what do Atheists use as a 'moral' compass?

Answer 1

Many, like me, use the philosophy of humanism.

You don't need to fear an imaginary friend to know morals, ethics and gentility.

Like Bob Dylan wrote, you don't need a weatherman to tell you which way the wind's blowing.

Answer 2

My moral compass is this. I'm a person. Everyone around me is a person. This is the only world we have, so the best possible thing we can do is learn to get along, treat eachother with respect and kindness, and try to make this world we share the best it can be. Because it's all we've got, and we're all the family that we have.
Which I think is way, way more moral than only doing good and treating my fellow man well because if I don't, the angry invisible sky-god will punish me.

Answer 3

The most common answers:
Common sense
Conscience
Society training
Evolution

Perhaps you should ask them what is common sense.

I think common sense and conscience are essentially the same. They are a set of feelings. We feel bad when we steal and good when we are honest. Feel-goodism.

Where do these feelings come from? I think society training. From our infancy, we are praised for acceptable behavior and not praised for unacceptable behavior. And we all love to be praised.

Evolution is occasionally mentioned but that theory flies in the face of the atheist darling, Richard Dawkins and his book, The Selfish Gene. In every case, what appears to be altruism is a deception.

The bottom line: The moral compass points to those directions that feel good.

Answer 4

Check out the moral compass of CHristians and Mulsims through questions and answers here and it is quickly apparent that whatever atheists choose to use it is bound to do a better job. Even throwing a dice to make moral decisions will produce a better result than follwoing Abrahamic religious texts.

Answer 5

I probably use the same set of guidelines for my moral compass as any theist. Just because a holy book codifies the common sense rules that civilised people have been following for millenia doesn't give them exclusive ownership of those rules. Just because, for example, the bible says "Thou shalt no kill" doesn't mean I have to be a Christian to understand nor adhere to that principle.

Answer 6

What's a moral compass?
Is it doing the right thing cos it's the right thing to do OR doing the right thing cos you believe you'll go to hell if you don't?

I know why I do the right thing - cos it generally makes me feel good WHERE AS not doing the right thing makes me feel bad.

IF a god existed I think he'd admire some one who did the right thing cos it was the right thing to do long before he admired a coward.
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Answer 7

We use the same thing humans have always used. Common sense. And, that dictates right and wrong. Since when did people become so stupid that they need morality dictated to them by a religion or "god"?

Answer 8

I decide if what I'm doing or saying to someone is the same way I would like to be treated or talked to. I consider what I would want someone else to do if I were in a given situation and act accordingly.

Answer 9

Evolution formed instincts for empathy and altruism in all social mammals, and altruism can even be found in some of the more paternalistic of reptiles (such as aligators).

These two instincts, logically considered, form the basis of the golden rule.

Answer 10

the same as you do; the cues of our parents, friends, and society at large, influenced by the time and the geographical region we live in. We pick up these cues as we grow up. Some are reinforced by law.