I don't believe in God. Wanted to compare notes with other Atheists.
2007-01-26 03:19:43 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Christianity. Modern atheism wouldn't have been possible without ideas sprung from Christian theology. How ironic!
2007-01-26 03:28:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 10⤋
It depends upon what you mean by that. We almost certainly get our "moral sense" from our genes, just like everyone else, and are influenced by societal norms (e.g., those about how to behave around others).
The basic questions of values are similar to the basic questions of physical law - the "moral objectivism" another respondent mentioned. For example, consciousness is valuable - and therefore it is moral to preserve it - because it is rare, and is what gives the physical world the chance to have experiences of itself.
The main difference between atheists' morality and that of Christians seems to be that atheists place far more value on honesty than do Christians, while Christians place far more value on maintaining traditions.
Christian "ethics" as a result do not keep Christians from saying deliberately dishonest things like "The only thing to keep and atheist from causing complete and udder chaos is the governmental institutions set up by those who do believe in a God". That's obviously untrue and bigoted, yet considered by Christians to be a perfectly ethical thing to say. In a way, it's fair to say that Christian ethics provide a refuge for liars, since truth is not a consideration within those ethics, as illustrated by that comment.
2007-01-26 11:25:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Morals are nothing more than the norms for acceptable action within a society. After thousands of years of barbarity and killing, mankind discovered that everyone was a winner, if a group of people followed some standards for behavior. At this point, most of us are genetically disposed to not commit murder, hurt other people, steal things, etc.
For all those Christians who think that morality comes from your god and that ultimate morality is exclusive to your faith, then you could not be more mistaken. If religion determined morality, then we'd still be stoning heretics, adulterers, gay people, etc. to death as per the instructions of your holy book.
2007-01-26 11:42:03 · answer #3 · answered by einzelgaenger08 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Basically for me its the Golden Rule. Some will argue that the golden rule comes from religion. In fact the concept of the golden rule is found in some form in almost all the world's religions. I believe it is based on common sense and common experience rather than divine revelation on how we should treat each other.
I think there is a natural selection/scientific basis as well. Humans adapted to survive and thrive more fully as social animals in societies. You can't do this if you are totally selfish or lawless. Society won't work if people go around killing those weaker for gain, stealing, raping, exacting vigil-anti justice, etc...
Simply, if you want to live in a decent world you have to be willing to treat other people decently. No Deity or divine laws required. This includes people who think differently than you so long as they aren't causing you harm. It means extend equality to all.
2007-01-26 11:31:10 · answer #4 · answered by Zen Pirate 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think from a few spots. We have been culturally influenced by religous folk. Other than that, I'd say it's all about our huge brains not needing any bible or whatnot to know a moral code. We have a conscience that works on it's own and doesn't need to be told.
:o)
2007-01-26 11:30:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
With no one of nothing to ultimately answer to, Atheists are basically free to do what they want. They do what they think is best for themselves, and what will get them the biggest reward for the smallest consequences. The only thing to keep and atheist from causing complete and udder chaos is the governmental institutions set up by those who do believe in a God. And the only way that those institutions can keep them from causing harm to society is by having consequences greater than the atheist wants to pay. If you call yourself an Atheist and are trying to do good for others without a reward for yourself maybe you should consider that you probably are not Atheistic at all. Maybe agnostic, but not atheistic.
If you couldn't tell, I am definitely not atheist, but in this question will not disclose my religion as it bears nothing to do with the answer to this.
2007-01-26 11:44:22 · answer #6 · answered by jwbyrdman 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋
I'm a moral objetivist. I believe we can figure out how to behave morally through logical inquiry. It works almost like Mathematical logic.
2007-01-26 11:24:59 · answer #7 · answered by Existence 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Thought. Social instinct. Logic.
2007-01-26 11:24:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
My conscience and because I know right from wrong. Also I believe in the Golden Rule.
2007-01-26 11:27:43 · answer #9 · answered by Stormilutionist Chasealogist 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The same place you do: From ourselves.
God doesn't come down and catch our murderers and thieves; we do.
When a sexual predator is sent to prison for the rest of his life, you can thank your fellow man, not god.
2007-01-26 11:25:37 · answer #10 · answered by Handsome Boy Modeling School 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
The same place everyone else does, tradition, family and from 3 billion years of evolution.
2007-01-26 11:25:17 · answer #11 · answered by fourmorebeers 6 · 7⤊ 0⤋