Atheists: Do you generally consider yourselves to be good people?

Question

I ask this because certain belief systems (Christianity in particular) require repentance and absolute humility before higher power(s). The adherents are supposed to realize that they will ALWAYS fail at perfect goodness (in this life) no matter how hard they try and how hard they try to learn to be good.

How do you think you stand in terms of your own personal idea of "goodness"? Are you still learning? Have you met the standard?

Printninja,

Except sanity. Seek professional help immediately before you hurt yourself or others. The question did not ask what you thought was wrong with Christians. Good luck fella.

Paul S,

So what? If the Bible says to do one thing and the so-called Christian refuses to do it, you what that means? The ten commandments and the Gospel are the standards for Christians. Some simply fail to meet the standards and others are flat-out frauds.

Rusty Knight,

Which believer of what? A Christian, for example, does NOT fear hell, just sin. They believe that Jesus Christ died for ALL sins.

It seems like almost all of you lack even a basic understanding of religion. This is not good. Judgement without knowledge is not good at all.

Smirk,

Yes, that's right. There is at least one person in the world who you have hurt and you are likely not even aware of that. To that one person, you are a source of woe. You may think you never hurt that person but do we really remember ever moment of our lives?

For the record, I DO NOT think I am a good person at all but my life is anything but miserable.

Matt J,

So...you're supposed to do what ANY established order tells you to do? Even if they are murderous, vile, hypocrites? I can't say I follow your logic then.

Gem,

Except for the few commandments you did break.

Maybe you dishonored a family member once? Maybe that affected thier whole life and you don't know it? There has to be something.

showstoppa,

God does not "scare" people into being good. What we call a fear of the lord is actually a liberating and joyous experience. I'm talking about an endless and unceaseing joy. All good days and no bad days. Plenty of stress but no misery. Sure you don't want it?

ɹɐǝɟsuɐs,

Pablo Escabar loved his family more than anything in the world.

Blue,

How is that logical? How can I thank or blame myself if I did not even choose the time or manner of my own birth? I did not choose my genetic predisposition to temperance, reasoning, and simple bodily functions. I also did not choose my own environment. Every choice I make is a result of both.

Note: I know you're thinking about why God sends people to hell then. Hell is simply a place where you are away from God and alone with yourself (including your sins). If you are truly yourself, then hell is a breeze.

Answer 1

Everyone does.

On the other hand, I think if you own a TV and someone else can't eat you are not a good person. And that would also be me.

Answer 2

My own idea of "goodness" is to cause as little harm (physical and emotional) to the creatures of the world (including animals), and to make life a little easier for those in my community. Off the top of my head, no, I don't think I meet this standard; it's a pretty high bar. But at the end of the day, I only have myself to thank or blame for the things I did or did not do. It's personal accountability, and you can't just wash it off by asking someone ELSE to forgive you.

Answer 3

I think that compared with the rest of humanity, I meet the standards of a good person. I try to tell the truth, I pay taxes, love my family, look after my responsibilities and even volunteer time for charity when I can.

Over all I am an OK guy, but can always strive to be better. After all mistakes are just a part of life.

Answer 4

"I ask this because certain belief systems (Christianity in particular) require repentance and absolute humility before higher power(s)"

No they don't. They like to say that they do, but they do no such thing.

Christianity is extremely sloppy with respect to morality, and it is most certainly not about humility - quite the opposite, of course. There is no absolute moral standard in Christianity, and in practice, no requirement that one repent for one's sins. If you make a show of not drinking and not having sex, for example, you're openly allowed to lie about non-Christians all you want.

I think that in terms of actual behavior, I'm probably roughly as moral as the average believer, though of course quite a bit more moral that the right-wing Christian, and than the typical "moral conservative".
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"So what? If the Bible says to do one thing and the so-called Christian refuses to do it, you what that means? The ten commandments and the Gospel are the standards for Christians. Some simply fail to meet the standards and others are flat-out frauds."

