Atheist and morals?

Question

I knew a few people who didnt believe in God, but lived their life correctly, not harming others, being understanding, helping the ones in need - and yet, if you asked them, they'd say it is no real use, you won't get to Heaven (since they didnt blieve there is one) and also, there is no punishment if you do harm other people. I've been wondering, what makes non believers follow social and moral rules? Usually it is the church that gives us the fear that, if we harm others, we will pay. I wonder what is the motivation for being good to others and altruist for someone who dosent believe in God. If you are one of those people, please tell me your point of view

Cut the christianity thing, it is not the only religion on earth and it is not the only religion i refere to when i say "believer".

MyGoddess: it is a question like you can see, not a statement. I know there are moral people who dont believe in God, and I'm trying to see their point of view, not to say they are not real.

Moirases fate: it has been told to me by an atheist in fact, sorry to dissapoint you :) I have a few atheist friends, just like i have friends of all kind of religions - and i really want to add up for everyone, when i say "religion" i do not say "christianity"!

Answer 1

I am nice to others because it is the right thing to do-- especially if I don't want others to treat me like crap for being a total git! I don't have the personality that makes me want to harm others. Why would I? What would I gain from it? How would it benefit society? Humans, like dogs, horses, cows, dolphins, and chimpanzees, are social animals, and just like other animals, we need rules of behavior so that everyone can get along for the benefit of all. No god is necessary for this. If the only reason you are good is because some imaginary god promises to reward you for it, or threatens to torture you for all eternity if you aren't, then you are a sorry lot, indeed.

Besides, when were the God-believers ever more moral than the nonbelievers? You ever see atheists blaming 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina on gays and other "sinners?" You ever hear of atheists burning Christians at the stake or going on Crusades? You ever see them flying airplanes into buildings or strapping bombs to their own bodies to destroy a church or temple? The Old Testament God-believers, the Israelites, destroyed other nations, killing every man, woman, and child except for the virgin girls, whom they kidnapped as sex slaves. Ever hear of atheists doing that? Not that there have never been bad unbelievers, but their crimes pale in comparison to the atrocities racked up by the world's God-worshipers, so don't anybody tell me that belief in God makes one more moral. History and current events prove that idea completely wrong.

Answer 2

"they'd say it is no real use, you won't get to Heaven (since they didnt blieve there is one) and also, there is no punishment if you do harm other people. I've been wondering, what makes non believers follow social and moral rules?"

Morality - a basic sense of right and wrong.

This tends to be difficult for believers* to grasp because Christianity, at least, tends to focus morals on the notion that right and wrong are a matter of God's authority, combined with the rewards and punishments of heaven and hell. But that's only a low level of morality - there are several higher stages of moral reasoning (see source).

Atheists tend to believe that morals are not simply a matter of authority, rewards and punishments, and the risk of getting caught. For an atheist, an immoral act is still immoral even if you don't ever get caught.

* I certainly don't mean ALL believers, or even all Christians, and I'm glad to see that a couple of Christians here recognized the role of real morality as well.

Answer 3

I don't see why it is SO difficult for a Christian to understand one basic concept. If you don't want someone doing something to you, maybe you shouldn't do that something to anyone else.

I am not a Christian because of Christians. I was born, raised, and even ordained in the Christian faith. It got to the point where I couldn't let one behind me because every time I did I got stabbed in the back. I consider that fish to be a warning label. If you don't want me to help you or hire you the sure way to accomplish that is put one of those fish on your car.

At this point in my life I just want to be left alone. My wife is a Jesus Freak and I have never seen anyone less forthright than she is. She thinks not telling the truth is not a lie. I consider a lie by omission to be a lie but she doesn't. It is the only thing I don't like about her.

I would much rather trust my life to an Atheist than a Christian. While a Christian is praying the Atheist is doing. While she is praying I am working my A$$ off fixing something. When I am done she is still praying but now she is thanking god for fixing her car. You are free to worship your fairy tale, all I ask is you leave me alone, and above all don't pray for me.

