If Atheists don't believe in the existence of God or in religous laws, what is their moral guide?

Question

I know a woman who went after another woman's husband because she said she was an atheist and adultery wasn't wrong because she doesn't believe in the 10 commandments. Do other atheist feel this way or was this woman just justifying her actions?

To the overly defensive person who called me a b*tch... this is a true story! I also know a woman who claimed to be a Christian who was cheating on her spouse but claimed it was "God's Will." I KNOW she was wrong by her own beliefs and definitions. Just wondering about others.

Answer 1

It was self justification.

We Atheists have much the same moral standards as those around us, because we absorb the standards of those around us, which means that some of us are very moral whereas others are not.

Me? I am very soft hearted. I don't like to hurt living things, people or animals. I am even careful with plants, but I do have to eat. :-)

I also know, 61 years have taught me, that things have a way of coming back to you. So behave yourself, treat others right, and others will treat you right. Be nasty and rude to everyone and you will be treated in the same way. Steal, murder, rape, and you will end up in jail if someone doesn't kill you first. Common, good sense.

Answer 2

Greetings! I was raised in a protestant-fundamentalist christian household, but as my life progressed I encountered enough questions, inconsistencies, bigoted and hateful ideologies that I walked away from Christianity.

Ten years ago, I discovered the concepts of Unitarian Universalism and embraced that belief system.

UU's believe strongly in the social welfare of humanity. We care for our fellow human beings, not because it is glorifying to God, but because that our fellow human beings need our help.

As for that woman, it would depend greatly upon the situation and the circumstances. Adultery is not wrong in of itself, but if it destroyed a family, then it would be ethically wrong. Again, there may be extra reasons that the adultery took place. Odds are extremely high that the marital relationship had deteriorated or there was mental or physical cruelty going on in the household. There are many reasons to commit adultery. If it were spiteful, then yes it would definitely be unethical.

The reasons for justification are between the three involved. It is a tragedy that the children have to see the destruction of their family, I'll grant you that.

Take care.

Answer 3

She was justifying her actions. She is what is known as a bad person. Just because someone says they are an atheist, doesn't mean it's true. She was just amoral. My morals come from knowing good from bad. And I also do not break the law and any person in this society knows what breaking laws will get you. If know one taught me any morals I would know...or soon learn...that it was wrong to kill and steal and lie. These things all have consequences. Really...what great morals are taught by religion that life experiences wouldn't teach you?

atheist

Answer 4

I'm a Atheist and I don't cheat or disrespect another man's wife/girlfriend.Perhaps there is something to be said for stereotyping.Also, since it was mankind that dreamed up the Ten Commandments and not some magical man in the clouds, it is mankind that created those rules and they did so because early men understood the need for societal boundaries.They just had to put those boundaries into a religious context because early mankind was very superstitious.The superstition continues but the essence of some of the rules remain true with or without religion.

Answer 5

God gets the moral highground by using fact of perfection. what's the version? In Taoism there is not any distinction by using fact there is not any point out of God or a much better way. yet maximum faith is approximately agency extremely than God. there is far much less meaning interior the commonplace public than interior the guy. i like to evangelise artwork for a healthy chuffed existence and use any ethical compass that works for you.

Answer 6

the code of hammurabi was the precident for your ten commandments and common law of pre christian england for the US justice system so where does this non sequitar of religion get involved just people who foist their religious beliefs unconstitutionally on the govt. and others . many atheist and secular humanists especially feel a bit more moral than that and confucism being one of the first systems of morality ever happens to be compatible with secualr humanism and many an atheists is well aware of such moral systems too . Morality is not exclusive to religion .
peace and happiness

Answer 7

it's basically nature and nurture

it doesn't help us to survive if we go around hurting people we're living with and our parents/authority figures/peers teach us in live what behaviour is acceptable.

when you post questions like this it makes it sound as if you *want* to act immorally and it's only your filmsy fear of god that stops you - you can always repent you know. I assume you don't but it's funny all the same

Also I don't think your story is true. I seriously doubt any atheist would use their atheism as an excuse to commit adultery

Answer 8

adultery is wrong morally , yes i agree although i am near-atheist.

it depends in which way does she meant 'wrong' does she mean morally wrong or legally wrong ? compare murder with lying to see the contrast.

anyway , if you have intention to condemn or criticise about her act , look at the number of christians who do pre marital sex , lying even when the 10 commandment is taught and shown right in their face. yet they always say they are repentant.

at least this atheist is not being a hypocripe

Answer 9

We just use common sense....I myself do not do unto others as I would not want done to myself. Don't need no god or bible for that.

and for the woman who went after the other woman's husband....well just because she doesn't believe in religious laws doesn't make what she did right.....we're not all bad, but we're not all good either....wether it's atheist, christian, jewish, muslim.....all people are capable of good and bad.

Answer 10

Without a written law, the concept of right v/s wrong is much more subjective.

The question is, can a theist come up with a reason that has no basis in religion why a certain act is wrong? Some things are wrong just because they're wrong.