Do athiests believe in Karma?

Question

I'm not an athiest and I don't get down on anybodys opinion - I'm just curious. Where do athiests get their morals from? My morals are developed from bible standards and my fear is God - not a morbid fear, but fear of dissapointing my heavenly father. But do athiests think that something bad will happen to them if they do bad things like any type of punishment or do some have different beliefs like Karma? Any answer is welcome and I will not judge.

I don't personally want to commit crimes but just fear God or going to hell. Going to hell is not part of my belief because I am a JW. I have good morals and I don't want to do anything bad. Like I said I won't judge you, but please don't judge me. I am just curious about your beliefs

Answer 1

A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death."

-Albert Einstein

I believe in karma in a completely natural way. Karma is the consequences of your actions on yourself and others. I agree with this quote. It disturbs me a bit that some people need a threat to be good people. This seems to come fairly naturally to me, probably as a result of how my parents raised me. I think morality is a social contract that is implied between people. I treat others well because I live in society with them and want the same treatment. That said morality is different things to different people on finer points. You may say homosexuals are sinful or some other point. I see it as they way people are, nothing inherently sinful. Where disagreement occurs without harm to society or other's right to live differently I think we should agree to disagree and not impose our beliefs on others. For example, I may not think eating meat in ethical but I am sure not out to force others to adopt my thinking by imposing it.

Answer 2

There are laws within each society that make up the mores and morals that people within that society adhere to inorder to remain a part of that society and receive the benefits of living within a community. Most people no matter what they believe in will follow the rules, laws and moral guidelines set up by society so that they are not ostracized, ridiculed or punished for bad behavior.

Also within almost every person there is an inherent instinct to empathize and care for others once the person has been able to understand that there are other people within the universe who also hurt, feel pain, happiness and other feelings. These instincts go beyond a belief in God.

Answer 3

As a Buddhist, I am an atheist in that I do not believe in God, but I am a strong believer in Karma. Atheists know the difference between right and wrong and do not need to believe in a deity to do the right thing.
BTW- where do atheists get their morals from is a drinking question, so cheers!

Answer 4

Karma is a law of retibution in Chritianity. Whatever evil deed you make, will come back upon you 3 fold. Same goes for a good one. However karma is more then that, karma also referes to your very genetic structure and function, since what we have in our genes carries memory of all our past ancestors. In this way, you can see from where a believe in the past lives has originated. Also, karma refers to "destiny" or "fate". This is meant to happen. Why? Nobody knows. So, yes i do belive in karma in some of its aspects, not all of it though. The one that i don't belive, is that everything is predestened, so those in power can do whatver they want because God gave them that right. See, i don't believe that. I think the Law spreads equally to all strata. Hope you get what im trying to say here. thanks.

Answer 5

Easy; morality is based upon cultural conventions of behavior in addition to ones personal experience, and the ability to empathize with your fellow human beings. Those who do not simply fear divine wrath decide not to act immorally either due to the fear of social/legal ramifications (nobody likes a murderer), due to the potential for physical harm (nobody likes to be murdered), and, perhaps due to your understanding of how it would harm that person (I wouldn't like to be murdered!).
Karma is simply a spiritual definition for a more general psychological phenomenon. As Abraham Lincoln once said: "When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That's my religion"

Answer 6

the buddhists do

I don't but I don't believe in anything supernatural

I don't do anything wrong because A) I don't want to hurt anyone else (partly due to empathy and the fear of it being done to me), B) I fear disappointing my parents/peers C) I fear punishment from the police (Mainly A)

No god required. When you use the fear argument you make it sound like you want to commit crimes but fear hell too much (which is obviously untrue since US jails are packed full of xians).

Answer 7

All we have in common is lack of belief in deities. After that, it's all individual. We're not a cohesive group with rituals or anything...

Morals are generally considered to be social constructs. If they were given from God, they'd be the same everywhere, wouldn't they? And I find it scary that anyone needs a book to tell them right from wrong, when their parents should have taught them that years ago.

Answer 8

My morals come from my family upbringing (non-religious), and my own sense of right and wrong. This does not make it illegitimate. When we are raised by our parents we are instilled with a set of morals through social interaction, whether it be from a religious upbringing or not. I believe that morals existed before any religion. It feels wrong to kill someone, cheat someone, hurt someone. I don't worry that any deity is going to punish me for my faults, I worry about the reaction it's going to cause.

Answer 9

When we talk of karma let us generalize the topic we are not thinking of bible or any other religious books, naturally you just think if i talk to you nicely if i help you in bad times you may have some kind of regard or a good feeling right just like that if you have the tendency to help each other or any other good thing to others you would get good or if hate all if you quarrel will you be happy let other do good or bad in your own mind and heart you may not get happiness or peace. karma is nothing but our ways of living . if you do good you get good things if not you may suffer..

Answer 10

I don't believe in karma at all. I think if you have bad morals you tend to have bad consequences, but not because of anything other than your choices. If you steal, you are likely to get caught and have to deal with the consequences. If you treat people badly, they are more likely to get back at you. It's not karma, just the consequences of your actions.