If morals are only from god, and a relationship with god, how do you explain the good works of atheists?

Question

Fireball? This is a valid R&S question.

Answer 1

Just because atheists don't believe in God does not mean that God does not believe in them.

God love atheists just as much as some bozo who only believes because they are afraid of going to hell.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 2

You know, I was going to really lay into this question... then I read some of the answers. There are some I really agree with, and other that are totally opposite of what I believe.

With such a heated question, there is no sense in arguing - because nobody will ever take the other persons views into serious consideration. This is an area where it is really hard to bend your deep rooted beliefs.

All I ask is this... who are you to say that your way of belief is the only correct belief? If it is in your bible, don't you think it is also in other people's "bibles" that believe different things?

If we all would just open our minds and hearts to actually allow the fact that it is okay for others to believe differently than ourselves, this world would be a much happier and easier place to live.

Now, am I hateful? Do I appear to be the work of the Devil? I am not an atheist, but I am not a Christian either.

I am a good person, with my own belief system that works for me in my life.

I hope you can find some peace within yourself and others.

Answer 3

You can explain it because morals are about personal choice. Just because someone doesn't have a relationship with god as you know it, that doesn't automatically make them a bad person. And the reverse is also true: just because someone goes to church and has a relationship with god and calls themselves Christian doesn't automatically make them a good person. They still have to make the right choices in life. There are no free passes! A lot of people think they can do bad things but if they repent then it's ok... That thinking is flawed in so many ways. If you knowingly do something you know to be wrong I am sure god is not going to be impressed whether you are Christian or not. Atheists do good things not because they fear the wrath of god but because it is the right thing to do.
Keep asking questions like this, you are well on your way to having a more fulfilling life and relationship with god.
Good luck!

Answer 4

Morals aren't "only from God". God gave people free will to do as they please. He did give Moses the Ten Commandments, but not morals, which however both contain some of the same concepts. Atheists can still have a conscience to do good things and follow the laws of the land. Morals are an individuals standard of what is acceptable to them. What is moral and right in my mind, may be absolutely despicable in yours.

Answer 5

There are alot of answers here, but I'm going to answer this correctly.

Morals are not from God- God instilled His Commandments. We are to follow His Commandments and the teachings of His Son Jesus.

God will not, I repeat will not honor any person for their "good works" You must have FAITH in order to even recieve a Blessing for your works.
These scriptures will put it plain and clear for anyone who is confused whether they will inherit the Kingdom Of God or not:

Psalm 14:1 (Whole Chapter)
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

This is written toward atheist people. It clearly states that they have done no good.

Matthew 5:16 (Whole Chapter)
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 16:27 (Whole Chapter)
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Galatians 2:16 (Whole Chapter)
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

There are still many scriptures that an atheist or anyone could read and realize that being a "good person" will not save you from eternal damnation.

Answer 6

The answer to this question is that your premise is incorrect - morals don't come ONLY from "God". Morals actually come from millions of years of evolution, and societal pressures, among other reasons. A person might be willing to sacrifice for the benefit of others because it benefits the group collectively. There are also benefits to being altruistic - the families of those who give of themselves are often rewarded, and become successful as a result of it.

Answer 7

Because morals don't come from deities, they come from society, customs, intuition, law, empathy, compassion, anger, misunderstanding, superstition, fear, reason, sense, logic, science, etc etc.

There is no one source for morals. And morals are different the whole world over.

I believe some Christian and Muslim 'morals' to be wrong, and consequently campaign for human rights regarding homosexuals and women.

"boomf!"*

*sound of Fireball stamping a fiery foot.

Religionists claim to have 'absolute morals' i.e. 'thou shalt not kill'. This is all well and good. But is it absolute?

I guess it is, that is, until they find a reason to kill someone...

Answer 8

Morals (or Moral Codes) are often prescribed by religion, so when Christians or others claim that morals only come from God they really mean their own moral code, and they believe that. We believe that religion is a construct of man and therefore moral codes are also a construct of man. Morals may come from "God" but morality is universal to social creatures such as ourselves. Atheists do good works because we are, as social creatures, innately moral.

Answer 9

I've seen this claim several times on here. I almost wrote a question about it myself.
I explain it as it doesn't take a god for me to realize bashing someones head it is bad. I also don't need a god to know that feeding a helpless hungry child is a good thing. I call it common sense based on the values our current society has established so that we can co exist in relative safety.

Answer 10

Jews and Christians believe that God instilled morals into every human being so an atheist can still be moral and not believe in God

Answer 11

Morals are universal.

As a christian I think God has told us what those morals are but being universal in nature everyone has access to them.

I'm talking the very basic morals of love and not the dogmatic ones developed over the years.