I don't have to worry about Hell, thing is, if I do something wrong, I'M gonna be the one who knows and I'm going to feel bad about hurting someone. I don't need to be "caught" to feel bad about something like cheating. I'd know I cheated, I'd feel bad, and that's worse for me, trying to hide your own guilt in letting someone else get hurt when you know something that could make it better again.

Answer 9

I didn't know morality was exclusive to god-fearin' folks.

Immorality is subjective. What I may think is immoral may not be immoral to you. However, morality in general is pretty standard.

Why am I moral? Because, it can affect my life in many ways not being moral. I may lose the respect of peers, superiors, etc. It may affect my personal and work life or may cause me to lose something or someone. It may even land me in jail.

Just because I don't believe in god or [insert religious affiliation here], doesn't mean I can't me moral. The laws and customs of society dictate how I am in public.

Privately, however, many people are immoral, not just atheists.

Answer 10

Ethics (or moral behavior) can be separated into two distinct categories and one pseudo-category:

1. Deontology: Duty based systems.
2. Teleology: Future based systems.

Also our pseudo class: Do not believe there is anything such as morals. (a good example is a nihilist)

Okay, so now we know the various casts; but your question remains: "Why are atheists moral?"

The answer to that is quite simple. They have an ethical system that does not require an ontological metaphysical being, such as God, in order to justify their beliefs.

In fact, people who believe in DCT (Divine Command Theory); who's central tenants is that morality comes from, or is a direct result of God, are nothing more than deontologists (our duty based category)!

Other examples of deontologists that may, or may not, require the belief in God are: Kantian Ethical Theories (due to his categorical imperative, he believes that we should formulate our own moral imperatives), or perhaps even some Buddhist Moral Philosophy (where it may be our duty to be moral in order to attain enlightenment).

If we look at some teleologists we can also see a number of various ethical theories that do not require God. Utilitarianism (to be moral is to do the greatest good for the greatest number), or even Egoism (to think of the self is to be moral).

I think people just need to move away from their conventional idea of what "being moral" really is. In essence, you may not believe in the plurality of moral theories, but you have to accept that other people do; thus requiring, in most cases, no predetermined belief in God.

Answer 11

I'm a moral person for a couple of reasons.

1) I was brought up to treat others how I want to be treated. It has nothing to do with benefiting me, it's just how it is done. I don't go around hating people, because I don't feel that they deserve it, and I know that if the tables were turned, I wouldn't want to be treated badly.

2) I love my husband. I would never cheat on him. Period.

3) I want to set a good example for my daughter. I want her to grow up open-minded and respectful of all people, regardless of their beliefs, non-beliefs, attitude towards life, etc. If she sees me acting immoral or badly, then she will think it's ok, when it's not.

4) I'm a good person. I'm a good person because I choose to be. If I go around treating people like crap or acting immoral, what is it proving? It's not a way to live your life. I want to enjoy my life to the fullest, because I know it's the only one I have. If I am a mean-spirited, immoral person, then I must hate life. I don't. I love it. I want to be happy, follow the laws my country has set forth, and live as merrily as possible.

All of these things benefit myself AND the people around me personally. Hopefully you now understand why I, if not all/most atheists, act the way we do! :)