Uh-huh. You haven't noticed that the Bible doesn't say to do one thing - it says one thing in one place, and another thing in another place, and everyone (yes, everyone) says that you're supposed to take some of it literally but other parts somehow don't count, and oh, trust me, I'm the one who can tell you which is which.

There's no moral standard in Christianity. The 10 Commandments and the Gospel don't even come close. I'm not saying that because many Christians do bad things, there's no standard: I'm pointing out that there's no standard. None whatsoever.

Answer 5

Your selective quoting of the dictionary neglected the opposite, extra usually used definition of atheism: one that does no longer suppose in any deity. I don't have any "notion" of any sort, no longer that there's a god, no longer that there is no such thing as a god. Belief is nugatory. Now, discover the very first thing within the definition of agnostic: "a individual who holds the view that..." Officially, agnosticism makes a declare: that any god is unknowable. That the query of a god's lifestyles *can't* be responded. I discover that declare ridiculous. First, for the reason that it is unimaginable to grasp what we will be able to or is probably not equipped to grasp or turn out someday; moment, for the reason that with regards to the query of lifestyles for such a lot human-claimed gods, the query has already been responded (that they do not exist). Take Zeus: a human-claimed god, who had thousands to billions of fans, and whose worship sects held sway over a really significant aspect of the sector for a minimum of one million,500 years. Is there particularly any query of the lifestyles of Zeus, a supernatural god-guy who is the top god of a institution of gods residing on most sensible of Mt. Olympus? Of direction no longer -- that question has been responded, Zeus does no longer exist. And consequently the agnostic's premise is already fake -- questions approximately the lifestyles of gods CAN be responded. Since I do not take provably-mistaken positions or maintain provably-mistaken "perspectives," I can't be an agnostic. I do don't have any notion in deities, so I am an atheist. Peace.

Answer 6

I work hard to feed my family

I give to those less fortunate than myself.

I stop to help strangers if it looks like they need it.

I pay my taxes (and pay, and pay)

I do not steal

I have not murdered (though some people have really, really deserved it)

I pledged fidelity to my husband and I give it.

I love my children unconditionally and accept them for who they are, faults and all.

And when I screw up, as we all do, I am sorry and try to rectify the situation.

So, I think I am doing pretty well in terms of "goodness", but I learn something new everyday. That is how you know you are still alive.

Answer 7

We accomplish almost EXACTLY what Christians have had to invent a convoluted, guilt ridden mythology to do.

Be nice. Behave. Own up to it. Treat people in kind, etc.

You don't need gods, heaven or hell to be a decent human being.

EDIT:
Funny, I saw nothing "insane" about my answer. Nor did the 8 people who gave me thumbs up. YOU invited the comparison to Christianity in YOUR question. I simply gave you a broad, as opposed to specific, answer.

So to directly answer you, YES, I consider myself a good, atheistic person. I try to improve as a human being in all areas, but I've yet to see, or imagine, a perfect model of human being to strive towards. Being "good" is relative to the situation at hand, so I try to be a "good" decision maker. If someone tries to attack me, I'll disable that attacker, perhaps violently, which isn't necessarily a "good" action, but it's serving the greater good (keeping me alive.) Some people might not see it like this. There is, in my experience, no absolute good (or bad) to hold as a standard.

I can't speak for what other atheists feel.

Answer 8

if humility before higher powers is a prerequisite to being "good", then christians should re-examine jesus as their icon since he (in the fable) stood up against the established order.

but to answer your question, yes, I think I'm a decent sorta dude.

Answer 9

I consider myself a Man in the process of becoming a Human Being.

Answer 10

Yes, I am a good person.
Yes, I meet the levels I've set for myself.
Yes, I am still learning.

Honor, Duty, Loyalty, Courage
Who has the greater burden? The believer who has the fear of hell, or the Athiest, who knows that they only get this one life to do it right?