Atheists: Why are we also good?

Question

is it because altruistic genes have been selected through the process of our evolution, and we possess a natural empathy.? Or is it that the bible tells us so?

Richard dawkins, There ya happy now RM

Answer 1

Morality and religion have nothing to do with each other.

Answer 2

Religiosity is not the determining factor for an ethical stand-point. Further, a moral system fails to be such given that its greatest appeal is in authority. It isn't an ethical position to imagine that commandments are moral principles merely because they have been commanded. I still don't get how Christian's pride themselves on being moral beings when all they do is follow rules without any rationale.

But, people are "good" (whatever that means) for all sorts of reasons. Fear, insecurity, sincerity, self-hypocrisy, a pursuit of happiness, etc. etc. But, generally, I would say a good handful of nonbelievers share in the virtue of enlightened-selfishness. We understand a decent deal of human behavior, so we act accordingly. Really, we're just looking to have a good, meaningful, and fulfilling time while we still can.

Answer 3

There are many reasons to be "good". Human beings are social beings (this indeed is a result of evolution, obviously the social behaviour is successful over time), and I am a human, I can feel with my fellow humans and share their point of view.
But I also can apply my rational mind and ask myself, what sort of behaviour would be optimal? For me, the result is such that of course I have my own interests in mind, but on the whole I find that altruistic behaviour is a road to personal success. When I help others, I do receive gratification for that (in this life, make no mistake), people are nice to me, I have peaceful and friendly people around me, I am successful in my job and so on. This is personal experience. No bible needed, thanks.

Answer 4

We're not, but for the most part, it's kin selection. We act, like some of our closest relatives, as if having things that pass on genes close to ours in make up (those of a sibling, for example) are like passing on our own genes.

Most Altruism is kin-selected, and most kin selection is phenotype based, which explains why many of us are downright racist.

Answer 5

Who's to say we're all "good", or what "good" is? If you're talking about altruism, I think a lot of it comes down to biological instinct. Our strongest primal drive is the survival drive. We're also social creatures. So it follows that we'd like to see people around us doing well, as that ultimately has an effect on how well we as individuals end up doing.

Answer 6

The words "good" and "bad" have no finite definitions. Certain aspects of both must be learned according to ability, culture, education, etc. and while altruism CAN be cultivated, some people are born (karmically, imo) with certain amounts of it in their mind already... case in point: Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the Dalai Lama's life.

While religions and philosophy can teach us a certain degree of altruism, there's not ONE, correct way to learn it.

_()_

Answer 7

Oh don't ask that question!!! They'll tell you we're the reason for all the immorality in the world!! I was told that atheists are the reason for drugs, homelessness, homosexuality (which I don't think is immoral but they do), plagues, hunger pretty much everything!

Answer 8

Because we freakin' rock, dude.

We rock the party that rocks the par-tay.

Wallflowers be gettin NO action 'round this joint.

Answer 9

To paraphrase Forrest, smart is as smart does.

Answer 10

We're kinda smarter actually. Not necessarily "good"...but more like "bright" ;)