Atheists: Is there a set of standards?

Question

I'm sure this will be different for every person, but what moral standards do you obide by, and is there anything holding you to it? Do you just create your own? What is to keep you from making exceptions?
I'm not trying to sound snobby, so sorry if it coming off this way, but I'm being sincere.

The basic line is, if there is nothing holding you to a common set of standards, how do you know what is right and wrong, and why stick to it if there is no point?

Eldad, I'm not saying I would kill, but what is to say stelaing a piece of candy from the store is wrong unless I am told all stealing is wrong. Sure hijacking a car is bad, but who is going to miss one piece of candy?

Its also going into the greys...I am starting to think Christians see more black and white.

Tony, that is a reference to Catholics, which I am not. My standards are found in the Bible.

Melanie, Science has made our lives more comfortable and longer, but it hasn't made them endless, which is what my religion does.

Tattman, I stay with the Bible's standards because I love God, and He told me to do certain things. If a Christian lived their own way, thinking that they can just ask for forgiveness, then they are probably not truly saved in the first place.

Gelfling, I don't blame the devil for my acts against God. I blame my self-centeredness. I don't expect a reward for not sinning or sinning less. I do it because my God commanded me to do so. I do not agree with your source, either, because there have been wars that religion had nothing to do with. The British Opium Wars were fought over the growing amount of opium being imported into China from India (which was under British control).

Thanks for your time, people, I really enjoy seeing things from different views.

Answer 1

Well, there are different kinds of morality. In terms of don't kill / don't rape / don't punch other people randomly on the street ... biology has equipped me with morality. You'll find the same kind of morality in Japan or Sweden or any other non-theistic country.

In terms of personal morality, like who sleeps with whom, I have a pretty normal sex life. And I don't concern myself with the sex lives of others.

Answer 2

You and I have pretty much the same standards for the same reason in that over the millenia humans in community have agreed to a fairly consistent set of social taboos and virtues that makes living together work more smoothly. Also, empathy is an adaptive trait (among others) that primates share, that has allowed us to thrive and dominate.

Does God need to tell you what hurts? Didn't think so. Me either. Buddha laid down the Golden Rule before Jesus was born because it is a standard born in our ability to empathize with each other. Don't hurt me, I won't hurt you. Help me out, I'll return the favor. It's not like Moses came down the mountain with this. Even your pets know how to empathize with you when your up or down.

These standards were not developed by Christianity. The Code of Hammurabi was around long before the Old Testament. Zoroaster laid out right and wrong mind before the Jews left Babylon. With religion we attribute our social contract to a higher power, and that higher power becomes the guarantor of the covenant (in practice with threats of penalty after death for the most part).

But I have to ask you. Would you be a mass murderer if not for religion? Because I am an atheist, also a former police officer and chief, but I oppose the death penalty because I hold the possibility of a mistaken execution in much more abhorrence than most Christians seem to. So here I am without any god, finding myself holding human life more precious that people who say it's "sacred."

So I'm being sincere. I certainly don't need any god to stand over me and keep me from hurting others. I give more than a third of my income to charity. I've sent other people's kids through college when they wouldn't. I think it is because I do not see humanity as wicked and damned, but as still developing, with a bright and long future if we all pitch in. On the other hand I find many believers want to sit on their butts and wait for Jesus to come back so they can stop exerting themselves, instead of trying to make the world better. I think if you are honest, you know these people as well.

Answer 3

I don't lie, steal, cheat, hurt, or kill people because I was taught (and believe) that those are not nice things to do, because I hope others will do the same (ethic of reciprocity - Confucius), and because many of those things are against the law. I don't believe that I can get magically forgiven for anything, so I simply DON'T DO BAD THINGS in the first place. I don't believe in a devil who can control my thoughts and actions, and therefore, I take FULL RESPONSIBILITY for my own actions, rather than blaming a one-size-fits-all scapegoat.

I help people because it feels good, and because it makes people more likely to help me and others. I'm not doing it so to save up points for a reward.

I make THIS life count because I know it's the only one I get. That makes it precious. It matters how I spend it, so I don't waste it.

My mother taught me about right and wrong. Fortunately, she was smart enough not to base it all on some deity, so I don't lose my morals by not believing in that deity. The laws of our city/state/country, plus basic human decency, empathy, and sympathy, hold atheists to a common set of standards - same as anyone else.

