for Atheists: how should societal moral standards be maintained?

Question

I have recently been having great doubts in my religious upbringing. I do belive that certain moral codes must be maintained to have a healthy society. How can this be maintained without religion? In other words, how do you convey your morality to your children/ posterity.

Answer 1

That's a great question. Being Agnostic myself, people often (ignorantly) ask me what don't I just kill people, rape or steal since there is no God and subsequently no punishment for doing bad things.

If somebody doesn't do something "Bad' because he's afraid of punishment, then he's not a good person at heart. People should be motivated to do good things and be a good person because of love and respect for each other. Just because someone doesn't have a religion doesn't mean they can't love one another, and see the inner good of all people. Mass media and other manipulative forces in our society (including religion) make us see each other as different, thus creating barriers between us that further divide us and make it harder to accept and enjoy one another.

If you get pass the labels you'll see all humans posses the same gift, the gift of life. The essence of humanity is what separates us from rock, squirrel or flowers. It's what should unite us, not divide us. Since we only have one stomping ground, (Earth) we need to live and love peacefully which is the only way to guarantee our continued growth and safety. An organism at war with each other is destined for extinction.

Religion is not the basis for morality, but an outlet and forum for it. You should teach your kids that all humans are special and unique, and that they should love one another without conviction or judgement. People make mistakes, which is the result of the frailty of the human mind, but that should not restrict us for treating other with respect and dignity. I think your kids will have more potential since their moral foundation will be based off logic, reasoning, and intelligence-- instead of fear of punishment like Christianity loves to instill in people. That teaches your children true love, not love because you'll go to hell.

Answer 2

you have two levels of "morality" or codes.

you have "necessary codes" which is the basic set of rules and regulations that don't dictate conduct that only affects yoruself, but prohibits conduct that is counterproductive or harmfull to society. This is where you have the basics (don't kill, don't steal, don't sit next to pee wee herman in an x rated film) and the specifics necessary for a society in general to operate (traffic regs, pay your taxes and no more boy bands).

then you have a set of moral standards that you chose to adhere to, or are basic social guidelines and idioms that are within that community. For instance one should not walk around insulting old people by calling them "old bat" every step of the way. this is where the moral codes of good neighbor, kindness, generosity, and respecting other people's values (tolerating them) come in. It is not required but socially it is preferable and just plain makes the world a better place.

think about it. the bible was written by man. this book reflected moral standards that were created long before anyone ever created the idea of a god. like it would be improper to not let the tribe "leader" eat first, etc.

religion would like to claim ownership of morality, but it simply doesn't make sense.

man existed before religion and moral codes are simply social norms about what conduct is and what is not acceptable.

Answer 3

Morality does not need religion. Society maintains its own morality by having the members of that society agree what is right and what is wrong in a societal framework. parents pass morality on to their children by telling them what is right and what is wrong. No religion is needed for any of this.

Answer 4

Moral teachings may be socially based at this point, but that does not mean morality is inherently cultural. Different cultures have disagreed for centuries about the origin of the world, life, etc. That does not mean they were all correct "for them." Science has provided evidence based answers to those questions, and we can see that many of the culturally derived answers were simply wrong. If we say something is "good" or "bad," we mean good or bad for us as conscious beings. Once that it seen, it becomes an empirical question what actually is or is not conducive to our well being. Thus, morality is empirical, we just haven't done much of the research yet. At best, cultures and religions offer moral hypotheses to be tested.

Answer 5

Moral standards can be maintained by secular laws and courts. Children can certainly be taught ethics and morals without resorting to the supernatural.

All social animals have morality, which is important in group survival

Read: Moral Minds; the Nature of Right and Wrong by Marc Hauser

Answer 6

We cant. We have no objective morals. There is no objective standard in which we depend on. Our society changes like the wind. Pictures of half naked women on TV or magazines were seen as soft-core pornography a few years ago, now it is normal. Homosexuality was a mental illness and was unacceptable, not it is a norm. Divorce, premarital sex and abortion were frowned upon, now it is a norm, even expected.

Now we are fighting to legalize polygamy, gay marriage, and even adult/boys sexual relationship (NAAMBLA). We decide what is right and wrong.

Answer 7

Religion is an invention of man. Therefore, "moral standards" are a product of the human mind, not of some magical invisible man in the sky. Basic concepts of right and wrong originate from the innate human sense of empathy. Hurting someone is wrong because I don't want to be hurt. Stealing is wrong because I don't want to be stolen from, etc.

Answer 8

Societal moral standards are maintained by the society in which they have effect. Religion alone does not do it.

Answer 9

Morality is independent of, although often influenced by, religion. Slavery or women's suffrage were both supported and refuted by Christians, using Biblical sentiments.

Morality is fundamentally a social contract, albeit usually an unwritten one.

Answer 10

Morals and ethics have little, if anything, to do with any religion. Societal morals existed long before any religion ever did.