Atheists, if there is no reward or punishment after death, why not........?

Question

Just sin away? Do whatever you want? Fall into every temptation?
And I realize that "SIN" is a biblical term, but you know what I mean.
Without good vs. evil guidlines, what guidlines do you live by?
And please don't get angry, I really am just wondering. Thanks!

1st post: Then what ARE the moral concepts based on????

I still can't find the moral guidlines here.
Prision is your best answer. Wow!
I need something deeper than this.

And I don't live my life only for reward or punishment, but athiests I know do, and all they think about is avoiding prison.
Anything deeper out there, like serving the poor, etc......????

Answer 1

Jen, I believe your question is a sincere effort to learn, so I'll try to help you understand. So you will know, I am an agnostic who doubts the existence of God, at least as he is talked about in the Bible, Sunday School and church.

Do you do good things, and are you a good person, just because you are seeking a reward or are afraid of punishment in the afterlife? Or are you a good person because you know it is the right thing to do? It would be pretty shallow and insincere to be kind and good, honest and fair, just because you were afraid of Hell, wouldn't it? Such a person wouldn't really be a good person, just someone doing what they do for their own selfish reasons, not because they are a good person.

Your question makes a false assumption. Because one does not believe in the Christian interpretation of God, does not mean they do not have "good vs. evil guidelines." "Good" and "Evil" are not based on what the Bible says, but what makes us different from the animals. As human beings, we instinctively know, at least in general terms, what is good and bad (provided we don't have a mental illness like psychosis, or physical brain damage).

Why don't I kill people I don't like? Because I know that it is evil to do so, with or without the Bible telling me so. Why don't I steal what I want? Because I know it is wrong and would hurt others. Why don't I lie, cheat, commit adultery, harm animals, hit people, etc.? Because as a human being, I know those things will hurt others, and I know that is wrong.

Remember, there are many parts of the world where few people believe in Judaism or Christianity, and there are many kind and loving, good people in those societies as well.

As for my own guidelines, that is a thought provoking question. I do my very best to make a positive impact on the world and on humanity, to be kind and helpful to others, to never hurt anyone or any animal unnecessarily, to be as good of a person as I can be. I want to do my best to leave the world a better place for my children and for all of humanity.

It may sound lofty, but those are guidelines I live by. Not because I am told to do so, not because I am afraid of Hell if I don't, and not to get some precious reward either here or in Heaven. Just because I know what is right, and I want to be a good person.

I hope that helps, Jen. Good luck in your quest for the truth!

Answer 2

Atheists are good people because they Want to be.

Christians are good people because they feel like they Have to be.

Who's the better person? In my opinion, it's the atheists.

...

Do keep in mind, however, that atheists do "sin" all the time. They have sex with the people they love, they drink (responsibly) on New Year's Eve, they don't go to church on Sundays. Those are, some would argue, sins. However, when you're talking about hard-core hateful behavior, most atheists think other people's lives are precious - it's the only life they get.

...

As for "what are the moral concepts based on", they don't need a book to know right from wrong. Society lays down certain norms of behavior; common sense provides the rest. Is it so hard to imagine? Even a child knows how to "be nice" without being indoctrinated in a religion!

Answer 3

Because we are decent people who don't need reward or punishment to get along with others in an unspoken agreement known as society.

Probably the most frightening thing about Christianity, for me, is that people ask this question way too much. If you found out tomorrow morning that there never was a god would you start doing all of these nasty things? Would you murder? would you rape? Would you steal from others? I certainly hope not.

The scary thing is, that in certain cases people are only good because of their Christian beliefs. I'm sure there are hundreds if not thousands of people out there who would answer all of the questions i have just asked with a "yes".

One final note, using the word "sin" is very problematic. For one, sin doesn't mean anything. If you ask 100 different people what "sin" is you will get 100 different answers. The truth about morals and ethics is that they are an emergent property of society. Different cultures have different ethical standards based on what is seen to be productive or counterproductive. If you compare cultures you will find that things considered evil, or even "sinful" in one culture could be a highly regarded trait in another.

Answer 4

Speaking as one atheist, I recognize very clear divisions between good and evil. I just don't need the idea of god or heaven or hell to make me behave in a way that I think is good.

I don't like being hurt, so I try not to hurt other people. It's called empathy and we don't develop empathy for others simply because of religion. Empathy is a necessary ingredient for building trust between unrelated people and it allows societies to grow and become more complex. Religion serves a role in helping to build trust, but that doesn't mean religion is the only way to build it.

Also, self interest tells me that I'm more likely to get things from others if I help them and that others are more likely to respect me and let me live in peace if I do the same for them.

