Atheists have no morals...?

Question

Seems to be the topic of the day.

What, 4th of July and no drinking yet?

This Canadian wished a Happy Independence Day to all Americans! Hang on to that great 1st Amendment of yours.

Answer 1

It's Canadian atheists that have no morals.

American atheist have real morals!

Kidding...

Answer 2

Atheism just means not believing in God. Some of the most famous atheists have developed or added to a moral system that seems flawless to me, like Ayn Rand on enlightened self interest, Data on Ethics, not by an atheist. The problem is that more and more people calling themselves Atheist are thinking that they don't need a plan no matter that Ethics is wholey logical, rational, scientific, reasonable and compelling. They don't look into that, feeling Atheism means a license to do anything, not being informed or caring to be informed, no thinking involved. Atheism used to be rational, now it's unclear and is used as a tool to take no responsibility by those having no understanding of how society does and doesn't work. It's always the same. People have sorely misused science, religion, spirtuality, the system, technology and anything they can, sadly. I guess we can blame that on a failure to evolve. I would think that evolution is to a higher, better standard not a lesser. What if science said we just don't know anything make something up you like. I think they called that the Dark Ages. Having more and more knowledge helps us be more and more accurate about what is right and works. Ethics is a science.

Answer 3

"The answer to this question is a definite "Yes." ...They are subject to the same laws of our country (and other countries) and they have a sense of right and wrong. They often work with people who are religious and have ethical standards, as well as non-believers who are don't. So they are exposed to all sorts of moral behavior. In addition, they often form their own moral standards based on what suits them. Besides, robbery, lying, stealing, etc., can get you imprisoned, so it is practical and logical for an atheist to be ethical and work within the norms of social behavior. However you want to look at it, atheists, generally, are honest, hardworking people.

Nevertheless, some Christians raise the question, "What is to prevent atheists from murdering and stealing? After all, they have no fear of God and no absolute moral code." The answer is simple: Atheists are capable of governing their own moral behavior and getting along in society the same way as anyone else.

At the risk of labeling the atheist as self-centered, it does not serve the best interests of an atheist to murder and steal since it would not take long before he was imprisoned and/or killed for his actions. Basically, society will only put up with so much if it is to function smoothly. So, if an atheist wants to get along and have a nice life, murdering and stealing won't accomplish it. It makes sense for him to be honest, work hard, pay his bills, and get along with others. Basically, he has to adopt a set of ethics common to society in order to do that. Belief in God is not a requirement for ethical behavior or an enjoyable life."

Answer 4

In the true sense of the word....they don't. The first conclusion that springs from an atheistic approach to life is that human existence, laws and institutions are meaningless. This view is nihilism—a conviction that, since God does not exist, the universe and anything in it has no goal or purpose. We are merely the product of matter, time and chance. There is no life beyond our temporary existence. We are the sole masters of our earthly life, and what we make of ourselves in its short duration is within our own power.

This view denies that values exist. It denies the existence of any objective basis for the establishment of ethics, morals or truth. It claims you are free to adopt any set of likes or dislikes rather than adhere to a system of moral absolutes.

Your standards and choices are determined by what seems best for you, by what gives you personal satisfaction or pleasure. It provides no rational justification for living a moral life. It may be to your advantage to conform to the moral values of society if that it is in your best interests, but you have no obligation to be a moral person if doing so would go against your personal interests. In this sense an atheist may have morals and be a moral person, but we should understand that an atheist or existentialist appeals to no authority for those morals.

This nihilistic view led to the pronouncement in the 1960s that "God is dead." That slogan implied that God and His laws are irrelevant and should not be used to influence man to a higher moral standard. It implied you can do whatever you please.

That philosophy led to a generation that did whatever it pleased. It ushered in a time of rebellion against long-held values. Drug use, violence and promiscuity skyrocketed upward. Moral standards and the number of stable marriages and families plummeted.

Although we rarely see such open displays of rebellion and anarchy in our streets and universities as we saw then, the damage has been done. Whole societies were—and remain—permanently corrupted by this rejection of Bible-based standards and values. It has exacted a terrible toll. Ideas have consequences. People who promulgated this philosophy didn't realize the extent of those consequences.

Answer 5

Actually, personal moral standards and one's personal views on Deity have very little to do with each other. It is quite possible to disdain religion yet have a very high personal moral and ethical standard, and to believe in God and yet have absolutely NO respect for the rights and freedoms of other people. Think of a Catholic priest who prays regularly yet meanwhile molests the children of his congregation, or a born-again who talks constantly about Jesus and brotherhood and love and forgiveness, yet routinely spews hate and vileness towards people who do not choose to share his beliefs. And there are plenty of people who disdain to participate in such hypocrisy as they perceive religion to be, yet routinely extend courtesy and respect to the people around them, and who are good helpful people with a strong ethical standard of personal conduct.

Answer 6

Unfortunately, bills are about to be passed in our Senate that have already passed in the House, that will take our freedom of speech away along with our freedom of religion; today is not a day for celebrating; it is a day to stand sadly at the funeral of our great Country as its freedoms die; and
its not only the faithful who's children will suffer in the years to come because of this, either, because Athiests will have children just like Christians will; the only ones who will have no children to be concerned with are those gays who are to blame for the loss of these freedoms.
Independence Day used to mean something. Today, it just means have a beer and a hot dog. How sad.

Answer 7

I have plenty of morals... it's always been my contention that those who accuse others of things are guilty of those things themselves.

Happy 4th to all Americans, even those who deny others' rights.

Answer 8

I don't agree. Atheism doesn't make you immoral. It is Christ who saves us-- not our good works.

Wikipedia's definition of humanism (which entails morals and ethics) is the following:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanism
Humanism clearly rejects deference to supernatural beliefs in resolving human affairs but not necessarily the beliefs themselves; indeed some strains of humanism are compatible with some religions. It is generally compatible with atheism and agnosticism but doesn't require either of these. Agnosticism or atheism on their own do not necessarily entail humanism; many different and sometimes incompatible philosophies happen to be atheistic in nature. There is no one ideology or set of behaviors to which all atheists adhere, and not all are humanistic.

Answer 9

How can atheists have morals if there's no such thing as an atheist?

Somewhere a fundie's mind just blew up.

I did enough drinking last night. I'm waiting for my friends to wake from their hungover stupors so we can go out to breakfast.

Answer 10

Now,now, I have faith in you not to make sweeping generalizations, as some people do (both Christians, Muslims, Jews, and atheists.)
Some atheists have high morals and are very cool.
I respect and admire them.

Answer 11

Shoot! I need to get to the store and pick up a case of beer! Its going to be a long day.