Is there anything to stop...?

Question

Is there anything to stop an athiest or non-theist from lying, other than the fact that he or she does not want to? No threats of hell or eternal damnation? Do you think you lie more or less than the average theist? And for the theists, what is the punishment if you lie? Do you think you lie more or less than the average non-theist?

():-D
shadowgirl

Answer 1

Nothing other than my own sense of right stops me from anything

Just curious, what stops you from murdering someone, your sense of right or some law from some god?

Answer 2

Your own morality prevents you from lying.

If an atheist is not a moral person, then he would have no problem with lying.

Then again, if a theist is not a moral person, then he would have no problem with lying either. The theist just has to jump through a few hoops (justifying the lie by saying it's for the "greater good," or hoping to absolve the lie by repenting later, etc.).

I personally feel that a person's religion does not determine his morality. A moral person will do the right thing (whatever that may be in that context) whether he believes in a god or not.

What's frightening is that some people claim that without a god watching over you, they would turn into lying rapists and burglaring murderers. I think that speaks more about their false morality than the morality of nontheists.

Answer 3

I don't know about you, but I'd worry about the sort of person that would only tell the truth under threat. I would consider that person morally weak, undependable. And I also have little use for the ones that would only tell the truth because they were going to reap some reward. I'm not sure I'd even consider that morality at all.
Human morality is about doing what's right for its own sake- not about the lollipop (or heaven) or the spanking (or hell) that may result. And I think everyone pretty much knows that morality has nothing to do with anything other than the human condition. We come by it naturally, in all cultures, regardless of religion.

Answer 4

I am an atheist (agnostic), why should I lie more than any other human, be they theist or atheist?

What stops anyone from lying? I preffer not to lie as it has repercussions from my friends, family and can harm or affect the wider community, where society will judge me.

Just because I don't live with the fear of what god will do to me doesn't make me any less 'moral' than anyone else.

Answer 5

I don't believe it's right to lie if it is going to hurt people e.g. if you lie and tell someone you love them when you don't, or, on a smaller scale, if you say a top looks good on someone when it doesnt, thus causing the person to buy the top and be stared and and ridiculed behind their backs.
However, I would lie to protect someone from an axe-muderer or suchlike, I don't think truth-telling should be absolute!

What keeps me telling the truth is the simple aim of being a good person, and being nice to other people because they too are human, and no less important than myself.

Answer 6

Just because someone is an atheist does not mean they do not have honor and live their lives with dignity and honesty. If Christians are only holding up a moral code so that they go to heaven, that's pretty lame in my opinion. There is a lot of joy in living a good life regardless of whether or not you believe in God.

Answer 7

The problem between atheists and the religious isn't about lying at all. It's about conflicting ideas. Christians don't lie to people by telling them that they're going to burn in Hell for being sinners, because that's what they believe.

I'll admit to having lied in the past, but all I can honestly remember is lying to spare someone's hurt feelings. :P

Answer 8

The same as there is to stop a believer from lying. I don't know about your country, but here in Argentina, we've been governed by believers, and practically all of them have lied miserably, without too many serious consequences for them.

Answer 9

Believe it or not, Atheists do have a moral code, regardless of whether or not you think so or feel the need of religion to have morals... We live by the Golden Rule - treat others how you would like to be treated... So, we tend not to lie, because we tend not to like being lied to. Pretty simple principle, really...

Answer 10

"For the Wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." In the eyes of God, a sin is a sin is a sin and the punishment for sin is eternal damnation. I wouldn't be able to compare my own spiritual short comings with anyone else, theist or non-theist, because I am not their judge and can't see into their soul. I confess to having told lies, but the ways of the world are now behind me. True, I still slip up because I'm still human and haven't yet been perfected in Christ. But there's a difference between sinning "accidentally" -for lack of a better term- and wilful disobedience of God's Word. The Lord chastens those he loves and punishes all evil doers. "Be sure your sins will find you out". Gold can only be refined with fire.The dross and impurities must be purged with fire.While anyone can receive God's forgiveness through belief in Christ Jesus, we will still experience the results of our sin. That's the way life is. The sin is washed away by the blood of Christ, the inevitable results of sin are not. That would only apply to eternity. This world and our brief lives upon it are a testing ground. For example, alcoholism or other addictions result in failed health and, in many cases, physical death. God can forgive us for these and other sins if we ask Him and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, but the damage we've done to our physical well being is usually permanent. If we could avoid the results of our sin simply by running to God for forgiveness everytime, our faith would be meaningless and we'd learn nothing.

Answer 11

There are good reasons not to lie. One being that I want my word to be good. I dont want people to mistrust me thinking that I am a liar. This is good for my interaction with the community. If I am caught lying it ruins my reputation with friends, family, and business partners.