Now there are lots of things that certain religions tell us are sins that have nothing to do with harming others that I have no problem at all doing. Things like eating pork or shellfish or having sex before marriage or being gay or working on Sundays or marrying outside of the faith or whatever. If those are sins, then I will certainly do some, or all, if the spirit moves me (and I don't mean the holy spirit either since that doesn't exist).

Answer 5

Just curious, if I could prove God doesn't exist, would you go on a commandment breaking, sinning rampage? I would hope not! At essense, I live my life by two simple rules:

1. Treat others as I'd like to be treated.
2. Do no harm (in the absense of that, as little harm as possible).

Those moral guidlines are our response to the cruel situation of nature. In short, individuals who live in groups and behave reciprocally or altruisticly towards others in the group will have a better chance of surviving than a selfish individual who lives alone. The kicker is you have to accept that we evolved from organisms that once acted selfishly, but then became more altruistic as generations passed. It's a complex problem, and that's the shortest answer I can provide. It would be worth your while to research the subject further.

Answer 6

When you are a child, you DO do whatever you want to. You are free of expectations from people, abstract thought, or the ability to predict what will happen from your actions.

When you get older, you begin to realize that certain things have certain consequences. When you don't eat your dinner, you don't get dessert. When you scream very loud you get put in the corner, etc.

When you get even older, you begin to be able to predict what will happen because of what you do by natural cause and effect. If you don't brush and floss regularly, your teeth will gradually rot, and you will have discomfort when you eat, drink, and may even have CONSTANT pain. When you spend your money on games, toys, clothes, and personal "wants," you have less money to pay for the bills, food, and other necessities, and may lose access to electricity, running water, and regular meals if you don't have enough money left over to pay for those things.

By means of this ability to predict chain reactions of natural "cause and effect," anyone, of any religion (or lack thereof), can understand why certain actions may reap undesirable results. Even if the afterlife may be the "ultimate consequence" for many who believe in it, it is not the ONLY consequence, and the wrongs that you do in this life will bring undesirable consequences IN THIS LIFE, just as doing good will bring desirable consequences IN THIS LIFE.

And I don't just mean jail. Everyone has a conscience, and you don't need a belief in a deity to listen to it or feel it's effects.

I'm afraid I cannot provide you with specific morals, because everyone has a different and personal opinion of what is right and wrong. Even among religious folk (even those within the SAME religion) will debate on certain moral issues. Everyone's opinions of right and wrong are different based on what they personally experience and observe. Even when people SHARE experiences and observations, their interpretations of them can also vary, allowing a wide range of possible impacts that they can have on different people.

More examples of natural "cause and effect:"

Many Christians do not sleep around because the bible tells them that it is "committing adultery," which is a sin. Many atheists (and other non-Christians) do not sleep around because of the risks involved: STDs, unwanted pregnancy, complicated emotions, etc.

Many Christians do not lie because the bible tells them that lying is a sin. Many atheists (and other non-Christians) do not lie because it can hurt people's feelings, people can stop trusting them (or never start), it can set a precedent for people not to believe what they say which would cause problems if they're actually telling the truth, etc.

I am hoping that you can see a pattern.

Answer 7

There is still morality without a God.

Suppose for a moment you were also an atheist. Would you do evil things just because there's no entity that will punish you when you're dead? No, because other people will shun and punish you for immoral things right now. And you'll feel bad for causing suffering and pain.

You don't need a God to have a system of laws and morals, really.

Answer 8

Okay, I'm a Christian, but I wanted to respond to this because you've got the wrong idea alltogether.

Christians don't follow a moral code and avoid "sin" because we fear punishment, we don't do it because we want a big huge reward in heaven. We do it because we love God more than anything else in this world and it pleases Him that we do it.

Plus it makes us better people for having followed a moral life, don't you agree? So your question is a bit slanted.

Answer 9

Because in addition to their superior intelligence and good looks, Atheists are born with pure souls. The are born with the intellectual and emotional ability to know right from wrong.

That is why there are virtually no Atheists in jail or prison. Atheists do not commit crimes. Almost 100 percent of all violent and sexual criminals are believers.

Atheists do not suffer from the same birth defect as Christians who, by their own admission, are born with sinful souls and impure hearts.

If there is a God, then Atheists are certainly the best of his creation and they will be exalted above all others (especially conservative Christians) in heaven.

If you want to find me, I will be at St. Peter’s Topless Bar & Casino partying with America’s Founding Fathers and a few dozen angel-babes - while conservative Christians will be working at Lucifer’s Laundromat washing God’s underwear.

Answer 10

I have a conscience.

That tells me what is right and what is wrong. Morality has nothing to do with religion.

Truly, I believe Atheists are MORE moral than believers, since Atheists do good things and avoid "sin" without being threatened with the concept of hell. And so many Xians make comments about how we have no reason to be good people. That says more about them than it does about us.