Is it possible to have a system of values in the absence of faith in a divine judgment?

Answer 1

I know of no person that does not have a system of values. Think about it.

Would you rather have one dollar or two? Almost everybody would pick two. Two dollars are more valuable than one, and in a general sense more is better.

It just escalates from there. People make decisions constantly. And they have a basis for those decisions. A system of priorities, importances, and values.

If you had NO values, you would be unable to make choices. How would you know what to do? You wouldn't. And since pretty much nobody suffers a lifelong paralysis of indecision, it's elementary to conclude that EVERYBODY has some kind of system of values. Your system may not coincide with mine. But they both exist.

Peace.

Answer 2

Yes. I do, I don't practice any religion, don't believe in a higher power or divine judgment. But my conscience is my guide. Only those born without a consciece would not have a system of values. How those values are ordered, that would be another question!

Answer 3

A system of values is independent of any deity. They existed before there was any deity. We had to live in a social group and they came into being as a result. Any creature that exists in a social group, has a value system. It's either that or be alone and very shortly dead unless you're an elephant. Rouge elephants seem to manage staying alive until their hormones settled down until man came on the scene. He killed them.

Answer 4

Yep. Those of us who don't believe in a god have to believe that there is a right way to treat people without fear of holy retribution. To think that absence of faith means absence of morals is overly simplistic. And to think that belief in said faith means a higher moral value is equally simple. Just look at the corruption and abuse in the highest levels of the church. And those are being perpetrated by some of the highest appointed priests that "god" can assign.

Answer 5

Yes. Its called a conscience. (I believe) That for some reason, humans evolved with a conscience, and that there is no God. But most (and there are exceptions in any faith) athiests are kind and moral people, and the fact tht no one is "keeping score" doesn't matter. You get one chance, so why alienate the ones you love?

Some people are only moral because they fear judgement, but I am moral because I believe it is right, no matter what happens after death.

Answer 6

Yes, it is. But no one asks about quality of that system, humanistic it is or not? Maybe in that system a human life is not worth a penny? (Just an example, I mean that an individual always has a system of values, but ...)

Answer 7

Yes, it's called PEACE and everyone should seek it within themselves.

IF you're at peace with yourself, you accept and love yourself, you will be in a better position to think about others without having to judge them. After all, isn't your God love? Didn't He tell you to Love Your Neighbor As Yourself?

But His Love has nothing to do with Judgment and Truth, but with Mercy and His Everlasting Patience, but if you do something or have something(Faith), you should know this, that all you have was given to you and nothing is yours. Judge not, this is not necessary, only Love is.

Good luck!

Some-body did not like my sermon.....LOL

Answer 8

Well your question sounds almost rhetorical but even altruistic ethical values don't have to be of divine origin. There are plenty of meta-ethical theories out there..

Answer 9

I believe that it's even more possible, since those values are coming out of you, yourself, rather than a fear of punishment or promise of some great reward.

Answer 10

Possible yes! Them having any value or substance no!