Can atheists put a moral value on human behavior?

Question

Since atheists believe we are animals, like goats and groundhogs, just slightly smarter, can humans be categorized with moral values? If a pack of wolves attack a rabbit and eat it, are they bad wolves? Of course not, they are animals, right? You can't put a moral value on the behavior of an animal, so how can atheists do it with humans? And, if atheists believe that the goal in life of a human animal is to be happy, enjoy the ride, procreate, then die, can they really judge a human animal if it decides not to live this way? Isn't our whole legal, societal, and political system mainly based on "archaic" religious values? Can we still have a law of the jungle, survival of the fittest, atheist-style society and judge human animal behavior? If a human animal wants to sit around all day, do nothing, then steal off of other animals for survival, can we judge that animal? Isn't that the true animal way?

Catherine, the vast majority of evolutionists/atheists believe that man evolved from animals and is therefore an animal, yet we don't see ourselves that way. According to them, we are no different than apes or donkeys, just a little smarter and more resourceful

Answer 1

Morality has nothing to do with your religious point of view.

Answer 2

Matt:

Did people obey the Ten Commandments before they were delivered? There was no Bible, so how did they know not to kill, steal, commit adultery? The answer is self-evident if you think about it. Those taboos already existed because we don't need anyone to tell us what hurts do we? We are communal creatures. It's part of the key to our success, and in community with one another we learn empathy which we see in other animals. Have a pet that knows when you're upset? I have had many that do. So we make taboos of what hurts because we don't want to be hurt and we make virtues of what helps because that support the overall success of our species, even though many strive to have the most anyway. So my morality as an atheist is based on my simple understanding tht while I may gain advantage by hurting others, if I do that enough, others will join together an hurt me. And I understand if I help others and spread that as an encouraged behavior, when the time comes that I need help, and I will as we all do, I am more likely to get it than if no one can count on me for anything. We knew what helps and what hurts before Moses. Hammurabi had a code well before Moses. Zoroaster promulgated principles of right and rong mind before there was a Moses. Buddha taught ethical behavior befor there was an incarnate Jesus, and Buddha never really taught about gods.

By the way, nature has many species that cooperate as opposed to survival of the fittest. So I would say that both your education in sociology and zoology is pretty sparse and you can stand to do some study.

And one last note. A week and half ago a study was released that showed giving,showing generosity, releases the same hormones as love and sex and chocolate. So apparently part of our success as a species is that those with a brain that likes to help have survived and reproduced.

Answer 3

We don't believe we are just like animals. That's a silly comparison. We can put a moral value on human behavior because we have human intelligence, common sense, and empathy. (Which animals don't) You don't need a book or a preacher to tell you how to do the right thing. Believe it or not, we CAN figure out how to do it all by ourselves. Just use your head.

No...we don't believe we are JUST LIKE other animals. We evolved from common sources, but we are human animals, with human intelligence, and EMPATHY, which is the key difference between humans and other animals. You can't compare that to other animals. (Like wolves attacking a rabbit.) There's also a difference between the violence that wolves do and the violence that humans do. Wolves don't attack out of hate--it's not personal. They attack to survive. Humans attack each other out of hate. It's a totally different thing.

Answer 4

Yes, humans are the only animal we know of yet that comes up with religion and sentience, because of that we are at least partly special. Most children are taught guilt and sympathy as a way to keep morals in society, this is a good thing, morals give the structure for civilization, the thing is, does it matter who owns these beliefs? Not at all.

Answer 5

Since I know nothing of the beliefs of Atheists, I won't go there. However, as we live in a judge mental society, why shouldn't the Atheist, have that same right? After all, you're judging, and obviously, you don't think it's wrong. Unfortunately, it's a fact of life.

Answer 6

I'm an atheist and I don't believe we are "animals". I believe that I have to live my life to the fullest, to make the best out off each and every day. I don't break laws, because they are in place so that others can live their lives to the fullest. I don't hurt people emotionally because I wouldn't want them doing it to me.

You cannot generalize about people like that. Being an atheist to me means that I don't believe there is a god. For me, it's based on events in my life and also from educating myself. Yes, I like to procreate, be happy and enjoy the ride....but who doesn't?

Answer 7

I think that most of us could agree that we're animals. That doesn't have anything to do with religion.

I have known and talked with several atheists and have yet heard this angle. Morality doesn't have anything to do with religion. Morality has to do with how you live your life.

Atheists very simply don't believe in a god - it's that simple. Morality and humanity and all that have really nothing to do with not believing in god. All of the atheists I know are caring, sensitive, giving, honorable, trustworthy, dedicated, etc.

So all in all I'm not quite sure what you're getting at.

FP

Answer 8

Far better than those attempting to apply rules from desert nomad population transitioning to to an agrarian civilization to a post-industrial society.

If you try to use a calculus of happiness as John Stuart Mill and others tried, morality is simply a measure of your taking happiness at the expense of the happiness of others.

Answer 9

We are social animals. As such, we have evolved with instincts for empathy and altruism. When processed consciously, these instincts form the foundation of every single culture ever known's morality: Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you (or as buddhists phrase it, 'do not do to another what you would find unpleasant under the same circumstances' or as the satanists put it, 'do to others as they do to you').

Evolution instilled the very basics of morality in us.

Take your strawman and go home.

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Correct. We are just animals that evolved. Your point?

Answer 10

Yes. World societies are comprised of all the ethical systems that men have created throughout time.
Good point.

Answer 11

Many athiests and "humanists" believe they have high moral values. I think they will be surprised at how little these "moral values" mean in the final judgement. All those who do not believe in The Son of Man will face eternal condemnation. Watch the media, pay close attention. Any channel, but especially Fox.