I don't understand?

Question

I am not Atheist, just to clear that up, I am Agnostic, but I also get tossed into this stereotype. Why is it that most people think that just because someone is Atheist, they have no morals? Just because you don't believe in God does not mean that you can't be a good person and spread goodwill. Am I wrong?

Answer 1

Thank you! I'd been pondering asking this question all night.

Two bits of info about me: I'm agnostic. I teach college English.

In an introduction to literature with a classroom full of devout Christians, I let the discussion head in the direction of religion. They knew where I stood on my beliefs, but they didn't understand them having been raised with staunch Christian beliefs.

One student asked me, "Where do you get your morals from?"

It didn't occur to me until just then that some people don't understand this at all because they were raised to believe in good and bad via the Bible. It never occurred to me that people didn't believe that morality could come from another source.

I explained to them that morality can be taught by many sources (and some people believe it is innate), not just a religious text. Some of them disagreed, others were quiet as they pondered it, and some could see where I was coming from.

Also, I firmly believe that one can lead a Christian lifestyle in the sense of the original purposes of Christianity (brotherhood and love) without being Christian, and that is my personal path.

Great question!

Answer 2

What's Agnostic? I'm a Catholic. And whoever
said/acted like they were saying that just cause
you don't believe in God you can't be a good
person they are just a lot off the wrong foot.
Of coarse you can spread goodwill, you are deffinatly not wrong.

Answer 3

I don't think that most Christians would consider you to be evil if you are not Christian.
However, Christianity teaches that you should not be yoked with unbelievers, and that doesn't just mean married to an unbeliever.
It also means that you should not have business dealings with an unbeliever.
Psalm 1 also says that you should not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the path of sinners or sit down with the scornful.
That is the reason that you are treated like an outcast.
To some, who feel called to evangelize, they will try to explain to you the joy that they have received in Jesus Christ.
It also says that if you share Christ with someone and they do not heed what you have said, you should shake the dust off your feet and go talk to someone else.

Answer 4

I run into the same problem, I don't believe in god, so some of the christians damn me to hell, or think I'm a heathen. I share many values of the christian faith, but I don't believe in god. I obey laws and recycle and am kind. I rescue animals and do volunteer work. None of that seems to matter to so-called christians who make snide comments about non-believers. I'm glad they have something in their lives to excuse their bad behaviors with, but I rely on my own morals and not a spiritual get-out-of-jail free card.
For the people who are actually christian, and just want to spread the word, I'm open to that and willling to listen. The people who parade around thinking they are better than us poor sinners might want to crack open that big book they are always thumping while on their soapboxes.

Answer 5

No, you are not wrong at all. In fact, the most ethical person I know doesn't believe in God. The word "agnostic" is somewhat similar to "atheist," and I think many people confuse the two or don't know what "agnostic" means. The word "atheist" has such negative conotations for so many people that I think referring to one's self as one who's "not sure" is less likely to cause negative reactions.

Answer 6

It frustrates some people that morality can exist outside of religion. Religious leaders and preachers don't want you to think that's possible; they want you to think that the only way you can be a good person is by being Christian, or Muslim, or whatever. So they portray atheists to be this immoral, horrible bunch of people, I guess to try and imply that that's how you'll be if you don't believe in God. That's all it really is.

Answer 7

An yet, another sweeping generalization.

It's easy to hear the loudest one and call that " the masses ". you would be surprised at the number of people you don't hear. People just going on with life, having a pretty good bead on things. Until you meet everyone in the world, you have no basis for saying " most " in a general context.

Best wishes.

Answer 8

you know honestly I don't understand people who are Atheist. I'm sorry but I don't. Don't you in order to say that you don't belive in God...have to basically say that there is a God? Because there has to be a God for you not to belive in. And anyhow I will have to agree with one of the other answers in here. Love is the basic belife of Christianity. To be kind to one another. Also if you don't belive what is your purpose in life? Just curious. You can e-mail me the answer to that if you want at [e-mail]. Please do. I would really like to know the answer. And also what happens when you die? I mean do you just get reincarnated, is that just the end what? Because to not belive would be kinda like condeming yourself to this life and that's it. Why would anyone want to do that? And also how can you say that there isn't a God (A power greater than us). I mean we had to get here somehow right? Well wait, I already know your answer to that. Well, who created God, right? And you are the one putting yourself in a steriotype by saying that you are agnostic. And to not belive, yes that is basically Atheist as well.

Answer 9

I think that you are not wrong. Everybody is not the same therefore have different beliefs. You can definitely be a good person and not believe in God, but some people think that you can't because God is important in many religions and that he guides you and without his guides then you are lost.

Answer 10

No you are not wrong. People who believe in God can be murderers, and people who don't can give money that they need, to someone even needier. I have sort of a religion mix-up. I don't completly know my religion (don't ask why ;() lol but ya know you should be proud of what you do or don't belive in. There is a lot of possibilities to reason why people don't think God exists.