2007-03-28 11:26:21 · 31 answers · asked by easyericlife 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
We are all made in the image of God!
So from God.
2007-03-28 11:34:31 · answer #1 · answered by ommie 2 · 0⤊ 5⤋
Well, it was a good episode of Atheist Experience on cable access last Sunday. We had a theist call in and start nosing around the question of where atheists get their morals. When he asked why atheists aren't out raping and killing because their morals are subjective and so anything goes, we answered by asking him if he would be out raping and killing if he didn't have his divine moral code. He quite innocently answered yes, as if there were no other answer imaginable. I can only assume that the threat of hell is the only thing holding this guy back from doing what he would rather do which is raping and killing.
This guy was completely oblivious to the fact that he was talking to a group of people who didn't follow his divine moral code, and the only person who wanted to rape and kill was the Christian. WTF!
On alt.atheism, we've had many theists ask the same question about our morals, and they all ask it as if raping and killing is what they would rather be doing if only god's pesky commandments weren't in the way.
Why would they rather be raping and killing? Do they think they would enjoy it? I have no ******* idea, but it doesn't speak well of them.
Anyway, the atheist host and co-host responded by staring at each other in horror, and then begging the guy to stay religious.
All I can do is wonder how many other Christians share a burning desire to rape and kill...
2007-03-28 18:30:59 · answer #2 · answered by KryptonOne 5 · 9⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to believe in god to be a moral person. If you look at the other answers to this question, you'll see that just because you believe in god, you are not necessarily moral. Some so-called "christians" are the mosy "un-christian" people you'd want to meet. Morals are learned mostly from parents. If you had good parents, most likely, you will be a good person. If your parents were bigots, most likely, you will be a bigot also.
2007-03-28 18:35:57 · answer #3 · answered by John S 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Philosophy? (which used ot be called the handmaiden of religion) but there are other ways to have morals without religion. And I as theist completely admit you do not need religion to have morals.
Wonder if I can get an atheist to admit morals and ethics did develop out of religion though. Doubt I could.
2007-03-28 18:32:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
It takes a very enlightened person to be an atheist. I get my sense of rightness (i very much dislike the word moral because it has a judgemental connotation to it) from my principles. My principles (obtained from a knowledge of who i am, what makes me happy and fulfilled, what makes me feel alive) are respect and love for all mankind. I respect people when i listen to them, let them be themselves, let them help me, love them and believe them. Another thing that i do that can be referred to as a sense of rightness is that i love to help people. I am very in touch with my humanity and i empathize with humans. I got this sense of humanity and empathy from failures, sufferings and hard times i have gone through in my life. I also love to help people overcome things i have gone through myself because i have had mentors in my life who have helped me overcome and get through those hard times. I was a christian all my life till a few years ago and i did not feel in touch with my humanity or even display such high principles till i decided christianity was not for me. My "morals" while a christian were all superficial and were all to show god that i was a good person. I realize now that i am a good person and god (if he exists) and other people on earth can see that or not. Does not matter to me at all. What matters to me most is what I think, feel and know about myself
2007-03-28 18:54:17 · answer #5 · answered by uz 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think everyone knows what's not good. i wasn't born a christian but i still had the same feelings about morals. I feel bad when i do something bad. You don't have to be christian to be morally right.
2007-03-28 18:30:42 · answer #6 · answered by Nothing interesting 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
People that do not believe in the Bible make up their own morals. If it feels good then they should do it? If you notice every time you do something that feels good but others appose to it, something bad happens at the end. Then how can it be o.k.? Answer that! People try to make their own morals and rules to "show" that what they are doing is o.k. :(
2007-03-28 19:58:51 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Atheists get their morals from the same place everyone else does, thousands of years of civilization and societal observations.
2007-03-28 18:30:29 · answer #8 · answered by monkeymagic6966 2 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Humanity. It's sad that people actually believe morality originated from religion.
2007-03-28 18:42:41 · answer #9 · answered by Smokin' Dragon 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know what thoughts and actions cause harm and suffering, however Buddhism reinforces this logic for me nicely, even though I've been atheist for awhile now.
_()_
2007-03-28 18:30:53 · answer #10 · answered by vinslave 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Logic and empathy are the true basis of morality, not the mythology of our simian ancestors.
It's too bad that only atheists realize that.
2007-03-28 18:32:51 · answer #11 · answered by scifiguy 6 · 6⤊ 1⤋