2007-02-26 05:58:55 · 29 answers · asked by Infamous 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's impossible to guage,
There are many moral athiests, and so, they claim religion doesn't matter, that there's no difference.
However, they have been raised in a society where morality originated from religion, so it's absurd for them to claim that they became a good, moral person without the influence of religion.
It's simply impossible to know for sure, because there's nowhere on earth that the entire population has no knowledge or influence from religion, belief or knowledge of God, etc.
That would be the only way to study this and come up with a definitive answer.
2007-02-26 06:12:58 · answer #1 · answered by dork 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Not at all. Your religious affiliation really has nothing to do with your character what so ever. Morals are something that is bred into you..Your parents (religious or not) should have taught you right from wrong when you were a kid..and just because you don't follow a god of some sort does not make you a negative person..its a belief.
2007-02-26 06:03:39 · answer #2 · answered by Bevin M 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely not. We have evidence of moral codes that date back to the Sumerian culture: the Code of Hammurabi. From the inception of society, people had to have moral codes. Otherwise, we wouldn't be here. Societal norms provide the basis for laws. And only psychopaths lack a conscience. Moral and ethics were discussed by ancient philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle.
On the other hand, I think religion has done a lot to foster bigotry, prejudice, and ignorance.
2007-02-26 06:11:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Nope, it has nothing to say about moral character. Interestingly enough, the measurement of "negative moral character" can only be done relative to the absolute moral standards which religion has provided throughout human history.
2007-02-26 06:06:30 · answer #4 · answered by Open Heart Searchery 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most of these questions about morality put the cart before the horse. Religions may codify morality, but they certainly do not "cause" it. In other words, morality in general exists in all cultures - with, or without gods. The priestly classes' claim of ownership to ethics & morality in general is absurd. As we create and modify our cultural institutions (e.g., religion), we ascribe to these the modes of behavior we think of as "good."
2007-02-26 06:10:43 · answer #5 · answered by JAT 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nope. Im a Christian, and no, atheism does not foster negative morals.
Morality is personally chosen and SOCIETY based, not a matter of religion or lack there of.
2007-02-26 06:03:29 · answer #6 · answered by sweetie_baby 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Atheism has nothing to do with morals it is simply a lack of God Belief.
The only advantage atheists have over theists with regard to morals is you can't convince an atheist that some god wants him to perform an evil act, while theists seem to become convinced of that quite often.
2007-02-26 06:04:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
No....Atheism fosters independent thinking and logical analysis of a situation, and taking responsibility of what they think and believe... no more blaming, God, Angels, Devils and such
Dogmatism if abused fosters Majorly Negative Characteristic while hiding them behind a curtain of " In the name of (God... or any divinity )
2007-02-26 06:03:40 · answer #8 · answered by Tiara 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Not at all.
Contrary to the theist myth, one does not need belief in an imaginary sky daddy with a bad attitude to be a moral or ethical person.
2007-02-26 06:03:15 · answer #9 · answered by Scott M 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No,
infact I see Atheists practice better christian morals that christians do.
I see alot of chrisdtians bash people because they don't harbor the same beleif systems, and they can't take corrective criticism.
Atheists actually participate in worth while spiritual conversartions,
adn they are worth debating with, because it's all in fun.
2007-02-26 06:06:10 · answer #10 · answered by danksprite420 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