Furthermore, I believe that a God who drowns, sickens, and slaughters millions; commands his followers to hurt and kill people; and sends his own kid to be beaten and executed for something he didn't do - so to appease HIMSELF, when he has the power to do anything he WANTS to do, is immoral, evil, and wrong (and fortunately, entirely fictional). No human would be admired or praised for doing those things. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I thought those things were okay. I would NEVER lower my moral standards to worship that kind of being, even if he did exist. Read the ENTIRE Bible, and see what it REALLY says.

It seems to me that people who have to depend upon a God or a Book or a Top Ten List in order to behave are scary and dangerous. Would most Christians lie, steal, cheat, hurt, and kill people if they DIDN'T have a devil to blame things on, a God watching every move, a List of rules to follow, and were not expecting a reward?

"To sit alone with my conscience will be judgment enough for me." -- Charles William Stubbs

Answer 4

I don't "obide" by any particular standards, but I abide by the common standards of decent behavior as expressed by the culture in which I live.

Long before Christianity ever started claiming the moral high ground, back in the days of paleolithic clans, the seeds of moral behavior were planted in a combination of a genetic predisposition to social behavior and learned responses to behavior that was beneficial to the group. This moved into more complex forms as clans became tribes and tribes, after the advent of agriculture, became cities.

Religion is not the source of moral behavior. Common sense is.

Answer 5

That is a fairly common question. I live by the standards I place on myself. So, I am accountable to myself. There isn't a set groups of standards. The one standard I live by is "live and let live". Basically, as long as you are not hurting someone else, knock yourself out. If my neighbor likes to come home from work, strip down, cover himself in green jello, wear a sombrero, while watching Barney tapes, fine. I don't want to witness this, or even really know about it, but it's really none of my business.

What is interesting about christianity is that there really isn't anything holding you to living by those "accepted" morals. Everyone is allowed to do as they wish, and commit as much "sin" as they wish. Why, because they all have an out. All you have to do is ask for forgiveness. So, what is holding you to your set of standards?

I follow the rules, obey the law, work hard, give everyone their due respect, and take good care of my children because it is the right thing to do. I don't need to worry about some entity someday judging me. I judge myself.

Answer 6

I hold myself to my standards. I don't need someone or something else to tell me what is wrong or right. Common sense does that.

What do you mean by 'no point'? SO what you're saying is that if I don't believe in God I have no reasont o be a good person? How about for my fellow man? how about because I feel better about myself when I do good things?

I'm not trying to sound mean either, but you come across as very shallow asking this question.

Answer 7

Why does morality have to be spiritual?

Why does there have to be a god to show me what is right or wrong?

Atheists for on thing do not believe in divine forgiveness for so we would expect to be punished for braking laws.

Common sense would tell you its wrong to murder, steal, etc.

That said, as long as you are not hurting anyone, I really don’t have a problem what you do in the privacy of your own home. So long as it is not being forced upon me like most religions are.

Science is working every day to make the life we live better i.e. medicine, the space program, etc.

What has any religion done to compare?

we have no god to kill in the name of :-)

Answer 8

What have liberals and atheists to do with one yet another? Why are you blending politics and faith? From the 1st positioned up it replaced into obtrusive the 2d Mahal replaced right into a clone. Did this clone enable you recognize in my view he/she is an atheist? If no longer, how do you recognize or is it an assumption? Being an atheist does recommend which you're loose to act the form you opt for, yet you would be able to desire to have the skill and prepared to take the consequences of your strikes, take duty on your behaviour. Being an atheist is actual the mind-blowing duty, its all your very own devoid of devil or god responsible or ask for something. And no, fairness, honesty and transparency have not have been given something in any respect to do with the skill to reason. it is hassle-free to reason from an unfair and cheating perspective. "Penster_x" stated it greater effective than i'm able to. He summed it up completely...

Answer 9

I treat others like I would like to be treated. I don't judge people by what they believe, just hope that one day they will find the truth in logic and science without shoving it into their faces. I don't try to make decisions for other people when it comes to their lifestyles, their body choices, or their views on certain subjects. Basically I try to just live my life and be happy. I don't make exceptions, because this is the only life I get and I would like it to count. And I know what right and wrong is because I follow laws like a good citizen.

Answer 10

My freedom ends where another persons freedom starts. For me that's simply how I live my life.

The story that morals come from a Bible is utter nonsense. I don't believe for a second that Theists will run out on the streets and randomly start killing people if the Bible were to be proven false.

Basicly people are all born as nice people. And we all wanna be nice.

Answer 11

Morals of right and wrong are taught by parents, teachers and society in general. One doesn't simply stumble onto them. In order to coexist peacefully with our fellow citizens, certain rules are inevitable. These rules were already in place long before the Bible or God were ever dreamed up. Christianity didn't invent morality any more than it invented crucifixion.