Are atheists and agnostics really devoid of moral values?

Question

Atheists & agnostics don't believe in God, therefore God can't bless them with moral values. What do you think?

Edit: Out of 34 answers to this question, only one person has bothered to look at my nickname. I also added the word 'really' to the question in an attempt to point out my doubts of the idea. Nobody seems to have noticed that either.

Oh well. Congratulations, out of the grey. You win. hehe.

Answer 1

Of course they are not. Only a narrow minded person will say that.

All people have been created in god's image and because of that , all people are capable of creating goodness like he did.

"Moral values" could mean different things to different people, but I am going on the general assumption that "Moral values" reflect God"s goodness.



EDIT: I notice some people are responding like they think you are a Christian. LOL. I guess they don't check profiles.

Answer 2

Atheists do not believe in a God. Agnostics do not know if there is or isn't a God. Since morals are usually associated with social standing, neither of these have anything to do with Morals.
The morals of any given people are determined by the society which they come from. There are tribes in Africa that believe that is is their moral obligation to eat their dead loved ones, or any enemies they kill in battle. This goes against most Christian beliefs, so Society has much to say on what is right and what is wrong.
Even among the Christians moral decisians are confusing. Some believe women must wear long skirts and not cut their hair, while others believe that women and men can cut their hair, and wear pants. Once again it is the culture and the society that determins the moral values.

Jer

Answer 3

I am a devout atheist and I live by the principal of not doing unto others what I would not wish done unto myself.

I believe people should be free to do as they wish, within a framework of law, so long as it does not harm anyone else. I don't, for example, disapprove of homosexual relations just because some book says I should.

To me not judging other people is a moral value, as is living my own life with regard to other people's well being. So yes, I have morals. They may be different from the morals dictated by religion but that does not make them any less valid. The church does not have a monopoly on morals.

Answer 4

Please not again. (Try using the 'search:' field for this same question that has been answered hundreds of times)

1. The principle of universal human morality is empathy; what differs are our approaches to that principle, and how we interpret our feelings of empathy in order to make a coherent system.

In short, as an agnostic, my natural inclination is 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you'.

This means I will NOT be burning religious people at the stake or stoning my daughter for loving a non-agnostic .

2. The principle of Abrahamic religious morality is a supernatural reward or punishment scheme that favours men in a tribal setting. I claim that many religious acts are immoral. Demonization of other faiths, killing and subjugation of women, etc. Read the Bible or Quran for true horror stories about 'Creator Daddy's' vengeance, jealousy, rage, genocide, threats etc.

Meanwhile, religionists claim the 'moral high ground'.

Depressing.

Answer 5

This is the oldest,most over repeated,inane question on earth. Does believing in God somehow automatically give you better morals,no it's obvious it doesn't. Therefore to argue that not believing in a bunch of bronze age myths somehow makes you less moral is equally ignorant.

AD

Answer 6

You don't really believe that, do you? People who claim religious faith do wrong every day. The prisons are FULL of christians! ;-) Also, there's a whole bunch of altar boys who would take issue with that too after THEIR experience with men of the cloth! Moral values come from within, not without. If you don't give god blame for the bad stuff you can't give credit for just the good stuff.

Answer 7

Again and again the same old rubbish. Can't be bothered answering again fully.

Why don't you follow the good book and stone those of us who work on the Sabbath too! Such good moral values.

Empathy and Compassion will always win over archaic stupid rules.

PS Do you know atheists make up lower percentage (yes after taking into account how many there are in total) of prison populations that christians??????????????

Answer 8

The Bible says that God has written basic moral laws on every man's heart, so atheists and agnostics know the difference between right and wrong the same as everyone else, but they possibly have less incentive to choose good because if life was just a random accident and has no meaning or purpose why bother? What difference would it make?

Answer 9

I think that makes no sense at all. I know many agnostics and atheists who have fine values. On here albeit, some are a bit rude, but I dont believe they are morally bankrupt because of it.

Answer 10

there is a higher form of morals known to those of integrity as eithics and virtue which don't go on witch hunts ,don't vilify the good folks and prefer peace to war over religious convictions . If your god hasn't the Honor to keep from torturing his enemies ,killing babies and innocent women and children , and lying to people out of jealousy about his truly false nature then I'm better off dismissing this antiquated concept and striving for a peaceful and happy life based on good reason instead.