Can morality exist without God?

Question

Simply stated: does morality exist only in the judgement of God, or is there an intrinsic sense of morality within all humans?

Answer 1

you don't have to believe in God to conduct yourself in a moral way.
You just have to care about how your actions affect others.

Lots of people who believe in god don't care about morality because they think that just by believing in god they are absolved of all wrong doings.

Answer 2

I certainly think there is an intrinsic sense of morality within humans. In almost all cases, it is really quite obvious what is "good." I think the best judgement of that is treating others how you would like to be treated. That does not rely on god for good decisions, but on humanity.

Answer 3

Of course moral judgments exist independent of God. This is what makes the claim "God is good" a meaningful one. If morality means only what God dictates, then "God is good" means only, God does what God does. It would also mean that the common assumption that earthly suffering must have a purpose is obviously wrong. By claiming that suffering or hardship have reasons behind them, we are claiming that suffering and hardship are bad things. But this introduces a standard of good and bad independent of God. The person who believes that suffering must have a purpose automatically believes in a moral system independent of God. If they really believed that morality is just what God says it is, then it would mean that suffering requires no explanantion at all. If God were to cause innocents to suffer their entire lives, then spend eternity in hell, it would be good, because God decides what is good. If you think there must be a purpose to suffering, you believe there morality exists separate from the judgment of God.

Answer 4

I have contemplated this many times too and I'm glad someone shares the thought. It is in fact true that crime level would be lower to to the idea of he'll and ultimate doom. Humans naturally have a feelings for what they do. Some more than others, but I believe religion is one of the most important things in a good government. No wonder our government is failing. People don't go to church and therefore sin like being lazy, having sex way to many times overpopulating the nation, and welfare. The list goes on and on. So, it's kinda iffy and more of varying values and survival instincts; however, you can see the numbers in sinning are rising and people who can work still want government tax money. HAVING RELIGON BRINGS COMMUNITIES UNDER ONE MORALE GOD THAT MAKES OTHERS BE SHUNNED BY THEIR FELLOW COUNTRYMEN IF THEY SIN MAKING IT UNDESIREABLE TO SIN.

Answer 5

I think that everybody has an intrinsic feeling of "I wouldn't want this done to me." But it frequently gets overriden with "But it's -not- being done to me, it's being done to -them- and, as a result, I'm getting what I want."
You don't need a 'God' to dispense morality. All you need is a bit of empathy towards others.
The problem is that if everyone is going to operate on the (more or less) same moral standards, then there has to be some sort of 'yardstick' as well as a way of clubbing people back into line if they don't measure up. And the best way to keep people in line is to capitalise on the fears tht they already have...... Like death. And the fear of a terrible punishment for all eternity in some 'afterlife' if you don't live a moral life here.
It's mostly (IMNSFHO) a bunch of bulls.h.i.t. but it seems to work OK for the majority of people.

Doug

Answer 6

I don't believe in God, but I still have morals.. Pretty good morals too, according to my parents and some other responsible adults that anyone should look up to.

Answer 7

sure, but then morality would be different for everyone, and nobody would have the authority to claim superior morality.
But since GOD created us, he is the authority, and his outline of morality is superior.
Thankfully, GOD's superior morality makes sense and is beneficial to man.
oh and incidently, Yohan V, Nancy Pelosi is no friend of GOD.

Answer 8

As they say, without God we would not exist. However, in the hypothetical case stated, yes, morality would exist without God, as it is a part of the two-part human existance; the dichotomy of good vs. evil.
That is the thing: while man can do great evil, he is also capable of great good; of immorality, of morality. It is a part of his nature.

Answer 9

WASHINGTON - President Bush insisted to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Friday that he's going ahead with his promised veto of a major expansion of a children's health program despite its overwhelming approval by Congress.


Pelosi, D-Calif., said she told Bush in a morning phone call that she was praying he would change his mind. "I think I have to pray a little harder," she told reporters moments later, at a Capitol ceremony where Democrats celebrated passage of the proposed $35 billion increase in the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

Answer 10

People are moral because it serves their rational self interests, and often times the believers in God act more morally because it better serves their rational self interests (Heaven). But it isn't in one's rational self interests to go around murdering, raping, lieing, stealing, etc.