If atheists dont believe in sin, then is lying wrong? Can atheists be trusted? Does their moral code forbid lying? And who/what can atheists swear by that i would be convinced enough of their personal conviction on the matter that i could trust them?
2007-05-06 13:15:34 · 28 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's unethical to lie. Sin is a loaded word -- some atheists believe in a certain concept of sin. It isn't that there is no right or wrong -- it's that there is no God to sin against. When you do something wrong, you're wronging yourself and your fellow human.
I don't think it's always wrong to lie. If you told a lie to Nazis to keep them from finding Jews, that would be ethical. It depends on the context.
2007-05-06 13:18:59 · answer #1 · answered by WWTSD? 5 · 14⤊ 1⤋
I don't believe in "sin", per se, because the word "sin" is a religious word. I do, however, believe in "right" and "wrong".
As to whether or not atheists can be trusted, they can be trusted as much as any believers I know. I don't know any atheists who lie any more than any believer, and I don't know any believer who is less apt to lie because they believe in a deity.
And who can we swear by? We don't "swear" by anybody. We just use a sort of honor system. If you are going to decide that you are going to refuse to believe us because we don't have a "God" to swear by, then there's nothing we can do about that. Personally, I haven't noticed any believers "God" stopping them from lying through their teeth when they want to.
2007-05-06 13:42:41 · answer #2 · answered by Jess H 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
By definition atheists don't believe in sin as such - this is a descriptor related directly to religion with religious connotations. However atheists still have a sense of what is right and what is wrong by virtue of their upbringing or common sense. Each individual has their own moral code.
As to what they could swear on, well like anyone their word should be their bond - you either believe them or you don't. I have known plenty of so called christians who would be happy to swear on their bible then look you right in the eye and lie like there was going to be no tomorrow.
2007-05-06 13:26:29 · answer #3 · answered by zappafan 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"Sin" (defined as an offence against God) and "wrong" are two different things. Especially in the eyes of an atheist. Just because we don't believe in your invisible sky-fairy doesn't mean that we don't have a set of morals or ethics.
Atheists aren't a unified group at all. Most are trustworthy, some aren't.
Why would I have to swear by anything to convince you of anything? Either you find me credible, or you don't. I, however, actually tend to provide evidence of my claims. As opposed to theists who make things up on the fly.
2007-05-06 13:23:21 · answer #4 · answered by Scott M 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No, it's not a sin - even to many non Christian theists like myself.
It is still wrong, immoral and unethical.
As far as what to swear by, I never saw the purpose in that.
Some people are honest, moral and ethical simply because it's the right thing to do - without the threat of hell.
2007-05-06 13:26:07 · answer #5 · answered by Sun: supporting gay rights 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
you should check out the difference (and there is a big one) between ethics and morals
Morals justify lies and harm to others in the name of a god or religion
ethics forbid such actions like lying becuase it is harmful to others
see the Ethical Society of Austin - and check out Humanism while you are at it
atheists not only can be trusted, they are some of the US founding fathers, some Deists, some freethinkers, some Agnostic, some Atheists, some secular humanists
use a person's character not belief creed as basis of trust
that's why sex predators like to hide out in churches, because of morals that justify harm to humanity, especially women and children
2007-05-06 13:22:39 · answer #6 · answered by voice_of_reason 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
a million. there is extra suitable than sufficient information to coach that God exists. Please clarify to me how count, how something for that "count" (get my pun?), could have been created? Do you have information that there is not a God? 2. you will not burn in heck except you willingly flow against the Lord and opt to not obey His commandments. 3. you need to have a prefer to not purely examine yet in addition study the bible to verify that it to make sense and reason a stirring interior. 4. There are alot of issues you may and can't administration. you may administration having a gay marriage or not. Homosexuality is assumed to be a sin. 5. go searching you! What do you spot? I see splendor all around me simply by fact i be conscious of what ever God creates is stable and is information that He exists (reread style a million). 6. there is such ingredient as faith, you be conscious of. Your chum would not have any faith. otherwise he could have confidence. Believing in God or not is a decision. I admire your decision, yet supply us Christians the income of the doubt. do not stone us like this.
2016-10-14 23:05:15 · answer #7 · answered by carolan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To an aetheist, there is no "sin", since there is no God,
BUT...
This doesn't mean that an aetheist doesn't know right from wrong, is a bad person, and has no moral values! They just have a different slant on religion than those who believe in a particular religious group...
BTW:
Can all those groups be correct in their views? How does that work, when they have different views?
2007-05-06 13:25:15 · answer #8 · answered by ? 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Since atheists do not recognize sin as a valid concept, lying cannot be a sin. But it can certainly be wrong. Atheists do not consider it necessary to swear on anything; one's word is sufficient. (In the Constitution, it's called "affirmation".)
2007-05-06 13:20:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
Lying is as wrong to an atheist as it is to a christian. Not all atheists are absolutely truthful, and nor are christians. It all really comes down to personal choice of wether or not to lie.
2007-05-06 13:20:13 · answer #10 · answered by will 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