Why do people question where atheists get their morals?

Question

To me morals are just common sense. I do not need a religion or a god to tell me what is right and what is wrong. I know it in my heart. So why do people keep asking where we get our morals from? Do they really think that only religion and God can teach you good/bad?

Answer 1

Thank you thank you for telling them again they don't seem to get it at all. It seems they want to hold the rights to morals. Why can't they just accept that if we aren't harming people in any way there should be no need to question our method of morals and where we get them. I do not need some man watching over me to tell me that I should be loving people. That is something I do want to do no materialistic rewards required. The best reward is brighting up their day or life and possibly gaining a friendship in return as the real reward. Not some place in the sky with some man who purposely created eternal suffering and on earth (Isaiah 45:7).

LMAO at Jesus M, you really know non believers are wrong? we need a promise from someone or something just to be good? Wow that is really sad and atheists are with the bad reputation/stereotyping for being materialistic. Christians morals should be closely questioned than of atheists. Sounds something a mother would do, like bribing their child with their favorite thing just to get them to do something ranging from cleaning the dishes to cleaning up their room.

Theists are insecure and to make up for it they have to go about nit pick anything they can find and feel good about themselves.

Answer 2

The problem is the question of "moral authority". Where does your common sense come from? For most people, it results in feelings. We feel bad when we are dishonest and good when we do a good deed. "know it in my heart" also speaks of feelings.

What moral authority does feelings have over us? Other than to gain a good feeling, why ought I behave in a certain way? No logical reason I can think of.

We alter our feelings very easily. One day we can feel sympathy for the beggar, but if we just look away a few times, we soon won't even see the beggar. We can soon either hone or dull our feelings.

As long as we ourselves hold our own standard of good/moral, we will alter that standard to fit our behavior. We have a tremendous nature for self deception. I've heard that even criminals plotting their next crime think themselves to be basically good.

Answer 3

I HATE morals!

I am a Christian, and I want to let you know that I think the whole 'moral' discussion is one of the suckiest things moving across Christian lips.

If a Christian wants to seem super-spiritual, then all they have to do as act moral. They have to really preen themselves to look good to other people, and walk around like they have a stick up their butt!

I will not be a part of the "Moral Majority" because it is foul right from the start. As if our task here on Earth is to get everyone to live the way we think they should live.

That is not what we are supposed to be doing! We are supposed to preach the Gospel, and teach people that respond that they continue as they started and trust God. These 'morality' experts are trashing the Gospel for something that is going to perish with the rest of our sinful ways!

Answer 4

I myself happen to be Pagan but my husband is Atheist. I've never questioned his beliefs or disbeliefs as the case may be. I think everyone has a right to their own opinions and if you choose to be a non-believer, that is completely up to you. I truly don't believe it takes religion to be a morally capable person. It's what you feel and how you perceive life as a whole. Next time you get that question, just calmly say: Where do you get yours? You'll be surprised how many people honestly can't answer that.

Answer 5

Ja Boi you are thinking of nihilists not atheists. Go on and break down the word atheist. If you know anything about the English language you will know that A before many words means NO or a negative thus A-theist means no Theism or No belief in God. We certainly care about things.

Answer 6

because philosophically you have not been able to come up with a consistent coherent reason for acting morally beyond 'it's common sense' or 'I just feel it's right'. You have nothing more than your own 'gut feeling' to ground it on, and that's solipsism, not a basis for community. Every philosopher from Kant on who has attempted to create an ethics based on 'pure reason' has been defeated by his successor. So the closest atheists have to a reasoned ethics or morality is 'enlightened egoism', and that has not proved very successful. 'Common sense and empathy' only works for an individual, not a society. Which is not to deny that there are lots of atheists who act morally, but that's me saying it, not you.

Answer 7

That is a good question as us Christians all should know the light of Christ is given to every one regardless of any religious beliefs. The light of Christ is what was given when Adam and Eve ate the apple, otherwise know as the knowledge between good and evil. Or in your case common sense which tells you in your heart, works just as well explaining what the light of Christ is.

Answer 8

Common sense and empathy is really all you need to be a moral person. If you don't want it done to you, don't do it!

Answer 9

Most fundies think (I'm using that word loosely) that you can only get morals from the bible and especially the ten commandments (TC).
They forget that TC says nothing against rape, slavery or child molestation BUT I'm sure none would condone ... no I'm not.
I'm sure they'd allow a husband to rape his wife; I'm sure slavery is just another form of keeping the wife barefoot and pregnant; I'm sure child molestation is allowed in private cos most of the molesters I've heard about have been 'servants of the lord'. LOLz

Answer 10

Because they think that morals can come from only one place, their holy book. I agree, morals are just common human sense.