Morality without G-d?

Question

I've heard some people say that without the Gods you cannot have morality. But surly if you believe that, at sometime you'll have to admit you can be morally correct, without any Gods if you follow the values of Li, Hsiao, Yi, Xin, and Jen, no?


* Of course there are many others ways to achieve this also, but those above written ethical teachings are one of the definitions of morality. *

Answer 1

The Buddha layed it out beautifully in his eight-fold path.
All without a god concept. When we are immoral we and others suffer, and when we follow the path we are happy.

Answer 2

you can have ethics and morality. There are many restraints people have that God put in the world: parents, teachers, police... the big difference is that the motivation would not be out of the love of God or for the glory of God, but to make yourself look good, to keep yourself from pain or some other thing to some degree

Consider Martin Luther before he was a believer.He was quite moral and quite concerned with morality. He was asked as a monk if he loved God and said "Love HIM!!!! I HATE HIM" He only saw God as a judge and not as a savior and helper until he found mercy through faith in the wrok of Jesus on the cross

Answer 3

Both types of morality (intrinsic and extrinsic) are present within both the godly and godless equally. The fact of the matter is that proselytizing organizations are responsible for more good works than are secular organizations. This proves that the 'motivation' for morality in Christianity is usually trying to score points with God. For Atheists, though, major good works (like feeding the hungry in Africa) are born of a genuine intrinsic desire to make the world a better place.
I think the Atheist's reasons are purer, and I see the light of true morality in there. A Christian's actions are always and forever befuddled with the brand "Just trying to score points for heaven."
That having been said, Atheists are less likely to do something like that. Since extrinsic motivation is exponentially more common than intrinsic motivation for good works, it stands to reason (and indeed fact) that Atheists generally don't do as much good works in the world as Christians and some other Theist sects do--but again, their good works are tainted by God and proselytizing.

Answer 4

To make the claim that there is no morality without God really is ludicrous. It's as subjective as any of the reaching claims made by Christianity.

The simple distinction between right and wrong (morality) is known by virtually everyone.

Answer 5

Some of the most moral people I know are athiest, and some of the most un-moral people are supposed "Christians". Morality is about the true intentions of the heart.

Answer 6

People may have high moral STANDARDS, but do they fully live up to the standards they believe in? THAT'S the REAL question now, isn't it?

For instance, have you ever told a lie? Do you like it when others lie to you? Is lying wrong?

Your answers reveal a lot about your morality.

But let's continue.

Have you ever taken anything that isn't rightfully yours to take? Do you want others to steal YOUR stuff? Is being a thief wrong?

Yet another question would be whether or not you've ever looked at another person with sexual desires? (Jesus said this is the same as adultery from God's perspective).

And one last one, even though there could be more, have you ever been so angry at another person you wished them ill will, or possibly even hated them? Again, Jesus declared this to be the same as murder in God's eyes.

So, if you have ever told lies, if you have ever taken anything that wasn't rightfully yours to take, if you have ever looked with lust towards another, if you have ever been angry, then that would make you a lying, thieving, adulterous murderer!!!

Looking at it from THAT perspective kinda hurts, doesn't it?

But that's not the end of it all. Remember the additional questions I asked at the beginning? These two examples of double-standards is called hypocracy (OUCH!)

NOW, you become a lying, thieving, adulterous, murderous hypocrite!

How does THAT make a person "moral"?

Again, having high moral standards is not the same as BEING moral.

It is for this very reason that God came to earth as Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in order to MAKE us morally righteous. The Bible even says that even though Jesus never knew any sin, He actually BECAME sin for us. He traded places with us. He took the penalty for OUR sins (crimes against God).

There is NONE righteous, no not one! There is none that seeks God. ALL we like sheep have gone astray, we have each turned to his own way.

With this in mind, teaching about morality, believing in morality, and even following moral teachers does not MAKE us moral. Only God working in the innermost part of our hearts can actually make us morally righteous from God's perspective. In fact, the Bible says that all our righteousness is like filthy rags before a pure and absolutely holy God, who has zero tolerance for sin.

Answer 7

You still have a conscience, internally we know what is right and wrong, we know how we would want to be treated and most people treat others the way that they would want to be treated, you dont need any religion to teach you that, just a desire to better the world.

Answer 8

Obviously there is morality without god, look at Japan. But amazingly some people still spout that.

Answer 9

Morality predates religion by millenia. Religion hijacked morality.

Answer 10

The people that beleive that are scary. They are basically admitting that they would have no morals if they come to the realization that there is no god.