Answer 4

Only people who go to church get their morals from Church. This question is asked many times a day. Good morals were in existence thousands of years before Christianity. As a matter of fact, Jesus took his Golden Rule from the Ethic of Reciprocity which existed 500 years before he existed. Society makes moral rules. Many societies had great moral rules and laws well before Christianity. Not all countries are Christian. How do you think they became moral. Or maybe you don't. I love my fellow man. Why would I not want to do good things for them? There are also laws against the things you are talking about...and bad things can happen to you in the legal system if you break the laws. You don't need a God, a church or a religion to be good.

atheist

Answer 5

An atheist does not need a spiritual leader to know the difference between right and wrong. Those who require the fear of suffering to make them 'behave' are really the weakest-spirited people, because they require the threat of punishment.

The good man does good because it is good. He needs no reward but the knowledge that he does good, for it's own sake.

The other kind of person is far too selfish to think of things like goodness or consideration of others without the fear of eternal torment. His labor is empty because, even while he helps others, there is no altruism, and he is still serving his own selfish fears, therefore, his spirit cannot, will not, ever ever ever grow, because all his deeds still stem from a deep abiding selfishness, and fear of pain, which is, after all, the lowest level of animal motivation.

Answer 6

Agnostic.

I was taught to have a long-term view of my behavior. I was taught to look past my immediate vicinity and the moment when I guage my behavior. I had excellent role models growing up who showed me how cooperation and being open to learning brings better results over the long-term. I learned that there is no true altruism - doing something in order not to go to hell is still doing something for oneself.

I don't believe in an afterlife, but I leave room to be wrong. If I'm not, however, I'm even more motivated to make my time here as productive and helpful as I can. If this is all we've got, we have only each other to make the world a better place. I feel a greater sense of responsibility to do my part than I would if I left it up to a higher being.

Answer 7

It's only because we consider it to be of 'no real use' that our actions are based on morality. Someone who acts a certain way to gain reward or avoid punishment is obedient, not moral. A bit like someone who only chooses not to steal a car because there's a cop standing next to it.

As for why I act morally, that's a bit tricky. When I help a friend or someone I know then I guess it's advantageous to me as it's likely to encourage this person to help me in the future. But that doesn't explain why I'd help a stranger, or why I don't litter, or why I don't steal even if I'm sure I could get away with it. Logically I know that it would be to my advantage not to act morally in those situations. Some of it, no doubt, stems from what my parents taught me growing up.

Answer 8

How about the genuine desire to be good to their fellow man versus a desire to get a reward or avoid a punishment...?

There's also that little place known as prison to keep some people in line...

Edit: Sorry dear, but I've experienced this Q enough times to know that anyone who mentions heaven, "the church," and atheists possibly not having morals because of their lack of "religion" is talking just like a christian... You don't have to say that you are a christian for it to come through Loud and Clear... We get it...

Answer 9

1. No Atheist is going to tell you that "its no real use, you won't get into heaven". It wouldn't even occur to them to say such a thing because Atheists don't worry about any heaven. In fact, we don't even think about it unless someone else brings it up because they can't learn to keep their religion to themselves.

2. They would also not say "there is no punishment if you do harm to other people". The reason is because there IS punishment, which is obvious to anyone with a brain that thinks beyond their religion. Its cave man level thinking to realize "Me hurt others, others hurt me".

Therefore, the first two things you posted are right out the window and its obvious you didn't speak to Atheists about this.

3. Cave man level thinking keeps people in line. "Me hurt others, others hurt me. Me be nice to others, others be nice to me".

Why is it that religious people can't realize that? Is it some brain malfunction?

Answer 10

Perhaps the fear the church gave you is in fact not the origin of your behavior, despite the claims of the church for being responsible. I suspect that the reasons for your behavior are the same as the reasons for your non-believing friends' behavior. Your church has a vested interest in getting you to believe that without it you would be as a wild beast, wanton and lawless. Your friends' example proves it this is not the case. Allow me to suggest to you that the purpose of religion is not to provide people with codes of social behavior, but is instead about giving people an understanding of their place and role in the operation of the universe. It is an important and noble goal, but it is not a code for behavior as is generally instilled, I think, by society, largely through the example of one's parents.