on this earth with no consequences, no matter who they hurt? As a Christian, I believe there are consequences for your actions not only after you die, but while we live on this earth as well.
2007-05-20 18:57:29 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
That's two different questions.
I don't believe in karma. I don't think there is a mystical scale keeping track of how much good and bad happen to a person based on their actions. That's just silly superstition.
I do believe in people, and I choose to live amongst them. Therefore, I can't do just anything I please. I have to respect others and conform to a social standard if I wish to have a place in this society.
I also believe in direct causal consequences, though those don't tend to be moral issues. If I choose to dash across a freeway, I have to accept that the consequence will be that I have a good chance of getting hit by a car.
As an atheist, I believe that the only consequences to you for your actions occur during your lifetime. After you die, you're just dead. Death is the final consequence, and your actions can only affect whether it happens earlier or later, but it will happen.
2007-05-20 18:59:22 · answer #1 · answered by nondescript 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
As an atheist I fully believe in the concept of karma. I'm a firm believer in "what goes around comes around". I've seen too many examples of it in action.
On a side note, I don't particularly care much for your wording in the question...this in particular...."Do atheists belive in karma? Or do they think they can do any thing they please?
on this earth with no consequences, no matter who they hurt?"
For the record, atheists aren't out to "hurt" anybody. It's impossible to hurt anybody with a lack of a religious belief system. That's just how it is.
If my lack of a religious belief system offends you to some degree...that's your problem, not mine.
2007-05-21 02:07:05 · answer #2 · answered by Adam G 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Even a child knows that there are consequenses on this earth if you hurt others.
If anyone can perform the really horrific deeds, it's those that believe a better life awaits them if they truly believe in something that transcends this world. If you hadn't noticed, America is at war with religious extremists.
A humanist atheist would have never willingly crashed planes into buildings, because they value human life life above anything else.
2007-05-21 02:04:09 · answer #3 · answered by 006 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I do not believe in Karma. I like to believe I am a good person, and I always try to be, but my life is horrible. How is it that a disrespectful, ungrateful, religious person, has a great life, when, a caring, hard working Atheist has a terrible life full of pain? I like to call myself an Atheist, an even though this sounds Agnostic, if there IS a god, he's a jerk.
2007-05-21 02:01:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Well I don't think that they all believe in karma, but I'm pretty sure they all know that there are consequences for actions. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction (sorry my cliche is showing). Thats what laws are for.
2007-05-21 02:03:34 · answer #5 · answered by Robert M 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm an atheist and I don't believe in karma. I also don't believe that I can do anything I please. That is a childish ideal of atheism. I try to be a good and descent person. I treat people the way I would like to be treated. Not because I think I am going to have to answer to some fairy tale god someday but because it is the right thing to do.
2007-05-21 02:01:58 · answer #6 · answered by dawnsdad 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Christians don't believe in karma either--it is a religious tenet of Eastern religions that is heretical to Christianity.
I believe in conscience, and I believe in accepting responsibility for my actions and the consequences of my transgressions.
I do not need to believe in punishment (or reward) after death to follow a path of honour in life.
2007-05-21 02:03:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Atheists know full well the consequences of their actions which is why they have a respect for life
2007-05-21 02:02:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Having consequences for your actions is very different from Karma.
Consequences are human responses to your actions. Karma would be a supernatural reciprocation for your actions.
There is no Karma.
2007-05-21 02:00:26 · answer #9 · answered by drink_more_powerade 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Of course there are consequences, but atheist believes they are limited to this life (since there is no other)
There are cops and courts, there's the need for friends and family, there's reputation, there's that little "doing the right thing" feeling.
2007-05-21 01:59:29 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