Atheists: Have you found that integrity has its own rewards?

Question

What would those rewards be?

Answer 1

If I lead a good, upstanding life, I don't have to worry about lying, covering up, or any of that crap. I can keep things low stress, and even fun, by being good. =0)

Answer 2

Yes, it does. Morality, in general, has its own rewards. As a matter of fact, they've now discovered that our tendency towards compassion to others is deeply rooted in the more primitive parts of our brains. So, it must have been an evolutionary advantage from early on.

Morality, the determination of what is right and wrong, allows people to live closely to other people. A hermit doesn't have to consider morality, unless he works one out with the animals around him. Any group of people living near each other will develop "house rules" for how to interact and where the boundaries are.

For this to work, each person must announce, in some fashion, his willingness to adhere to the group rules, or he will be ostracized to various extents. A person's integrety or character is how that person carries himself in other people's sight. A person should be careful to put himself forward in a way that establishes how he wishes to be regarded in society. That means establishing an integrity that other people can rely on when dealing with that person.

Doing such helps the person find a place in society and allows others the freedom to do so also. So, that's its reward.

Answer 3

In my line of work, integrity is essential. I am trusted with people's lives, and a lot of personal information.

My reward? I get to look at myself in the mirror and feel OK with the person I see there. I also know I have the respect of my professional peers, and I am held in high regard by my leadership. What else can anyone ask for?

Theophilus: Atheists (and please start using the "Check Spelling" button) don't believe in Satan either.

Answer 4

People trust me, and I can trust other people more because they don't have any revenge motive for betraying me.

Remember the movie A Beautiful Mind? In that movie, John Nash used the analogy of picking up girls in a bar. Everyone wanted to go for the hot blonde, but if they all opposed each other, chances are no one would her, so instead they agreed to cooperate and go for her less attractive friends.


In another example, the iterated Prisoner's Dilemma, the best strategy for winning is "Tit-for-Tat," meaning you cooperate when the other guy cooperates and you betray when the other guy betrays. This maximized long-term returns.

Answer 5

With regards to religion specifically, I would say that the best reward is the complete confidence I have in my knowledge and understanding of the world/universe/spirituality, etc. And this confidence shows any time I discuss religion with its supposed practicioners. I am so confident, in fact, that I wouldn't blink an eye to debate religion with someone like Billy Graham, for example. I know I would beat him. (And for the record, I like Billy Graham. I'm just saying I would not be afraid to debate one the most respected religious leaders in America, because even he wouldn't last 5 minutes against someone that simply knows the truth about Christianity)

That confidence comes from three things.

One, I have looked into both sides of the issue completely, and I could argue both sides if I wanted to. Therefore I already know what theists are going to say before they say it. Theists only study their side, however, and are completely dumbfounded in their arguments.

Two, I can prove anything that I say. I don't have to "believe" anything. I can prove it. And if I can't prove it, I don't say it.

Three, I'm not afraid to admit that I might be wrong about certain things, if I'm not familiar with them. I'm not afraid to admit that, because I'm not attempting to make myself look like the smartest man in the world. I'm simply trying to discover the truth, in any situation. And if that truth turned out to be that there was a god, and I was mistaken, I would be the first to admit it. And I would do so gladly.

And the reason I consider this a reward is because it is comforting to know that I'm not doing anything wrong, or allowing myself to be misguided, in the way that I live my life. I make informed decisions regarding my life, my morality, my spirituality, etc. I don't rely on what someone else tells me to believe. And I don't believe anything that I'm not sure of.

Therefore, if there was a damnation and hellfire god who's going to punish nonbelievers and such, I am confident that that god would not punish me, because I have been honest in my search for that god from day one. If that god has remained hidden from me for his own reasons, then there is nothing I can do about that.

But no man or god will ever be able to say that I have not lived my life honestly, and in the most honorable fashion that I can comprehend.

Answer 6

i have my own beliefs but dont think im a atheist..

one of my biggest problems with the church and society is how they JUDGE others..

JUDGE YOUR BLOODY SELVES..

..honestly..

and try to be kind to all living beings..

integrity is as beauty to the beholder..

i hate some things that others do ..

others may despise mine...

life hey..

breath...sift through the **** aftermath of thinking..

moderation in thinking, follow your inner "integrity" "inner voice" "whatever u wish to call the hand on your shoulder.."

yes, to follow what one believe is right, integrity, well .. makes me fuzzy on the inside..(and the outside:-)

Answer 7

Having others place their trust in me has been the ultimate reward.

Answer 8

Yes, integrity means to me: being whole and in one piece. I am in one piece, and it is very rewarding.

Once I was in two peices, when the tip half inch of my left little finger was pinched off in a freak industrial axccident. It was not reqarding.
The little piece is gone, and for all intents and purposes I am in one piece.

Answer 9

Peace of mind, I live an honest life and I tell it like I see it...people who don't like that vanish from my life and I'm left with mainly the sound goodies...almost perfect (I say almost only because nothing is perfect )

Answer 10

I never have to worry about being as brainwashed as someone like Theophilus up there...
And when I make a mistake, it's MY mistake, not some imaginary "demon" or anything else that stupid.
Yeah, it's a good feeling.